Page 63 of Ensnared

Tobe fair, he’s never exactlysaidthat he was straight...Ijust assumed because he was married toSoomin, and because he’s never tried to take pleasure with me, even while he had me spread and naked and begging beneath him.Imean,Iknow he gets worked up—it’s impossible to miss his arousal during our scenes—butIalways put that down to his kink rather than me.Moreof a “whipping subbies until their sobs soothe my cranky temper” boner than a “Luckyis my one true love andI’dgive anything to brand his soul with mine” hard-on.

Heart-on?

IwishIgave him a heart-on.

Ishrug it off for now.Plentyof time to torture myself some more over that later.

“Yes,Ihave bottomed forJasperbefore when he needed a release.Wedon’t have sex”—Ipush one of the books open, and the hard cover hits the table with more force thanIintended.Ithink of howJasperwas looking at her whenIwalked in, and how she stared up at him.Hisperfect, submissive thing.Thetwo of them heart-twistingly beautiful together—“and we... we aren’t interested in each other that way.”

Thelie tastes like ash on my tongue.

Ishrug like it means nothing. “Buthe’s a sadist, and he occasionally needs to work out his shit on someone who likes to take it.WhichIdo.So, you know.”Iwant to knock my face into a wall at howIsound, and yetIcan’t stop my dumb mouth from adding weakly, “Itmakes sense.”

Myemotions were just splattered around the room like a toddler throwing mashed peas, but sure, it makes sense.Noone usually lets me talk for this long.Apparentlyit’s because the longerItalk, the moreIlet the stupid out.

She’sstaring at me, butIcan’t for the life of me tell what she’s thinking.Allin, balls out, though,Iguess.

“Anyway, my point is thatJasperknows what he’s doing.Hewon’t push you beyond what you can take, and the two of you will set out your boundaries before he even touches you.”

Thethought makes me sick.Andhard.

IfonlyIhad a psychologist to help work this shit out...

Idiot.

Hereyes narrow. “Thenwhat was that before about teaching me a lesson?Itsounded to me as though he was willing to punish me ifIdon’t do as he says.Whatexactly would have happened ifIhad turned down his chess game?”

Damn,Ilike it when she gets all snippy—thoughIknow enough about women not to say so.

“IfIhad to guess, he wanted to turn you over his knee and spank your ass until you agreed to do what he wanted.”Isnort. “ThoughIthink he’s regretting that hard-ass approach right about now.Jasperwon’t touch you, not without your permission.He’llset out the rules before he punishes you for breaking them.”

Iwatch her face asItalk aboutJasperspanking her.Hercolor is high and, despite the pursed displeasure of her full lips, the hollow in one cheek makes me think she must be biting it.

So, not quite as against the idea as she’s saying.

“Asfor the obedience thing—andIreally hate to say it since you’re making that face at me—but it’s kind of a given with these guys.Dom,Beau, andJasperare all gonna be pulling that card, so you probably should prepare for that.Imean,Jayktoo,Iguess, but he’s got more of that caveman clobber-you-over-the-head style.”

“Don’tspeak about him like that,” she says absently.

Mybrows fly up, though she isn’t looking.

Right.Okay.GoJayk,Iguess.

Thenshe sighs, looking exhausted. “Isuppose it doesn’t matter, huh?I’lljust take it as it comes.”

Ishove my tongue into my cheek to stop myself from making a crack about her word choice, then grab her hand and tug.Whenshe finally looks up at me, a new wariness in her eyes,Iwink at her.

“Comeon, we have some strength training to do.”

Ignoringher spluttering,Idrag her out and down to the music room whereIset everything up and shut the door behind us.

“Lucky,Idon’t want to work out.Whyare you making me work out?Whatare you—Oh.”

ATwistermat in a six by four grid of red, blue, green, and yellow circles is laid out on the floor, and a pitcher of my famous orange monkey master mix is perched on the table.Edenis staring at the mat in horrified bemusement.Isnicker, and she blushes.

Themore we talk, the moreIthink maybe we can try this without kink.Maybewe can be together, just the two of us, without thoughts ofJasperand pain and tears.Maybeshe andIcan be enough for each other, and she’ll drown out the wayIache for him.

Maybewe both just need a bit of fun.

---