Tied With Me (With Me In Seattle)(17)

“He’s into bondage, so what?”

“Do you know him?” I ask, hoping she says yes so I can drill her for information.

“Not really. I’ve seen him around before, but I’ve never spoken to him.” Bailey cocks her head, takes a sip of her wine and watches me closely. “What’s your hang-up?”

“I’m not submissive, Bailey.”

“Okay.”

“Trust me when I say, he’s pretty dominant in the bedroom.”

“Okay.”

I growl and glare at my best friend. “Stop saying okay.”

“Look, you’re overthinking this, Nic.” She squirms a bit across from me, getting comfortable. “You two had a good time together. Did he scare you?”

“No.”

“Did he hurt you?” She’s watching me very carefully, reading my body as well as my words.

“No,” I reply immediately.

“Then what makes you hesitate to see him again?” she asks, confused.

“Well, at first I thought he was married with kids,” I remind her and glare when she bursts out laughing. “But I found out yesterday that it was a family emergency, and he’s single.”

“Dramatic much?” she asks, still laughing. “I told you it probably wasn’t that.”

“Look, he lives a lifestyle that I know nothing about, and I can’t lose control of my life, Bailey. You know that better than anyone.”

“Who says he wants to control your life?” Bailey asks, her expression clearly confused.

“Please, he’s a Dominant, right?”

She grows quiet, frowns and fidgets with her glass for a moment before pinning me in her gaze. She looks…hurt.

“I never figured you as a snob, Nic.”

“What?!”

“Every person is different, no matter their circumstances. You’re a baker, but I bet another baker doesn’t make cupcakes the exact same way you do. Matt likes bondage and, yes, he’s dominant in the bedroom, but you haven’t even given him a chance to talk to you. He may not be looking for a full-time sub. Maybe he just wants to tie you up and boss you around in the bedroom. He’s obviously into you.”

I don’t know what to say. I’m still stuck on “snob.”

“He didn’t hurt you, and he had a valid reason for leaving that night. Give him a chance. See where it leads. Maybe it won’t be for you, but you won’t know until you try.”

“How can you be a part of this community and not be a little afraid of it?” I ask honestly. “I know you. You’re not weird or some kind of whack job.”

“Um, thanks. I think.” She wrinkles her nose and then giggles. “Most people who enjoy sex on the kinky side aren’t whack jobs. We’re just a little different. I’m not sure where I fit in yet. I’m not submissive. There isn’t one particular fetish that I enjoy more than others. I guess I’m still figuring it out.”

“Since when are you so smart?” I ask.

“I just don’t want you to throw away something that could be good just because you have preconceived notions about a lifestyle you know nothing about. This isn’t fiction, Nic. He’s just a guy. If it turns out that you don’t like it, you can end it and move on.”

“I did like it,” I admit softly. “And maybe that scared me.”

“Did he check in with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“When he was with you, while you were tied and whatever else he had you doing. Did he check to make sure you were okay?”

I think back to that night in my apartment, to the way he asked me if he was hurting me.

“Yes.”

She nods and smiles at me. “I’m excited for you.”

“It’s just dinner tomorrow night,” I remind her.

“But you’re gonna give it a chance, right?”

I drain my wine glass and watch my best friend for a moment and feel the excitement spread from my belly, out my arms and into my throat.

And it has nothing to do with the wine.

“Yeah, I definitely am.”

“Attagirl!”

***

Why did I agree to go out to dinner with him?

Do friends go out to dinner? Well, girlfriends do, and I guess I’ve been out to dinner with Ben once or twice when I was back home visiting.