Page 9 of Trust in Me
“Hi there. I’m Nick. You’re new here.”
Avery gave him a short nod and tried to walk past him. Good girl.
Nick didn’t seem to be taking the hint, moving again to block her path. “Let’s go play. You look like you know how to have fun. We can go to one of the private rooms.”
She looked uncomfortable. It was clear to anyone watching that she wasn’t interested, although Nick seemed to be missing all the signs. I sighed and took a few steps forward, then tapped Avery on the shoulder.
She turned and met my gaze. I wasn’t prepared for the hostility I saw there. Yeah, she was angry, all right. What had I done to piss her off?
Before I could say anything, Avery turned back to Nick, lifting her chin. “Sure. Why not. Let’s go.”
Nick’s eyes lit up, and he grabbed Avery’s hand, walking toward the play area.
Oh, hell no.
“Excuse me, folks.” I stepped around them to cut off their path. “I’ll need to borrow Avery for a minute.”
Avery opened her mouth, clearly intending to argue. I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her protest, but she closed it again without speaking. Instead, she just scowled. She dropped Nick’s hand and folded her arms over her chest. Nick just shrugged. He stepped away, leaving the two of us alone and staring at one another.
I’d been looking forward to a scene with Avery. I hadn’t thought I’d have to start this way, though.
“Welcome back.” I tilted my head, my gaze leveled on her. “And you found a partner for tonight, did you? How did your negotiations go?”
Avery swallowed hard. Her gaze darted away from mine. “Well, we didn’t talk yet. But…”
I narrowed my eyes. “So, you were headed to play, with a stranger, without negotiating? What safe words did you establish?”
Avery looked toward the ground, unable to meet my gaze. “I…”
I shook my head. “I think you’re forgetting a few important things, aren’t you? I think we’ll need to take a minute to chat about the rules here, darlin’.”
I crooked a finger at Nick. He trotted back, looking hopeful until I spoke. “Avery isn’t available to join you tonight. I suggest you speak to Drew about some training on consent and negotiations before you find your next partner. Avery, please come with me.” I walked toward the seating area. Would Avery follow me there?
I watched from my peripheral vision. She didn’t move for a few seconds, then stomped after me. There was her submissive side. And a bit of a brat, it seemed.
Avery slid into the chair across from me. “How—how dare you!” she hissed. “You don’t want to play with me, fine, but now no one else can, either?”
And there was the brat in full force. I let the smirk widen across my face. “Oh, I want to play with you, sweetheart. We’ll be negotiating properly first, though, and we’re going to have that negotiation right now. Then we’ll make sure the lessons on consent and safe words stick.”
Avery stared at me like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
I took advantage of her silence to keep going. “I know you’re a smart girl, Dr. Cooke, so pay attention here. Are you ready to talk with me?”
Avery shrugged. “Looks like I don’t have a choice.”
This I needed to nip in the bud. I leaned over the table, catching her chin with two fingers and tilting her face up so she couldn’t avoid my gaze. “You always have a choice, Avery. Always.”
9
Avery
Braxstaredhardintomy eyes. The intensity of his gaze shot straight to my core. If he hadn’t been holding my chin in place with his fingers, I would have looked away. As it was, I could only move my gaze. It settled on his lips. What would it be like to kiss him?
I squirmed on the plastic seat, needing more friction against my clit. I wasn’t ready to acknowledge the way my body responded to Brax’s dominance, but there was no mistaking what was happening. I was turned on. More than I’d ever been, and we hadn’t even done anything yet. “Um, yes. I’m ready to talk.”
Brax nodded. “Choose two safe words, please. One to stop all play, and one for when you need to slow down. Some folks like the stoplight system- yellow for slow, red for stop.”
“Umm…red and yellow are fine.” I squeezed my thighs together. Was this really happening? Brax had featured in my daydreams since my first night here, no matter how hard I’d tried to forget him. I’d done an okay job at forgetting him, or at least not thinking about him, while I was at work. But at night, every so often— okay, every single night— I let myself think about him while I got myself off with my pink rabbit vibrator.
