The Playroom

Chapter Twenty-Four

A fter last night—hours tangled together in both confessions and sheets—Leo and I decided it was time for a proper date. No interruptions, no half-hearted plans abandoned midway. Just us.

“No sex,” Leo announced as he leaned over the ironing board, smoothing a stubborn crease out of his shirt. His tone was matter-of-fact, but his lips twitched at the edges. “I want tonight to be about Leo and Drew, not..." He glanced back at me, arching his eyebrow, “...Bunny and Master.”

“Is that what Master wants?” I teased, voice lilting, unable to resist.

Leo’s iron paused mid-glide. He turned, fixing me with that semi-serious look of his—the one that said, not now, Drew, “I’m serious.”

“Sorry,” I said, stepping behind him, letting my body press against the warmth of his back. My hands slid up his torso, fingers grazing over his chest through the thin fabric of his shirt. “I was just teasing. No Sex. Got it.”

I kissed his neck, soft and lingering, and watched the subtle twitches of his jaw as he fought to keep focus. The hiss of the iron against fabric faltered for just a moment.

“Keeping that up,” he said, his voice low and firm, “and I’m going to burn the shirt—or my hand.”

“What if I did this,” I slipped my fingers past the waistband of his jeans, testing the boundaries.

“Hey,” Leo said, stepping sideways with a quick, fluid motion that left me empty-handed, “Off limits for twenty-four hours.” He set the iron down, glancing at me over his shoulder. “Go finish getting ready, or we’re going to be late.”

“Fine,” I said, throwing my hands up in the air, “It’s not my fault you walk around looking like a Greek god, flaunting temptations everywhere.”

“Restraint, Drew,” he called after me, “It’s called restraint.”

Leo and I were out in ten minutes and heading to a restaurant he googled. Little did we know that Jane’s get-a-way house had a small cute town nearby.

I’m going to have to persuade Jane to let us stay at her place more often. For the past few days since our intense conversation, Leo and I were able to take a late night stroll along the beach, our feet sinking into the cool sand as the sound of the waves whispered against the shore and over our feet. As we wandered, we stumbled upon a hidden path that wound its way up a small hill. We followed it, hand in hand, not knowing where it would lead. When we reached the top, the view took our breath away. Before us stretched a vast meadow, bathed in moonlight and fireflies, with the night sky above us sparkling like diamonds.

It was like something from out of a movie.

We laid there for hours, soaking up every minute that passed.

Reaching the restaurant, we were shown to our table, this time in an outside setting. There was a soft glow illuminated by string lights above us, casting a warm ambiance across the patio.

The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the nearby planters.

Leo pulled out my chair, a small, effortless gesture before taking a seat himself. Our eyes met across the table as the candlelight flickered between us, the flam dancing in his gaze, casting an ethereal glow over his striking features.

The waiter appeared, offering menus, but I barely noticed. My focus was on him, on the way his fingers traced the edge of the table, the way his hair caught the light. It felt like we could talk for hours, or say nothing at all, and it would be perfect either way.

“Wine?” Leo suggested, his voice softer than usual.

“That sounds great,” I said, looking up at the waiter for a moment.

“A bottle of your best merlot,” he instructed the waiter, who nodded before turning and walking away.

As we waited for the bottle to arrive, I let my hand drift across the table, brushing against his. He didn’t pull away. Instead, his fingers curled lightly around mind.

“I’m having the best time,” I expressed.

“Me too,” he said.

I traced small circles on his skin with my thumb, marveling at how easy this had become, being with him.

Leo smiled, his lips curving in that quiet, reserved way of his. It wasn’t the big, flashy grin most people saw, but the one that was just for me, soft and intimate. I could drown in it, if I wasn’t careful.

“You’re thinking,” he said, eyes narrowing playfully as he leaned in slightly.

I laughed, shaking my head, though I knew there was no point in denying it.

“Just about you,” I admitted, glancing down at our entwined fingers.

He raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparking behind those deep-blue eyes, “Is that so?”

I let out a breath, not even trying to hide the affection blooming inside me, “Yep.”

The waiter returned with the wine, popping the cork and pouring the ruby liquid into our glasses. The rich crimson shimmered. Once he was done, we both took a sip, “Is the wine to your liking?” he asked, his tone polite.

Leo and I exchanged a quick glance and nodded in unison. The waiter smiled, satisfied.

“It’s brilliant,” Leo said, his voice smooth and steady as he lifted the glass. He turned to me, “What do you think?”

“Like he said,” I commented.

“Great. Have you had a chance to look over the menu, or would you like more time?”

“More time, please,” I replied.

The waitered nodded, retreating once again and leaving us enveloped in the flicking candlelight.

Leo’s gaze remained on me, never leaving mine as the attention was all him. His piercing blue eyes seemed to strip away every layer of my defenses, his slightly furrowed brow hinting at a depth of thought—something profound he wanted to say but couldn’t quite put into words.

“You know,” he finally spoke, “This isn’t what I imagined when I first thought of us or even how our relationship would grow. I never...I never thought we’d be like this.”

I tilted my head, feeling a mix of intrigue, “Like what?”

“Can I ask you a question?” Leo said, straying from the previous question.

“Yes.”

“I never got a chance to ask you. When you put on the bunny mask, how does it make you feel?”

“No sex, remember?” I reminded him.

“We’re not having sex. I’m just asking how you feel when you put on the masking and nothing else,” Leo paused, for a second, “Ready to please your master in a different way, then? Tell me about the thrill that courses through you at that moment?”

“Answer my question first, and I’ll answer yours,” I said in a cocky, but teasing tone.

"Fair enough. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d be open to the dominant or submissive lifestyle. I even half-expected you to bolt the second you stepped into the playroom. But, Drew, what I’ve shared with other men before doesn’t come close to this—doesn’t come close to you. You gave it a chance, and I’m so glad you did.”

“At first, I wasn’t sure if I could be a submissive, but once you explained the type of dom you are and allowing me to explore, there was no doubt I didn’t want it.”

“So, I’ve answered your question, can you please answer mine?” Leo said.

Dropping my eyes, looking at the flickering candlelight, my mind and my heart started to recount all of those times.

“It’s...it’s like stepping into a different word,” I began slowly, choosing my words carefully, “Everything fades away. The doubts, the fears, the insecurities. It’s just you and me. And there’s this sense of freedom in it. I’m not Drew, the guy with responsibilities who is completely vanilla and never dipping my toes into anything. I become your submissive, who you like to call Bunny, completely willing and utterly sexy and all I want to do is make you happy, regardless if I’m in handcuffs, bent over on something while you roughly take my hole for your own selfishness, or if its face to face, gently and unselfish.”

“And you do make me happy,” Leo replied, leaning in closer, seeing the sincerity etched into his expression, “But tonight, I want to focus on Leo and Drew. I’ve had a taste of non-bunny Drew and I want more.”

My breath hitched, my eyes locked with his as his words settled deep within me.

“Leo,” I softly said, “I think about us constantly, outside of Master and Bunny. Not just the way you make me feel when we’re...you know, but like this.”

Leo’s fingers tightened around mine, brushing my knuckles in an almost reverent manner, “You do?”

I nodded, swallowing past the emotions welling up inside me, “I mean it. I love you Leo. In every way possible. Not just as my master, but as my partner, my equal.”

“Have we decided what we are having tonight, gentlemen?” the waiter said, startling us.

Leo and I lean back into our chairs, looking over the menu. I swear, it’s like waiters know when to come over and be ready to interrupt an intense moment.

“I’ll have your pesto gnocchi, with a side of sautéed mushrooms,” I told the waiter.

“And for you, sir.”

“Your roasted chicken breast with a side of potatoes,” Leo said, handing over the menu.

“If you don’t mind. You don’t strike me as someone who would enjoy a dull meal,” the waiter said, raising an eyebrow questioning my boyfriend.

Leo looked into the eyes of our waiter, still handing over the menu, his voice dripping to a husky tone, “You’re right. Go ahead and add a side of the same sautéed mushroom as well,” he paused, his gaze drifting over me in a way that made my pulse quicken, “It’s not about the flavor of the meal,” he continued, his lips curling into a slow, wicked smile, “it's how you savor every bit, how you appreciate what’s on your plate.”

Those words dripped with unspoken promises, making me squirm in my seat as my imagination runs wild. I could feel my face flush as my heart began to pound, desire treading through my veins.

His smile deepened, his eyes narrowing knowing what left his mouth was a comment directed only towards me, and I fucking love it. I’ve come to know that it was his way of letting me know how much wants me without letting other people catch wind of it.

Under the table, I lift my leg to meet his calf, softly run up and down the length letting him know how much I enjoyed hearing him indirectly express his wants.

“A big extreme, but okay” the waiter said before excusing himself to put our order into the kitchen.

We couldn’t help but burst into laughter the moment he disappeared from view-unrestrained, genuine laughter that echoed through the space between us. This felt good, Leo and myself being able to really have fun with one another without any fear. Just us, stripped of all pretense. It had been so long since I’d allowed myself to enjoy someone’s company like this.

Our laughter eventually faded, leaving a comfortable silence hanging between us. Leo looked over at me, a grin still tugging at the corners of his lips and when his eyes caught mine. I glanced away pretending to be fascinated by the sky, painted in soft shades of yellow and red dusk.

“You know how cute you are,” Leo said randomly.

If this man keeps it up, he’s gonna make me blush for the rest of the evening and people will question if I’m okay.

”I have no idea, please tell me?”

A single eyebrow arched on Leo at my sudden cocky answer, taking a sip of his wine. It was a subtle reaction, but was enough to catch him off guard. I hadn’t planned on being so bold, but in the past few days, I’m finding myself opening up more and more, including him to me, where I’m seeing beyond the “sir” or “master” persona I’ve originally come to know of him.

Leo set his glass down.

“You're just full of wit tonight, aren’t you?” He mused, his tone teasing but holding note of admiration.

Shrugging casually, “Maybe I’m trying something new and seeing how far I can push your buttons, see what other reactions I can get out of you.”

“Too bad we're in public,” he said, brushing his finger against his bottom lip, “I’d bend over this table and give you a spanking.”

The sound of him acting upon this sent an exciting shiver through me. His eye glinted mischievously, as if daring me to push him just a little bit further.

For a moment, I entertained the thought of pressing on, continuing the tease, of seeing just how far he’d let himself go, even in public.

Instead, I decided to play along with the spirit of our “no sex” agreement.

“Promises, promises,” I said, “I’ll behave, for now.”

Our waiter reappeared twenty-five minutes later, carrying our food and setting the plates down in front of us with a practiced smile.

“Enjoy,” they said, before quickly moving on to the next table.

Leo and I began to share stories from our pasts, not the heavy ones, but the lighthearted, funny moments. It was like peeling back layers, slowly revealing ourselves to each other in ways we hadn’t before.

“What do you mean it came out as a brick?” Leo asked.

“I’m no baker, my first attempt as a teenager was disastrous. I misread the recipe and the cake I was supposed to make ended up as a solid brick.”

Leo laughed hard, holding his stomach.

“So, asking you to make brownies is off the table?”

“Oh no, if you’re wanting paperweights, then brownies are on the table,” I told him.

“Noted. My turn,” he said, composing himself. “Back in high school, junior year I think, a bunch of friends and I decided that as soon as summer school let out, we’d go camping.”

“And? What happened at said camping?”

“My friends packed everything, but forgot any cooking utensils. We ended up scrounging small sticks and attempted to cook dinner that way.”

I laughed uncontrollably to the point of spewing some wine from my mouth, instantly grabbing the napkin to clean up the drippings from my face.

“I didn’t know it was that funny,” Leo said, hiding his laugh behind a hand.

“I’m sorry! I don’t know why it seems so funny to me,” I admit.

He reached across the table and wiped a small drop of wine that had escaped to my chin. It caught me off guard a bit, but still made me feel special.

“I like seeing you like this,” he said softly, his hand lingering for a moment before he let it fall away.

Here he is again, looking at me in a way that makes me feel like I’m the only person in the world, as his deep blue eyes look directly into my soul. His eyes held me captive, and for a moment, the bustling patio, the lights, the chatter, all faded away, leaving only us.

“You’re doing it again,” Leo said, smiling.

“Doing what?” I asked.

“That thing where you drift off,” he murmured.

“Sorry, I just get lost in my thoughts.”

“I want to make sure you’re okay.”

I nodded, biting my bottom lip while focused on his eyes. Leo is what you say “perfect”. He’s attentive, passionate, monogamous, funny, smart, and let’s not forget a smokin’ hot body I could bake cookies off of.

He’s the total package.

Leo’s eyes shimmered for a moment. He opened his mouth, about to say something, but the waiter returned, breaking the moment.

“Are we looking into dessert tonight?” they asked.

We looked at each other, both shaking our heads.

“Just the bill,” Leo said, before handing over a credit card.

“Don’t you want to know what your total is?” The waiter asked.

“I’m good. Drew, do you need to know?” Leo quizzical said.

“Why? Are we going Dutch?” I responded.

Leo’s smile spread across his face, “Not a chance.”

As Leo’s credit card disappeared into the hands of the waiter, he leaned back into his chair, his focus still fixed on me. I love that he couldn’t take his eyes off me, the warmth that radiates from his steady gaze. Every time he looks at me it’s as if I was something precious, something to be cherished, and it made my heart swell.

“I have an idea,” Leo said, breaking the silence between us.

“Oh?” I arched an eyebrow, curious.

“There’s somewhere near here I want to take you. I spotted it when I was Googling for places to eat,” he explained, a playful gleam in his eyes, “I thought we could go after this. We could take a walk, check it out.”

My fingers tracing the edge of my glass, “That sounds like something out of a romance movie.”

Leo silently chuckled, “Maybe I’m a hopeless romantic at heart. Don’t tell anyone, though.”

“Am I seeing a side of you that’s a little...sappy?” I teased.

Feigning an exasperation, “Careful, or I might change my mind.”

“Too late, Leo. I’m holding you to it now,” I winked.

The waiter returned for the last time a few moments later with the paid bill, handing it back to Leo. He quickly signed the receipt leaving a twenty-five percent tip, his eyes flicking back to me every few seconds.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said, his voice low and warm.

We left the restaurant, stepping outside into the cool evening air brushing against my skin. Leo’s hand found mine, guiding me down the street as our steps fell into a gentle rhythm.

It had a charm that was almost magnetic.

A picturesque place that seemed like it had been plucked from an old postcard. Nestled near the coastline, the town’s main street was a blend of quaint boutiques, cozy cafes, and family-run shops.

The storefronts were painted in soft pastels—pale blues, muted greens, and creamy whites—with flower boxes hanging under the windows, spilling vibrant blooms that swayed.

The cobblestone paths were lined with antique street lamps, their warm glow bathing the streets in a yellow hue as the evening settled in. People wandered leisurely, their voices soft, including a few children running around as their laughter echoed.

I felt myself leaning into him, letting his warmth envelop me as we walked. It was so easy being with him. Easy and natural, like we were always meant to be here, in this moment.

”There it is,” Leo said suddenly, nodding towards a small path that led away from the main street disappearing into the shadows.

I followed his gaze, my eyes landing on the gazebo. It stood at the end of the path, nestled between a cluster of trees, the soft glow of string lights wrapping around its posts.

He tugged on my hand, pulling forward, and I followed without hesitation.

When we reached the structure, Leo stopped, letting go of my hand for a brief moment as he pulled out his phone from his pocket. He swiped at the screen, and soon, the soft melody of a piano filled. The music wrapped around us, mixing with the night time, giving the place an enchanting quality.

My boyfriend looked at me with a smile, his eyes reflecting the warm glow of the lights.

”Care to dance?’ He asked, holding his hand out to me.

I blinked in surprise, a smile tugging at my lips.

”Here? In the gazebo?’

“Why not?” He shrugged, his expression a daring glint. “It’s just us. No audience, no expectations, just us.”

Taking his hand, letting him pull me close, our bodies pressed together, the warmth of his chest against mine as his hand rested on my lower back, starting us off in a slow sway. I wrapped my arms around his neck, as the soft notes guided us.

The moment felt like it was plucked straight from a Nicholas Sparks novel. Leo held me close and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. It wasn’t about the thrill of being caught or the excitement of hidden roles.

This was just Leo and me, no masks, no roles—just us.

I was utterly and undeniably in love with Leo.

And there was no turning back.

“You know,” Leo said, his lips close to my ear, “I never thought I’d be the kind of guy to do this—dancing in a gazebo with someone.”

“And yet, here you are, making every romantic trope come to life.”

Leo’s hand on my lower back tightened, “Only for you.”

“You mean that?” I asked.

“I do. I love you, Drew. Not just as my partner in all our fantasies, but as you, the person who makes everyday worth living. Just you. The person who challenges me in ways no one else ever has and who makes me want to be better. You are everything, my heart, my home.”

A lump formed in my throat.

I pulled away from his chest and looked into his eyes.

Nothing was said.

We both leaned in, our lips capturing a kiss. His lips moved with a blend of tenderness and passion, as if he were pouring every ounce of love, every unsaid word, directly into me.

His hand slid up to cradle the back of my neck, pulling me deeper. The only thing that mattered was him, the taste of him, the warmth of him. The way he kissed me was unlike anything I had ever experienced before...him, or anyone. It was as if I were the ery air he needed to breathe.

Suddenly, a vibration interrupted the moment. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. At first, I ignored it, sliding my hand inside my pocket and clicking the top button. There was no way in hell anything was going to ruin this moment with Leo.

And then it buzzed again.

And again.

And again.

I reluctantly pulled away from Leo, fishing it out my phone, the screen lit up with a text message from Trey.

”Drew, you need to come home now, I’m at your apartment and it’s been broken into and vandalized. I’m with the police now.”

My heart sank, replacing everything I was currently feeling with a cold rush of panic. I looked up at Leo, his expression shifting to concern as he saw the change in my face.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, his voice steady, though I could hear the worry beneath it.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing.

“It’s Trey. My apartment. It’s been broken into.”