I fumble through the instructions, messing up the rope placement in front of everyone around me. She’s not going too fast, and it’s not that complicated, but I can’t seem to think straight or function correctly as I touch my best friend’s bare chest and back. I’m as straight as they come, so why the hell is there swelling in my pants? It’s making it hard to focus.
“Need some help?” Silla asks as she approaches our table, clearly seeing me struggle.
“He’s a lost cause,” Drake jokes.
“Oh, surely not,” she replies as she moves around to where I’m fighting with this current knot. I should have paid more attention when she was demonstrating.
“It’s not that bad,” she says, taking over and trying to show me where I’ve messed up. All I can seem to focus on is that she’s touching him.
“I’m impressed you’re willing to learn, Mr. Scott. You’re just here to find an expert for your own club, right?”
“Yes,” I reply. “But I’d still like to know a little more before I work with someone.”
“And what exactly do you think of me?” she asks with a flirtatious smile.
“You’re very knowledgeable,” I reply.
She tugs tighter on the rope winding around Drake’s arms, and he lets out a grunt as she pulls on it. Then I watch as she runs her long nails over the muscles of his arms and back.
“The rope is going to leave beautiful marks on your skin…”
“Drake,” he replies, glancing back at her.
“Drake,” she echoes in a sultry tone. Then she moves around to his front. “And what do you think? Should I come visit your club sometime?”
“Oh definitely. I’d be happy to give you a personal tour.”
“I’d love that,” she says, and my jaw clenches. Why the fuck must he flirt with everyone? I literally watched him with his head between my wife’s legs last night, but seeing this other woman fawn over him has my blood boiling.
Stealing a glance at Isabel, I see a mirrored reaction on her face. Her lips are pressed together tightly as she stares at Silla, who still has her hands on Drake’s half-naked body.
If I know Drake, and I do, he’s not going to stop until he has her moaning his name in some private room at the club before the clock strikes midnight. But he wouldn’t do that now, would he?
We should really discuss some ground rules. I can’t have him banging some other girl and my wife in the same weekend. Isabel deserves better than that.
But am I really asking him to be exclusive…to us? And for how long? How many times am I going to let them sleep together? I really didn’t think this through.
“There,” Silla announces as she steps back to reveal her artwork. Drake’s forearms are bound behind his back, ropes looping around his large biceps, the cord pressing into his flesh, and I’ll be honest, it looks painful. But with the way he’s still flirting with Silla, I hope it hurts.
“Looks great,” Isabel replies with forced enthusiasm.
Without warning, she quickly unties everything she’s done, and then she looks at me. “Now that you’ve seen me do it, I want you to try again. Rope bondage is all about the connection between you and your submissive. Zone out together. He’s giving you his trust, and that’s a gift. So I want you to try this again, but this time…focus on the man you’re touching. Not the rope.”
“Umm…” I stammer. “We’re just friends.”
She gives me an unimpressed expression. “Good. Then this should be easy. I assume he already trusts you.”
Isabel clears her throat, and I brush off the nerves, squaring my shoulders and taking the rope from Silla.
“Don’t wrap him too tight. A little loss of circulation is expected, but if it gets too uncomfortable, talk to your rigger. And don’t stay in the bind for more than twenty minutes or you risk nerve damage. Understand?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Drake replies with a wink.
“When you’re done…I’ll be happy to give you a tour,” she says, smiling directly at him. My molars grind as I watch her gaze up into his eyes.
“That would be great!” Isabel chimes in, interrupting their little starry-eyed connection. Silla fakes a smile in my wife’s direction, before excusing herself to help the other tables.
Then, I heave a sigh as I attempt the harness again, trying to shut off every voice in my head. As the rope drapes over Drake’s shoulders, I chance a look in his direction, our eyes meeting in a heated connection. With a cool expression, I pull the cord a little tighter, and he lets out a nearly silent grunt, still staring at me.