CHAPTER TEN
Deep into his online game, following a host of demon hunters on an intense campaign, Will lost track of time.
With a full weekend off ahead of him, he could afford to stay up late.
He’d sleep until noon or later if his body allowed it, and probably pass out in his curved floor gaming chair set up in front of his flatscreen.
He reached for the bag of cheese puffs at his side, dismayed to find sharp orange crumbs and little else.
Will berated himself for eating out of the moment.
The bag had been half full when he grabbed it, and it represented the last such snack in the small pantry holding his heat provisions.
Gods forbid his suppressants wore off soon and he started Saturday feverish and covered in his own slick, and starving.
He ought to set up a dash order now just in case, and suffer the higher fees for late night delivery.
After the game. Priorities and all.
“Raven, to your left,” he called through his headset to a team member.
Raven’s avatar, armored in dark green, whirled around and disintegrated a pair of oncoming demons with their crossbow.
Will joined in the cheers streaming through his earpiece, and he kept to the game with both hands on his controller.
When a fresh horde of fanged creatures emerged from behind a bunker, Will tore into them with his sword.
“Damn, Redhawk,” buzzed Raven’s voice in his ear. “Save some for the rest of us, eh?” Beside Will’s avatar, two of his teammates idled with their weapons and kicked at the pile of carnage.
“Sorry.” Will mumbled it more to himself than his friends.
“Just getting out a bit of aggression, but I need to break for a bit. Give me five?” Pausing his player, Will stood to get the blood circulating through his body again.
He swooned a bit walking to the bathroom, tired but not ready to sleep.
His visit to Velvet Sands remained a waking nightmare that a marathon gaming session failed to soothe.
Imagining each demon as a variation of Brad the Alpha A-Hole brought him some satisfaction, but thoughts of Ray wrecked his concentration.
He considered the possibility that Ray gave Will space to cool off, or else wanted time to craft an apology.
Ray had done nothing wrong, though. Will appreciated him stepping in when that bare-chested Dom turned aggressive, and should have thanked him before leaving.
He couldn’t hold Ray accountable for the club’s lapse in security, but separating Ray from Velvet Sands in his head proved challenging.
What aggravated Will above all else was the lack of a confidante who could relate to his dilemma.
Greg had sent him the guest pass, but what did he really know about the Lifestyle?
Will expected a “not all Alpha Doms” speech from his boss, and therefore wouldn’t bring it up if asked.
He didn’t feel at all comfortable talking about it with Gwen or Phil, either.
Damn it. Monday morning was certain to be fun, facing Ray after that fiasco. He hated to resign from the agency this close to the grand opening, too. Leads were coming in, and Phil had talked to him about earning commissions from walk-ins.
Will flushed hot, but attributed it to hours spent in front of his screen with nothing to drink. He detoured to the kitchen for bottled water and noticed his phone by his chair, alive with several notifications.
Hey
Im sorry for what happened tonight
I cant defend the club for it, but I’m glad I was there to stop it
“Me, too.” Will’s heart surged to read Ray’s words. He pulled his thumb up the screen for the rest of the thread.
You dont have to answer right away
Just checking up on you to make sure ur ok
And if you need anything
“Oh, Alpha.” Will laughed at himself for blurting out the sentiment. Ray’s caring nature touched him, and Will knew he wasn’t to blame for the other Alpha’s aggression. He called up the keyboard to tap out a reply when another message appeared.
I would like to talk with you face to face before Monday, if we can
Will checked the time. A few minutes past one in the morning, and he remained wired. He pictured Ray in bed in the dark, watching his phone for signs of life. He thought of suggesting a coffee date at Gabe’s in the morning, but remembered The Daily Bean’s reduced hours.
If they were both up now, why wait?
Will sent Ray his address and an offer to have coffee waiting when he arrived. He smiled at the thumbs up reply.
When Ray arrived thirty minutes later, Will opened the door to the same outfit from the club.
Ray wore his glasses and his blond hair stuck out in places, leaving Will to guess the Alpha left home without taming his bedhead.
His leather and bourbon scent wafted close and overpowered the medium roast Will brought to the front door.
He flashed a soft and grateful smile when Will handed him one of the mugs.
“It’s half-caf. Enough that we can stay alert without losing too much sleep later,” Will said as he led Ray deeper into his apartment. With the video game off and the chair placed back in its corner, Will gestured to the sofa where they took opposite ends. “Oh, can I bring you anything for it?”
“Black is fine for now, thanks.” Ray manspread on his end, splaying his fingers over his left knee while he sipped.
Will, sitting with one leg tucked under him, studied the Alpha’s body language.
For a large man who radiated confidence telling off the Velvet Sands bully and a quiet tenderness during their moments alone, Ray came off as fidgety and shy.
Will might have found this behavior endearing in another time and place, but he hadn’t invited Ray over to cause him any stress.
“Ray,” he said at the same time Ray addressed him.
“Go ahead, Will.”
Will laughed off their collision of words. “I didn’t properly thank you for handling that bully. The whole experience was so traumatic that all I could think of at the time was going home.”
“Will, don’t worry about whether or not you offended me.
You didn’t, by the way,” Ray told him. “You were in distress, and while I offered to stay with you it’s perfectly fine that you wanted to be alone.
It’s why I took my time reaching out.” He stared into his mug.
“I wasn’t expecting you to answer my texts right away. I figured you’d be asleep.”
“I don’t like to leave things unresolved before bed. I end up tossing and turning.”
Ray flashed him a quick smile. “I’m glad you replied, and I’m sorry for not preparing you for the club.”
Will leaned closer, happy to see Ray shift to face him. “We can sit here all night and debate over faults, but you’re not to blame. I could have done a little more research, or taken more initiative to find someone on staff to help.
“And yes, I could have talked to you beforehand about visiting the club,” he added.
“I could have told you I was going tonight as well.” Ray switched hands with the mug and stretched out his free hand, tapping on the cushion.
“I’d have talked you out of going alone, and not because I don’t think you can’t handle an aggressive Dom.
In a perfect situation, Velvet Sands is a solid learning experience.
Anybody new or interested in BDSM, in my opinion, should attend classes or an open house before checking out a club. ”
“If I thought Mistress Eden ever held a lecture, I’d consider attending it.”
“She will, sometimes,” Ray said. “I’ll keep an eye out.”
An awkward silence settled between them, during which Will drank his coffee and thought of what to say next. Another word collision followed, and Will yielded to Ray.
“The reason why I asked to talk, face to face…” Ray gestured back and forth. “Monday I plan to give Gwen and Phil notice.”
Quitting? Will set down his mug. “Why? Because of me?” he asked. “Ray, I may have been a bit mad at the club, and jumped to conclusions, but it doesn’t mean you have to leave your job. I…”
“Will.” Ray’s voice deepened, close to a commanding Alpha but not the kind to implore an Omega into submission. Nonetheless, Will quieted and let Ray speak.
“After you left, I talked with Mistress Eden. She reminded me of my true nature as a Dominant,” Ray continued. “I know I told you that I’d be fine in a non-Lifestyle relationship, and you said you weren’t looking for anything serious right now.”
“I said that, yes.” Will didn’t recognize his own voice. Hearing the statement from Ray caused a disconnect from the person he was earlier today. “Greg gave me a guest pass to Velvet Sands,” he said. “I figured if I had a look around, I might understand your interests.”
Ray stood and paced a few steps. “Will, I like you for you. Don’t feel that you have to acclimate yourself to the Lifestyle to please me.
” Pausing in front of Will, he hooked his thumbs into his beltloops.
“I realize now I wasn’t completely honest with you.
I can’t guarantee that I’ll want to mate with somebody who isn’t into kink.
It’s too soon for us to decide that, but is it right for us to get involved when in a few months or a year I’ll want to be somebody’s Dom again? ”
“This sounds like a pre-emptive breakup.” Will’s gut roiled.
Ray shrugged. “Or like I’m saving us a lot of heartache down the road,” he said.
“Is that what you want, to cut our losses now?”
“No!” Ray scrubbed his hand over his face. “You like your freedom, and I like the idea of spanking my mate. The initial attraction aside, are we really compatible?”
“I think the better question to ask is this.” Will rose from the couch and locked their gazes. “How about we try a scene before you make up my mind for me?”
~*~
A scene. With Will.
This pretty, lithe Omega, bound and submissive. His creamy skin pinking with every spank.