One Dirty Night - Page 110

Twice I’d shared my parents with strangers.

Twice I glowed with newfound happiness.

“Well…it has to be fate that we’ve been introduced then.” Rhodes took my hand and kissed the back of it. His touch was dry and strong, but it failed to send pinwheels of heat through me. No crackle of chemistry. No conduit of electricity.

Not like when Nick touched me.

Not like the soft burn I felt whenever we’d sit in the lounge, ignoring one another while reading. Not like the tingle whenever he’d forget himself and smile at me at work. Not like the overwhelming wildfire when he’d kissed me for the first time or the absolute evisceration of my soul when he’d branded me with a flogger, then sank inside me like a beast.

All my confidence that I could exist without him popped like dirty bubbles.

My enjoyment fizzled.

My bravery failed.

I fought the urge to tug my hand back all while I pasted a smile on my face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Nerves wriggled in my tummy.

I should just go home.

He’s not coming…

Holding onto my hand, Rhodes murmured, “So…this is your first night?”

“Uh-huh.” I swallowed hard; rising anxiety made me sweat. “I mean…yes. Sorry. I do know how to speak.”

“Nervous?” He chuckled.

I dipped my chin again, unable to withstand his intensity. “Terribly.”

He groaned low and dark. “You should know…bowing your head at a Dom is both an honour and a tease.” He swayed away from me as if putting some distance between us, even while squeezing my hand. “Is Ella your sponsor for tonight?”

“Sponsor?”

“I found her as she arrived,” Ella said (still so strange). “I’ve taken her under my wing and told her we won’t bite.”

“Won’t bite. Much.” Rhodes winked, sending me flinching with nerves.

What would I do if he asked me to be his? Was that a thing? How did this work? Would he ask me to be with him so soon? Was I expected to say yes if I was unattached and propositioned? How did I tell him what my limits were? What were my limits? Would he expect to fuck me bare, or were there rules in place for health and safety?

Oh God.

What if he wants to share?

What if he wants to—

“Ella.”

I froze into a million tiny crystals. Glittering. Fracturing. Cracking.

That voice.

That gruffness.

That command.

I didn’t turn.