Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
“Ah, the power gays with money who—what are they called?”
He laughed. “You mean the DINKs?”
That was the one. Double income, no kids.
I snapped my fingers. “There we go. I dated someone like that—didn’t last long. I brought up kids, and he took off faster than a Realtor can come in his pants when a DINK couple wants to find a townhouse.”
He shook his head in amusement. “I do know plenty of those.”
Shocking. “Yeah, that was never me.” I smiled to myself, thinking of how I’d grown up. Money had always been tight, but we’d never suffered. Full house, rowdy boys, Ma yelling and waving around her wooden spoon, Pop hollerin’ for everyone to shut the fuck up when the news came on… The plastic on the couch only came off for holidays—and when Princess Diana died. Damn, did Ma mourn with her girlfriends.
I released a breath and shook my head, clearing it. I could miss my family later. “I’mma get outta your hair, my man. We’ll meet up next time I’m in town?”
“I sure hope so. And you stay safe in Florida. It’s full of Floridians.”
“I’m more concerned about the sailors,” I joked. “Eight weeks on a Navy base, have mercy on my soul.” I rose from my seat and finished my coffee. “What’s your plan for the day?”
He blew out a breath. “I have a late lunch with a woman I hardly know outside kink. I mean—I’ve known her a few years, but I wouldn’t say we’re friends… It’s strange, really. The moment we met at a party, we were like two peas in a pod, but the one time we met up for coffee, it felt…awkward and forced. I’m pretty sure she sees me as a stuck-up snob too.”
I lifted my brows. “Then why are you meeting up with her?”
“We ended up volunteering to host the same demo at an upcoming event on ceremonial behaviors in kink, so the organizer asked us to work as a team.”
Ceremonial behaviors—what the fuck. “Is that some Gor shit?”
He opened his mouth to respond, only to shut it and weigh his answer. “At the end of the day, doesn’t a lot of M/s inspiration come from that universe? This is obviously a modern twist that’s already traveled through subcultures to wash off the non-con aspects. In short, it’s a class on poses, kneeling, and commands.”
Huh. That sounded like something I’d be interested in. “I’ll pick your brain about this next time,” I said. “I wanna know more.” Once I’d left the mug in the sink, I passed him and gave him a big smooch on the cheek. “Thanks for last night, buddy. Can’t wait to see the footage.”
He smirked and shook his head at me. “Have fun in Florida, Marine.”
Oorah.
ONE BY ONE ONLINE
Lucian Leroux is now friends with Drivein Rain
Lucian Leroux is now friends with Nap Oleon
Lucian Leroux is now friends with Lucas West
I nodded in satisfaction. Things were coming together. Next time I was in town, I’d have a group of friends waiting for me. A lot safer than having singles scattered about, especially since many were partnered up and had become pros at canceling last minute.
I pocketed my phone, and then it was finally my turn to order.
Hello, Waffle House.
CHAPTER 5
The day after
Penelope Darling
Where was this pompous bastard? He thought the world revolved around him, didn’t he?
I folded my arms over my chest and peered out the window. Holiday shoppers were going to take over the streets soon. The weather was already crap. And this fucking guy didn’t know how to use a watch.
What the hell was it with Lucian Leroux? When we saw each other at kink parties, it was so damn easy to talk to him. Not because he was remotely funny, but because we had so much in common. The same kinks, similar traits we were drawn to; only, him with men and me with women. We liked to participate in event planning and demos. We were natural leaders. But the instant the proverbial lights came back on, the party was over, and it was time to part ways, something about him just screamed superiority and arrogance.
If he didn’t get here in the next five minutes, I was gonna—
Goddammit. I saw him walking in. He spoke briefly with the hostess before he spotted me.
He’d spent more than a few minutes in the rain.
I almost smiled, because it was so unlike him. I’d never seen him out of sorts. He never spoke out of turn, he never laughed too loud, he never said anything inappropriate, I wasn’t sure he even had a sense of humor, and he was just so…so…so stiff. Except for right now, when he looked like he was coming out of a car wash without the car.
First and last time I let him pick the restaurant too. It was so sterile and bright and lifeless in here.