Page 16 of Tyton: The Spider and the Dragonfly (Tyton #1)

Talia lifted an eyebrow. “You’re into bratting?” It was obvious that Callie wasn’t, given that she couldn’t look her in the face. Talia drew her fingernail lightly along Callie’s bicep. “Well now you have to let me guess what you’re into. Aside from rope,” she added.

A delightful frisson travelled the length of her arm, and even though Callie suspected she had caught on to Talia’s game, she was intrigued enough to let it continue. She bit her lip and raised her head defiantly. “Go ahead then.”

Talia’s mahogany brown eyes peered into Callie.

“You like…” Her eyes shifted to Callie’s lips, a soft, muted pink.

Then to her wrists, larger than Talia’s, but small enough.

She circled her slender fingers around them and lifted her arm up playfully.

Callie offered no resistance. She flashed her lopsided smile. “I can work with that.”

Callie blushed. Hotly. It wasn’t fair that she was so easy to read.

A bit of bondage was exactly what she had been hoping for after Talia had taken her away from Binge.

And then she went and made her wait for it.

Her remarkable ability to pay attention and make her feel things – obscene things – felt like cheating.

“Bye Mike,” Talia waved dismissively and clapped her mask back on. “See you Tuesday.” Talia turned to leave. Mike lowered his head and brushed his knuckles against his chin, but kept his mouth shut. Callie slid from her stool and rushed to follow Talia, who wasn’t looking back.

Callie caught up, somewhat flushed from exertion.

Talia took her hand, lacing their fingers together possessively.

She strode along the street with an enviably perfect posture.

The drape of her blazer snapping in time with her footsteps.

It hung from her frame like a cape from a comic book and a complete mismatch with her hair and her worn and faded slip-ons.

But Callie kept staring like she was a high-end fashion model.

If Callie gave any thought to astrology, Talia would be the textbook definition of a Leo.

The same oversized man, this time sporting incongruous sunglasses leaned against the filthy Hexaline wall. Talia jutted her chin towards him, and he jutted back, banging twice. The door opened.

Her Opti pinged.

Callie ignored it. Sparx was the last thing she wanted to think about right now.She muted her Opti, blinking a few times in quick succession. If Talia had noticed her awkwardness, she paid it no mind.

The interior had changed. The quiet, classy lounge had turned into something a bit more raucous. Callie wondered how much it cost to keep up with the décor changes.

Talia gestured some scrip toward the cashier. Callie didn’t catch exactly how much it was, but based on the hand signs, it looked like an embarrassing amount. The cashier, a slight woman wearing a bandolier of vials and nothing else, raised her eyebrows at Callie. “Have fun, sugar,” she winked.

Callie’s cheeks pinked at being called sugar . She turned her eyes toward her date, who didn’t seem to notice. Talia’s peacocking made her feel like a teen about to throw panties at a boyband.

It was as though Talia simply existed to be seen and adored.

She removed her mask and basked in the certainty that Callie was staring at her through her eyelashes, even though Talia never turned around to confirm it.

After a few beats, she opened her mouth, about to speak.

Instead, the tip of her tongue ran over her molars, as if she were considering her next words carefully.

She wasn’t. Talia simply enjoyed the drama. The tension. She closed her mouth and formed her lips into a well-practiced smirk, leaning forward to whisper against Callie’s ear.

“Safe word?”

Callie’s pulse raced. “Dragonfly.”It was the first word that popped into her head.

Talia grinned and locked on to Callie’s slate grey eyes, leading her as she walked backward into the burgundy velvet curtain separating the foyer from the club.

The fabric pooled around them, birthing them into the darkness, the air thick with throbbing bass, the heat of cyberware and the unmistakable scent of sex.

Callie couldn’t stop herself from grinning. She wanted to hide her face in her hands, ashamed that she was giving in too easily, but Talia still held them both.

She led Callie to the dancefloor, swaying her arms to the beat. Callie found the playfulness disarming, and when Talia grinned back and let go, she didn’t feel the need to hide anymore.

Her anxiety melted away. She was an adult. She could fuck a near stranger in a club and fuck anyone who tried to make her feel ashamed for it. It was more of an aspirational thought, but it gave Callie a small boost of courage, nonetheless.

She took a deep breath and let herself relax into the music.

She could sway and slide and writhe her body to provoke Talia too.

Talia stepped back to observe, sucking that generous bottom lip of hers.

She tilted her head, exposing her neck. Callie could swear she saw the vein along her throat pulse just a bit faster.

Talia stepped closer, draping her arms around Callie’s shoulders. Callie slid hers around Talia’s waist. She had accomplished what she had wanted but couldn’t help the feeling that she had done exactly as Talia had planned.

“Do you usually pay so much for entry here?” Callie said over the din attempting to restore some of their power imbalance.

Talia shook her head lazily, keeping eye contact. “I paid for a private room.” Callie couldn’t close her mouth. “Unless you’d rather play out in the open.”

Smooth as polished glass. Why had she thought she was qualified to play this game? Talia caught her eyes widening. Their power imbalance remained firmly in place.

“C’mon,” Talia whispered against the shell of her ear. “Let’s go talk some more.” Talia led her away to a set of sofas in a corner. She jerked her head pointedly to the side and its occupants vacated immediately. Callie watched in awe. Who was she?

Callie sat, crossing her legs. Talia draped herself next to her, slipping her arm across her shoulders. Talia’s lips brushed her ear and Callie’s breath hitched. The lips formed into a smile against her skin. “You’re fucking adorable,” they whispered, carrying a hint of a predator’s smile.

A languid warmth rose within her like a lava lamp.

She released the breath she was holding and turned to face Talia.

A singular want hammered against her skull, demanding to taste that arrogant smirk.

Callie lunged forward, snapping at the lower lip she had been envying all evening, rolling it between her teeth.

When she released it and opened her eyes, she realised that she had finally caught Talia off guard.

Callie’s eyes widened and dropped quickly to Talia’s lips. That was stupid , she thought. She watched them hang slightly parted. Watched as the corners turned upward. Watch them form the words, “I see.”

Talia placed a hand on Callie’s thigh, uncrossing her legs before she straddled her like a motorcycle.

Callie tilted her head up, eyes wide and begging.

Talia removed her blazer. Only her tight black tank remained.

The way the fabric clung to her. Even in the dark, Callie could make out the way it slipped against her subtle curves.

Talia nodded, giving Callie permission to explore.

Callie’s fingertips skated along the silky material, tracing the muscles of her abdomen, flowing into ribs. Her heart fluttered when she felt no bra band. She almost lost it when the soft flesh of her tiny breasts yielded against her touch. Callie nearly ruined the sofa. It had been far too long.

She bit down hard on her lip, trying to regain her composure.

Sparx would never let her live it down if she found out she’d ended their date like a boy at prom.

Callie palmed Talia’s breasts through the thin tank, revelling in the sensation of her nipples stiffening against her fingers.

Talia pressed her body forward into her hands, exposing her throat and letting Callie take the driver’s seat.

But it was an illusion. Talia coiled her fingers around Callie’s wrist and led her hand down.

Callie was surprised to find that her slacks were already undone.

She had no idea when that had occurred, but she wasn’t going to complain.

The pads of her fingers sunk deliciously into warm bare skin, followed closely by a flood of liquid warmth.

Talia was so much wetter than her demeanour had let on.

How did she do that? Callie stared in wonder at how Talia could just exist like that.

She gripped Callie’s wrists, sliding her hips into position, grinding herself against Callie’s fingers.

Callie stared into her eyes, unblinking lest she miss a second of whatever the fuck was going on.

Talia clenched, her breath hitching as she came, but she never broke eye contact.

Nor did she when she brought Callie’s fingers to her mouth, snaking her tongue along them, finishing with a gentle nip of her teeth.

Callie stared in reverence. She had never felt so dominated giving someone an orgasm before. And yet, this was tame. There had been no whips, chains or floggers involved. Damn, she thought. What the hell did I get myself into? ”

Before she could finish her thought, Talia leaned forward, kissing her with obscenity. Callie melted into it, feeling Talia’s lips form the words good girl. Her heart pounded loudly against her chest.

Talia stood before breaking the kiss. Callie leaned forward, as though her lips were being torn from her. She smirked, heavy lidded and made a show of refastening her slacks. Shame was not something anyone would ever see Talia wear.

She slithered back to Callie, resting her fingers against her lips. Callie felt the fluttering low. Talia’s scent was almost enough to undo her right now. She tried to match her stare, but it wasn’t long before she had to look away. Talia’s confidence was just too intense.

“Why dragonfly ” Talia whispered. “You answered immediately. I want to know the story behind it.”

Callie blushed. She debated telling Talia the truth. That she thought of Talia as a dragonfly after the way she danced at Binge.

“It’s always been my safe word,” she lied. “I learned about them in creche when I was ten and thought they were pretty, but then,” Callie drew her fingers up her arms, looking Talia directly in the eyes, “I learned that they’re actually vicious predators.”

“And you like predators, do you?” Talia’s voice dropped to a husky tone that practically matched the bass reverberating through the room. Warmth spread molten across Callie’s core. She bit her lip and nodded.

“Do you want to dance some more?” Talia asked.

The shock of disappointment on Callie’s face was exactly what Talia was looking for. She hoped her smirk would hide her intentions.

“Or,” Talia walked her fingers across Callie’s collarbone to her neck. She drifted the backs of her fingernails upward and held her chin, light as gossamer. “Maybe you’d like to head upstairs?”

Callie’s eyes remained vast and unblinking. She was firmly entranced. At this moment, Callie would do whatever Talia wanted, as long as it involved taking her upstairs immediately.

Talia’s lopsided smile grew wider. Damn she was good.