26. Emmett
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
EMMETT
N ervous anticipation thrums through my veins as I swirl the amber liquor around my glass.
I haven’t been able to take my eyes off Waverly since she agreed to play with me tonight, and the permanent flush across her cheeks has my cock harder than it’s ever been.
Pushing her the way I did hadn’t been on the cards tonight, but I need her to trust me. I need her to lean on me. I need her to depend on me. That’s the only way she’ll ever truly be safe, and I won’t allow her to be anything other than just that. Not now that I’ve tasted her.
When I lived in the shadows of her life, it was easy to keep my distance. But now that she’s allowed me into her orbit, she’ll never be free of me. Not truly.
I booked a private room for tonight, but all I can think about is how pretty she’d look on stage, bound and gagged, taking everything I give her while everyone watches. The idea enrages me as much as it does arouse me, the conflicting emotions taking my breath away. But I think she’d like it.
She came so fucking hard in the middle of the club, the threat of being caught adding to her pleasure in a way I’m certain she wasn’t prepared for. But I think I’ll have to work her up to a fully public display.
I check my watch and blow out a breath. Only thirty minutes until she finishes. Only thirty minutes until I get her all to myself, until I can finally get my fill of the woman who has haunted my every dream for a decade. Who I’ve waited for all this time.
I wasn’t a virgin the night I met her for the first time, but I haven’t touched a woman since. It’s been ten long years waiting for this moment, waiting for the time I could finally have her all to myself. And I’m going to savor every fucking second.
W averly’s eyes flick up to meet mine as she slips behind the bar and takes her handbag and the gift box from where she was hiding them. Her bottom lip disappears between her teeth, and for a moment I wonder if she’s going to run. I wouldn’t blame her if she did, but she has to know I’ll chase her to the end of the earth if I have to.
She says something to Abigail, who beams at her before giving her a quick hug and going back to making a cocktail for a guy at the bar, leaving Waverly no option but to head my way.
She only hesitates for another few seconds before she crosses the bar area and slips into the booth opposite me.
“You didn’t have to sit here my whole shift,” she says softly.
“I like watching you.” I shrug, biting the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smirking. If only she understood just how much I like watching her in everything she does. But I’ll let her think it’s just my voyeuristic tendencies that are at play.
The prettiest blush works its way across her cheeks, but she doesn’t look away even though she’s desperate to do just that.
“I’m not very exciting to watch,” she murmurs.
“That’s one.”
“One what?”
“Punishment.”
Her eyes widen, and her lips part as if she’s about to argue, but she seems to choose against it. Probably a good decision on her part. Instead, she drags that poor lip back to the prison between her teeth as she fiddles with the strap of her bag.
“Nothing happens tonight that you’re not comfortable with, Waverly.”
“Okay,” she whispers.
“Look at me,” I say firmly, and her gaze immediately meets mine. It’s good to know she can follow orders without hesitation, one less thing I’ll have to teach her. “I mean it. You say the word, and this all stops.”
“Like a safe word?”
I nod. “Exactly. We can either use the traffic light system, or you can choose your own safe word. Whatever you’re more comfortable with.”
She swallows heavily, and I fight against the smirk that tries to tip up my lips. “I think maybe the traffic lights will be easier for me to remember in the moment.”
“Very well. What about limits?”
“I…I’m not really sure.”
A blush spreads down her throat, and I track the movement, desperate to see her entire body turn that delectable shade of pink. But that will come in time. I’ve been patient for years, I can be patient for a little longer. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.
“When I was filling in the questionnaire, Hannah helped me a lot. I didn’t really know what a lot of the things were.”
“We can take it slow,” I assure her. “How about we start with some of the more basic stuff? How do you feel about being spanked?”
She shifts in her seat, and I already know the answer before she nods her head. “I’d like to try it.”
“What about being bound? Blindfolded?”
Her breath stutters in her chest, but she nods again, and I force myself to keep my hands on my side of the table. I’ve been a member here since we moved to the city, but this is my first negotiation. I’ve watched hundreds of scenes in my time, but this is the first one I’ll be taking part in, and I want to make sure I’m doing everything by the book. Getting banned would really throw a wrench in the works when it comes to my stalking Waverly.
“And toys?”
“I’ve never…I haven’t ever…I don’t own any,” she finally stutters out.
I reach across the table and take her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. “You’re doing great. You don’t need to be self-conscious about any of your answers. I’m not judging you.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“How so?”
“You’re experienced in all of this. I only know what I’ve read in books, and this feels a lot different to that.”
I chuckle. “Would it help if I told you something about my experience?” I ask, but don’t give her a chance to respond before I continue. “I haven’t been with anyone in a decade. I’ve watched scenes, and I’ve learned everything there is to know about being a Dom, but you’ll be the first woman I’ve ever scened with.”
Her mouth drops open in surprise, and it takes long seconds for her to think through what I’ve just told her. It’s an easy assumption for her to make, that I’m experienced with everything we’re discussing. And perhaps the years of watching gives me a certain level of just that, but there’s something special about the fact we’ll be each other’s firsts in this.
I hate the idea that she was with anyone while I was living in the shadows. But she did what she thought she had to at the time, and even when I was desperate to intervene, to stop her from sleeping with anyone that wasn’t me, I couldn’t out myself back then. No matter how badly I wanted to at the time.
“You haven’t…” She trails off.
I shake my head. “I haven’t.”
“Why not?”
“I guess I was waiting for the right person.”
Waverly rolls her lips together in contemplation before she nods. “Ask me whatever questions you need to.” The tension hasn’t completely left her shoulders, but my confession has set her at ease, even if it’s just for the moment.
“Have you ever been choked?”
Her eyes widen for a moment before she shakes her head.
“Would you like to be?”
“Yes,” Waverly breathes, and my cock twitches behind my zipper. Lord have mercy. I don’t know how I’m ever going to survive her, but if I die at her altar, I’ll die the happiest man on earth.