Page 24

“Well, shit,” she said, unable to wipe the grin off her face, but trying to play it cool. “This is really something, isn’t it? You and I showing up here, talking about playing?”

Kenna glanced down for a moment, batting her long lashes, and when she looked up again, her green eyes were gleaming. Luminous. CJ felt it like a tight heat in her belly.

Her lashes are so damn long .

“If I’d come here sooner, we would have seen each other sooner, I suppose. But yeah, it’s kind of wild seeing you here after all these years.”

There was a faint blush creeping over her cheeks, a coy note in her voice, and her fingers were twisting together. She was a little nervous. CJ liked a nervous sub, liked to play off those nerves. It gave her the opportunity to ramp their nerves up, then be the one to ultimately calm them down.

“Wild in a good way?” she had to ask.

Kenna lowered her lashes once more, and again it hit her like a punch to the gut. A punch of pure desire. The unrequited longing of years. Kenna’s lashes fluttered, and that lovely green gaze raised to meet hers.

“Yes. In a very good way,” she said quietly.

“I’m glad to hear it,” CJ answered, swallowing down the shimmering, trembling need running through her system, as if she’d just had a dozen shots of espresso.

Calm. The fuck. Down .

She cleared her throat. “So, you’re interested, and I’m interested.

But tell me, Kenna, does that mean you’d like to talk more about playing at some point in the future?

Because if you want to get to know each other—or, get to know each other all over again—before considering it, that’s absolutely okay. Or… do you want to play tonight?”

“Oh!” There was that lovely pink blush on her cheeks again. “I, um… Yes, I’d definitely consider tonight.”

Why did it feel like her own already-ramped up nerves just had a hard, quick shot of electric current?

She pulled in a breath and spoke carefully. “That’s good, very, very good. I was hoping for that answer, but of course, you can change your mind at any time. During negotiations. During play. You understand that?”

Kenna nodded, and CJ saw her swallow hard.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Time to start negotiations, then.” CJ leaned closer, resting her elbows on the table. “So tell me, lovely Kenna: what kinds of play are you interested in?”

She bit her lip before answering, her white teeth coming down on the plump, pink flesh. “I like a little impact play, but nothing too rough. And… I sometimes like some more surface sensation play.”

“So, stroking with my hands? Maybe a little scratching with my nails? Because as short as they are, I can still make them scratch. And maybe a little tickly sensation?”

“Yes, please.”

Kenna’s eyes were looking a little glazed, her mouth going a little soft and loose. CJ tucked a finger under her chin, catching her gaze.

“Kenna? I can see you’re going under a bit. And that’s perfectly normal when we’re talking about the things you might like me to do to you. But I need you to stay with me here, okay? I need to know you’re in a space where you can truly give consent. Can you do that?”

“Okay, CJ. Yes. I’m here.”

“Good girl. Now, let’s talk about limits.

And I’m going to go first. I don’t do rope—I don’t know enough, although I’ve been learning more recently.

I won’t do anything too hardcore, so no sharps for me, like knives or needles.

I also won’t gag anyone, simply because it’s not aesthetically pleasing to me.

No whips, nothing weight-heavy, like clubs or heavy canes.

” Kenna nodded as CJ spoke. “In fact, not any heavy-duty impact or high-pain implements. For me it’s more about the dynamic, and eliciting a response.

And I have an old shoulder injury, so I won’t do anything that could risk re-injury.

Now, your turn. Tell me about your limits. ”

“They’re pretty much the same as yours. I’ve done some rope, and I like it, but I really love leather cuffs even more. But, um, what I really like is when they’re padded. It’s the softness, the feeling of being a little… spoiled, I guess.”

“Maybe even some fur on the lining?” CJ suggested.

“Oh, yes!”

“That can definitely be arranged. What else? And I’ll want to know about any health issues, too.”

“No health issues. I work out—I do Pilates, so I’m pretty flexible, which I know can be an issue if we ever did rope. No recent illnesses or injuries. I’m in pretty good shape.”

“I can see that,” CJ said, trying not to sound too pervy as she scanned Kenna’s gorgeous figure.

But damn, this woman was hot, with all the right curves in all the right places.

She’d never been into the waif-like women; she preferred a woman with a little meat on her bones.

A little softness to counter her own lean frame.

“So, back to limits,” she reminded Kenna—and maybe herself, too.

“Well, again, everything you mentioned. And I’m not really comfortable with being blindfolded. I don't even know why. It’s just scary to me. I’ve tried a few times, but it’s made me panic. Loss of control, I guess? I don’t know.”

“Is that something you want to explore? To challenge at some point?”

“Maybe? It would have to be with the right person.”

“Well, maybe at some point I can be that person. Not tonight, of course. We’ll have to see if we vibe on that level, and trust takes time to build. We can shelve that for a later discussion if tonight goes well. Now talk to me about any other triggers.”

“I don’t know that I have any. I played quite a bit when I was in Seattle.

I guess the only trigger for me is being pushed too hard out of my comfort zone.

I’ve had several experiences where a Top I was doing a scene with was obviously hoping to push me harder, to get me to play harder, to take more pain, but it’s just not my thing, and I felt…

disrespected. Not heard. If I’m being perfectly honest, it’s left a little tender spot. ”

“I will never, ever do that to you, Kenna. That’s totally unethical.

If I go too hard you just use your safe word, and I’ll check in, then adjust my play to whatever your needs are, even if that need is to halt the scene.

And, on that note, I prefer to stick to the standard green/yellow/red, with ‘yellow’ meaning to pause and check in to see if you need me to go easier, or if you need a drink, or need to shift position.

And for me, ‘red’ means the scene stops entirely. ”

“For me, too.”

“Good. Now it’s time to talk about sexual contact.

And I’m going to lay down a rule for tonight: no sexual contact.

No kissing. We keep it very PG, play between friends.

Because once people are involved in a kink scene, it can be too easy to take that further than I think we should, given this is the first time we’ve seen each other in years. Okay?”

“Yes, that makes sense to me, I guess…”

“You guess?” CJ asked, needing clarification.

“Yes.” Her brows drew together as she paused for a moment. “I mean, no. You’re totally right. We should take this slow.”

“And we’re going to.”

“CJ? Can I ask a question?”

“Always.”

“What would you like me to call you during the scene?”

What she really wanted— really, really wanted—was for Kenna to call her Daddy. But she wasn’t about to take it there. Not tonight.

“You can call me CJ. I haven’t earned any other title yet, although down the line I won’t mind ‘Sir.’”

Kenna nodded, her lashes fluttering again. “Okay.”

“I’m going to go get my toy bag from the locker and find us a play station. Do you want to go freshen up before we begin? Then come find me in the main dungeon area.”

“Yes. I’ll… I’ll be there in just a few minutes.”

CJ took her hand and brushed a quick kiss over the back of it. “Good girl. I’ll be ready for you.”

More than ready. And Jesus fucking Christ, she needed a few moments to herself to pull her shit together. She always did right by any play partner, but this was Kenna . And she had to make this good.

Fucking had to .