Chapter 15
I wait while Saint finishes his burger, wipes his fingers on the napkin, then looks at me.
“Eat your burger,” he says with a nod to the food on my plate.
It was in the same voice he used to speak to his fuckbuddies, and it should piss me off.
Instead, it causes butterflies to jitter about in my stomach. I do as he says.
He leans in close to me. I can feel his breath, warm against the shell of my ear.
“Yes, Noah, I like you. You’re gorgeous and totally my type, but I am your boss, and that should be the only relationship between us.
Y’see, I don’t do boyfriends. I don’t hold hands and cuddle under blankets, watching movies.
Yes, I’m a Dom, and I like to spank, flog, whip my boys until they cry for more and beg for my cock.
I like obedience. I like to have boys kneel at my feet, and I like to punish.
I love to tease, torture, and objectify my playmates.
And I don’t think you could handle even my softest kind of playing.
” He tilts his head and nips at my earlobe, it’s sharp and painful and goes straight to my groin.
A gasp of pain slips free, but I don’t want to pull away.
I want to feel anything he’ll give me. I think he wants me to make him stop, to prove that I’m not right for him.
And maybe I’m not clued up in everything that happens in a sex club, but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in what he’s told me.
Maybe it’s the neglected child in me, the kid that’s used to hard knocks and rejection that makes me want him to do those things to me.
Another way of proving I’m not worth anything to anyone.
But that’s not true anymore. I’m good at my work, I don’t owe anything to anyone.
I have self-respect, and I know I’m worth something to me.
I also realise that he’s provoking me, wanting me to push him away and tell him I’m not interested.
I’m not ready for the things he’s talking about, but he must have had to learn how to do those things.
So, that’s what I need to do. I need to let my submissive side free and try the things he likes.
If he doesn’t want to do them with me, I can find someone else.
Maybe Knox would take me to their club. I wonder what he likes.
“Have I shocked you?” He smirks, feeling pleased with himself.
“No, after what your fuck-friends told me about you, I was expecting it. I think you’re trying to scare me, so I’ll walk away from you. But all you’ve done is make me want to know more.”
He shakes his head. “You’re gorgeous, Noah, and I would like nothing more than to sink deep inside your body.
But you deserve more, and I don’t want anything more.
I don’t want a boyfriend. I don’t like to share my space, and that includes my bed, with anyone.
That’s why I fuck boys like Tate and Roman, sometimes both together in a club.
I can wash them off my body and sleep in my own bed. ”
He picks up his pint and finishes it, setting it down heavily on the table. “Why now, Noah? Why so curious now? Are you just horny and thought you’d see if the boys were right?”
“Hey, don’t get shitty with me. You’re the one who keeps asking me what I’m thinking about. I told you, and you don’t like it. If you want to blame anyone, blame your dad.” I pull out my wallet and take a twenty-pound note out and put it on the table. “That will cover my meal.”
When I get outside, I roll my shoulders back, shaking out the tension that conversation caused.
Bloody arrogant prick. I walked back down the street towards the taxi rank across the road, I can get a cab back to the house.
I need to get my finances sorted, I need to learn to drive, and I need to find somewhere to live.
Unless I live near the studio, then I don’t need to waste money on a car.
I’ll start searching tonight. It doesn’t have to be glamorous or big, just a lock on the door and a comfy bed.
“Noah, stop!” Saint calls out to me, making me stop and turn.
He strides through the busy street as if there’s no one else around, coming to stop in front of me.
He grabs me and presses his lips to mine.
Right here on the street. His mouth is firm, his lips soft as he parts them to let his tongue seek entrance into my mouth.
Instinctively, I open for him. I can taste the beer, but more than that, I can taste him.
Dark and dangerous as he controls every angle of our heads and every sweep of his tongue against mine.
It's only when someone shouts, “Get a room!” that I’m released from the tight grip he has on my arms.
“What was that for?” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
His smirk is back. “Was it that bad.” He nods towards my hand. “I don’t have fleas, I promise.”
“Again, Saint, what was that for? You just spent ten minutes telling me what a bad man you are, that I’m too delicate for you.”
“Maybe I pulled my head out of the sand. Because you really are hot as fuck.” He does the one thing that makes me lose all resolve—he touches his forehead to mine. “And I can’t get you out of my head. I want to do all the things I talked about to you.”
“I want that too,” I whisper, and his eyes flash as pulls back and scrutinises me.
His lips thin as he scowls at me. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“You don’t know me, Saint. You don’t know anything about my past, my needs, wants, and desires. So maybe it’s you that isn’t ready to ask me. When you are, you know where to find me.”
He searches my face, and the only things he’ll see are my frustration and a shit-ton of pissed off. It’s time to leave him. I can’t deal with anymore of his intensity any longer. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Noah!” His voice is sharp, the tone low and authoritative. Something I’ll have to get used to if I want him, but until he takes me seriously, I can do as I wish.
That doesn’t mean that I’m not thinking about him, that my fantasies aren’t getting dirtier, or that I’m not still staring at him when he’s busy. Of course, I am. He’s gorgeous.
It’s time for my first yoga class. I’ve got my mat, and I’m wearing loose joggers.
All I have to do is walk into the gym. So why am I standing outside like a divvy?
Get it together, Noah, this is for you. No one else matters.
I take in a huge breath and let it out slowly, shaking the tension from my hands, and walk inside.
It’s as busy as it was at the weekend, and again, no one pays any attention to the doors when someone walks in. There doesn’t seem to be any kids here tonight, unless they’re in another room. I walk up to the desk and give my card to the receptionist and tell him my name.
“I don’t know where the class is held, it’s my first time,” I stammer, feeling embarrassed.
“No worries. I’m teaching it, so if you want to hang on here for five minutes, we can go together. I’m Blake, by the way.”
Before I can say anything, a hand claps my shoulder and spins me around. Knox grins at me. “You made it, that’s great. And you’ve met Blake. He’s awesome and can bend himself into positions that will make your eyes water. Are we still on for some training afterwards?”
“Um, yeah, I’d still like to, if that’s okay. I’m looking forward to it.”
Two more guys walk through the door, and a low grumble breaks free.
The two fuck buddies! They saunter over, looking fabulous in some expensive workout clothes.
Do they really have to wear everything at least two sizes too small?
No, stop it. They could be really nice, and I could do with some friends my age.
And if I learn anything about Saint and the fun he likes to have, then that’s a bonus.
But then they see me, and wicked smiles light up their faces. Knox notices them, too, and bristles. He wasn’t expecting them. “Tate and Roman, this is a surprise. You’re not normally here on Wednesdays.”
“We felt the need to stretch out our muscles. You know how it is. We get kinks when we’re stretched out for too long,” Tate says, his eyes on me.
“We thought some yoga would be just what we needed.” Roman smiles at Knox, looking like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
“Sorry, guys, there’s no room, the class is full. You’ll have to put your name down for next week.” Blake doesn’t look sorry at all and seems immune to their pouting.
“How come Saint’s latest toy gets to go?” Tate’s hands have moved onto his hip, and he’s tapping his foot furiously.
“First, Tate, don’t talk about Noah like that.
He works for Saint, that’s all. Don’t go looking to make trouble.
And second, Noah booked his place in the group last weekend.
It’s not a drop-in class, you know that.
” Knox is calm and doesn’t sound like Saint does when he gets all serious and growly, but it’s enough to make the two men slump their shoulders.
Does that make him a Dom too? It’s too much to try to work out when all I wanted to do was learn some yoga.
Blake nods at a couple of other people, women with mats like mine under their arms. “Shall we go?”
I nod and look at Tate and Roman. “Nice to see you again.” I don’t want to be somebody they decide to dislike, because I’m no threat to them. Saint has made up his mind and dismissed me as nothing more than his employee.
I hear Knox carry on talking to the guys, but not what he’s saying.