19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
N ow that Ollie didn’t have standing photoshoot days with Fin, he’d half expected communication and plans would’ve dried up.
He’d braced himself for it.
However, not only had Fin continued to talk to him daily, but they’d also set up time to hang out tonight.
The plan wasn’t anything fancy—just dinner at their place and a light scene they’d had in mind.
Some shit about him eating his vegetables.
He hadn’t questioned. He liked being surprised by them way too much.
What did surprise him was how comfortable walking up to Whipped had become.
Maybe it had to do with the fact that last week most of this crew had touched him stripped and strapped down.
But another factor had to do with comfort.
Even though a lot of the employees at Whipped had five to ten years on him, none of them treated him like he was younger.
An outsider. They’d welcomed him in with open arms and zero bias.
He stepped up to the front door, his heart racing a little faster.
Would that last once Fin was done with him, though?
Here, he finally felt like he found the community he’d been searching for.
Something separate from his chaotic, albeit loving, family, where he could stand out on his own.
With the edge he teeter-tottered on, he shouldn’t be taking any risks, but he also couldn’t stop living.
The urge to cut wouldn’t vanish just because he played it safe.
Ollie walked inside.
The chatter washed over him, along with the scent of coffee and vanilla.
A few folks sat in the two-seaters, but the café was relatively quiet.
His gaze zeroed in on the hottie behind the counter, the one who’d last fucked him into oblivion in the dungeon here.
Today, Fin wore a blue-and-white flannel, and their black tank top exposed sexy-as-fuck collarbones and a strong neckline.
A few purple strands of hair had slipped past their beanie.
They chatted with a customer, their hazel eyes crinkling with a mischievous grin, and Ollie’s heart somersaulted.
As if they felt him, Fin looked at him, and the way their whole face lit up? Yeah, he was fucked. Somewhere along the line, this infatuation with Fin had deepened—maybe over shared stories and bikes rides—but his threads had tangled so helplessly with theirs that he hoped he was never extricated.
“Coffee?” Fin called across the café. Because of course they did.
He nodded and sauntered over, not feeling the need to shout.
He did enough of that in the shop when yelling for parts.
When he stepped in front of the counter, the urge to lean forward and kiss Fin reared up in a big way.
Even though they kissed on the regular now, this was their workplace, so he’d take cues from them .
“Here.” They placed a filled mug on the counter.
“This black?”
“You want some sugar?” they asked, their hazel eyes glinting. “C’mere.”
They placed their finger under his chin and drew him forward. Fin’s lips crashed to his in a blatant, public claiming. Heat poured through him in a ferocious sweep, and he basked in it. In the way they lightened his mood effortlessly, just from their presence alone.
When Fin pulled back, the wolfish grin on their lips made his heart thump harder.
“You know that was a cheesy-as-fuck line,” he said, his sarcasm hardwired.
“And yet it worked, didn’t it?” Fin said. “Now be a good boy and drink your coffee.”
He grabbed the mug and shook his head, amusement flowing through him. “You’re off in ten minutes, right?”
“Yeah, I won’t be long. Clearly, you couldn’t even wait to get to my house to see me.”
“Don’t feed their ego.” Nolan stepped up. “It’s like feeding a gremlin after midnight.”
“Duly noted,” he said. Nolan’s eyes lingered on him a moment longer, a knowing in his eyes after what they’d shared.
“Stop ogling my sub,” Fin snapped. “You’re about to have your hands full anyway.”
“What are you talking about?” Nolan asked.
“Didn’t you hear?” Fin arched their brows with the wicked slant that meant they tried to stir up shit. Ollie had fast started to read their expressions, since they were such a visual creature. “James is moving back to the area. ”
Nolan’s cheeks flushed, which surprised Ollie. He’d only seen the guy confident and charming.
“Hey.” Meg placed a hand on Ollie’s shoulder. “I’m stealing you to chat.”
Fin shot daggers in Meg’s direction. “You’re going to poison him with your Care Bears shit.”
“It’s what I excel at.” Meg booped Fin on the nose. Fin snapped their teeth in a mock bite back at Meg. Before they could say anything else, though, Meg guided Ollie toward one of the empty two-seaters by the door.
“I feel like I’m getting dragged into the principal’s office,” Ollie said.
Even though Meg was one of the most intimidating people here, she’d also been brazenly kind to him, and he’d warmed to her.
To be fair, he’d fallen for what everyone else considered the other most intimidating person here.
Though he’d seen through Fin’s bravado from the start.
“I mean, if we wanted to bring it downstairs, I’ve got a ruler.
” Meg’s dark eyes gleamed with amusement.
She took a seat, and he followed suit. “I just wanted to check in after last week, since I didn’t get the chance to.
I know Fin’s your Dom, and I trust them, but as a participant in the scene and since you’ve never been to one of our Play Nights before, I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t follow up. ”
He took a sip from the coffee, a robust one Fin had picked out.
He was aware they hadn’t made him pay, and they’d also been choosing things for him that were diabetic-friendly.
They never tried to correct him or got pushy with him about it, though.
They just offered support through action.
He hadn’t realized how badly he’d needed that until Fin had come crashing into his life.
“I’m good with everything from the scene,” he said.
“I might be new to kink, but Fin’s trained me well.
” His shoulders tensed. He might work well with Fin as his Dom, but what would happen if they decided they weren’t in for a relationship?
If he had to start fresh with someone new? His skin ached, the urge rising.
“While I’m hoping the changes in Fin are going to lead to positive things, you know your acceptance here isn’t dependent on your relationship with them, right?” Meg said, bypassing bullshit conversation entirely. Well, damn.
Ollie opened his mouth and then closed it again. Her words soaked him to the core with warmth, even if he didn’t have a clue how to respond.
“You’re witty yet respectful, unlike your Dom, and you’ve made your mark here already,” Meg said as if she sensed he still reeled. “I just want to be clear that we want you around. Our scene needs more folks like you.”
His heart thumped hard, as if it might beat out of his chest. “I think you’re drastically overestimating me.”
Meg arched a brow. “Sounds more like you’re underestimating yourself.”
Having somewhere where he could be seen? Fuck, it was what he’d always hoped for.
Before he could respond, the door chimed as it whipped open again. A blonde with her hair in a ponytail, designer threads, and tanned legs for miles strode inside. Her gaze landed on him and Meg, and she brightened up.
Ollie’s brows drew together in confusion. He’d never met her before in his life.
“Meg,” she squealed.
Meg sat up a little taller. Curious. He hadn’t seen Meg on the defensive before, but this seemed like it, her dark eyes sharper. “Here to talk about the show with Fin?”
The pieces clicked into place .
“Oh, so you’re the one hosting the photography show?” Ollie asked. “Hera, right?”
“And who are you?” she asked, her bright smile toning down a few notches.
“I’m Ollie, Fin’s…” What was he? He wasn’t Fin’s boyfriend, but they had agreed on a D/s relationship. “Fin’s sub.”
Hera’s brows drew together. “You mean flavor of the week, right? They’re notorious for trying out every newbie in town.”
Meg bristled, and a sick little feeling brewed in Ollie’s gut. He knew about Fin’s reputation, but he was insecure about where he and Fin stood. No need to have the transitory aspect drilled in.
“How many partners Fin takes or doesn’t isn’t up for judgment,” Meg said, her voice dangerously low. A predatory quality slipped into it that Hera seemed oblivious to as she rolled her eyes.
“I’m not judging,” Hera said. “Just stating facts. Guaranteed, they’ll have someone new on their arm at the show in a few weeks. Hell, maybe I’d like to attend with the illustrious photographer myself.”
Jealousy burned through Ollie. What the fuck was her issue?
The only thing keeping him from making a hasty exit was the fact that he’d had that conversation with Fin. “Might be tough, since they already extended the invitation to me.”
“Is there something you need, Hera?” Meg lifted her chin. Everything about her posture screamed danger.
“Oh, I need to rent the dungeon.” She batted her lashes, doing a complete 180 from the catty comments a second ago. Had Fin played with this chick? Ollie didn’t trust her for shit. “I know it’s in use and such, but it’s not open during Play Nights, right? I’ll pay you well.”
Meg’s eyes blazed. Honestly, Ollie was a little afraid for Hera, and he didn’t even know her. “No. ”
“Oh, so you’ll use it for your private play parties, but you won’t rent it out? I have friends coming in from out of town, and they heard about Whipped. They wanted to play here.” The pouty attitude didn’t seem to faze Meg in the slightest. If anything, Meg had turned to granite.
“Asked and answered,” Meg said, her tone chilly.
“This is her business,” Ollie said, shocked to find himself speaking up. But the absolute audacity of the woman blew his mind. “She’s allowed to choose what she wants to do with it.”
“You talk big with your whole welcoming community,” Hera spat, ignoring him. “Yet you keep out anyone who isn’t in your inner sanctum. People are tired of the attitude, Meg. Your sanctimonious play nights, your ridiculous rules.”
Meg crossed her arms over her chest. “You don’t like the way I run my business, then you can see yourself out.”
Hera’s mouth dropped open. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Meg arched a brow. “I don’t kid. This isn’t the first time you’ve pushed my boundaries, but it’s the last.”
“What the hell?” Hera balled her hands into fists. Meg’s tone brooked no argument, and she’d turned into ice, not responding to Hera at all. “I’m sure you’re enjoying this.” Hera turned on him, her gaze flashing.
Ollie lifted his hands. “Literally just met you a minute ago. Though I can say it’s not leaving the best impression.”
Hera narrowed her eyes and glanced at Fin, then back to the door. “You’re going to regret being such a bitch, Meg.”
With that, she stomped out the door, slamming it shut behind her.
“Fuck,” Meg muttered, running her fingers through her hair. “I should’ve handled that with more tact.”
Ollie shrugged. “I’m not sad she got handed her ass. ”
Meg scrubbed at her face. “But Hera’s the one hosting Fin’s photography show. I don’t want them to deal with any blowback.”
“Yeah, but if she said that shit to Fin, they would’ve fired back with worse.” His blood hummed, the energy from the situation amping him up even higher. His insecurities jangled like an alarm, and he would need to address this soon, most likely with his therapist.
Meg heaved a sigh. “You’re not wrong. I’ll need to be on the alert, though. I’ve never trusted her.”
“Why’s that?” he asked. Meg seemed to have a honed intuition, and he was beyond grateful she saw him in such a good light. Praise from her meant more than it coming from most.
“I’ve been in the scene for a long while, and I’ve made my fair share of mistakes over the years.
Sometimes people broadcast their red flags from the start, but other times, it’s the responses they give when you set firm boundaries.
Kink’s all about power exchange, so respecting boundaries is of utmost importance, even outside of a scene.
I set mine with her, and rather than accepting them, she pouted and pushed. Red flag.”
Ollie leaned back in the seat, letting that sink in.
The entire time he’d played with Fin, they’d been clear about their boundaries from the start.
And in the process, they’d taught him to communicate his, which was invaluable.
He’d grown more, understood more about himself in the past month than he had for years.
“Sounds like Fin’ll be better off without her then,” he said, feeling a little vindication after what a bitch she’d been.
Meg’s jaw tensed. “If problems arise, we’ll handle them.”
“Why does that sound ominous and threatening?”
Meg’s grin turned positively feline. “Just my natural aura.”
“Fucking done.” Fin marched over. “Ollie, stop lazing about on the couch with Meg. I’m starving. ”
He lifted a brow. “What for?”
They stopped in front of him, crossed their arms, and a wicked grin lit their face. “Depends. If you’re offering your ass, I’ll have that for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
Well, he should’ve seen that one coming. His cheeks burned. Meg, on the other hand, seemed unfazed.
“Do you have a second?” Meg asked, probably to broach the Hera situation.
“Tomorrow, okay?” Fin rocked back and forth on their heels. “This one’s been temptation from the moment he stepped in.”
Heat flushed through him from head to toe. God, he loved the way they talked about him, how brazen and unashamed they were.
“Sounds good,” Meg said. “Have fun, you two.”
He pushed up from the seat, and Fin wrapped their hand around his neck, drawing him down for a kiss. This one was as intense and as direct as them, and it sent a rippling thrill through him. Fin had a way of making him feel claimed that he’d never experienced but sorely loved.
When Fin pulled away, he was a little breathless.
“Come on, lover,” they said, reaching down and grabbing his hand. “We’ve got a long and sweaty night ahead of us.”
Fuck yes.