Page 25 of Thorn Kiss
“If it’s something we both want, then I don’t seewhy not, Mr. Whynot.”
I almost snorted at that. The town’s name was a curse. A cute one, but still.
She continued before I got another word in. “I’m a switch. I like submitting, but I like occasionally dominating too. But it’s been ages since I’ve been with someone dominant, and even then, I only got to experience it twice. Frankly, the last eight years have been so vanilla. The closest I got to being kinky with him was him slapping my ass and then complaining it hurt his hand.”
“Jesus Christ,” I muttered.
“I’d really love to experience submission again, but gently.”
“Yes,” I said. “Gently would be good. I’m also out of practice.”
She raised a brow. “Out of practice as in you haven’t chased someone in a while?”
I tilted my head with a smirk. “Out of practice as in I haven’t wanted someone who has wanted me back in a while.”
A spark flickered in her eyes and she opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
“What is it?” I asked. Had I just fucked up?
“Is there someone else? Someone you want, I mean,” she added.
I swallowed hard. Yeah, I’d maybe just fucked up. “There is someone, but she doesn’t want me. She’s just a friend.”
Madi’s brows shot up with interest. “You don’t have to tell me who if you don’t want to, but . . . I don’t live here. And I don’t know anyone. And I’m not jealous. Honestly, that’s what pisses me off about the situation with Justin. If he would have talkedto me about opening our relationship . . .” She trailed off and sighed. “It doesn’t matter. Your secret would be safe with me.”
I pressed my lips together, amused. This wasn’t the reaction I’d expected. “Unless you end up being with her too, I don’t think it matters. She’s a friend, and that’s it.”
Madi’s smile softened. “Would that bother you if I was?”
Fuck. My brain short-circuited as I imagined that. June and Madi were both beautiful in completely different ways. I could imagine June straddling her lap and . . . I needed to not continue this line of thought. It was nothing but trouble. “As long as you tell me. I’ve never been in a polyamorous relationship, but I’ve seen my sister and two friends make it work. Well, and . . .”
“This would be casual. Since I’d be leaving soon.”
“Right.”
Casual.
“Tell me about her,” Madi prodded. “I want to know.”
Every time June came up in any sort of way, I felt my ears burn. Because what did I even have to say about her? How could I possibly put into words how much I regretted not kissing her sooner?
Or how much I wished she’d give us a chance?
“She’s one of the best people in the entire world. She’s sweet, funny and smart. Gorgeous. Sexy.” I needed to shut up, but found it hard to. I’d been holding all my thoughts about June inside for so long, it was like they couldn’t stop tumbling out. “She has amazing tattoos. She has excellent taste in food, and bad taste in music. She’s short.”
Madi barked out a laugh. “Well, I imagine everyone seems short to you. I’m used to being the tallest one in the room, but you still tower over me.”
“I wouldn’t say Itowerover you. Just by an inch or so.” I smiled to myself. “With her, it’s like six inches or something. But you’d never think she was short with the way she carries herself.”
Madi released a dreamy sigh. “She sounds wonderful.”
“She is.” Fuck. What the fuck was wrong with me? Absolutely rule number one of going on a date with a woman wasnot talking about another woman.
Madi had a wistful look on her face as she leaned forward and propped it up in her hand. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why haven’t you gone after her? Wooed her? Seduced her? Does she really not want you?”
