8. Arabella
8
Arabella
W e sit in uncomfortable silence until I’m on my third glass of water and I’m no longer feeling as loosey goosey as I was. Ryker has been glaring at me with his stupid hot face the entire time and now that I’ve sobered up a little, I’m much more aware of my surroundings.
“Tell me Arabella, what are you doing here?” Who does he think he is? He left six years ago. I didn’t need a father then and I don’t need one now.
“I’m on a date, if he’s still even here. He probably thinks I ditched him, thanks to you.” If I had my phone, I could text Wrinley, but I had to lock it up before I entered the club area.
“Who is he? And don’t tell me ‘Brad’ again. I got that much when you were who knows how many drinks deep.” He’s so stern with me. It shouldn’t turn me on, but it definitely does. I give my head a quick shake, trying to toss that thought out of my brain. Ew . I’m still drunk, because that’s the only logical reason I’d be thinking about my mom’s ex in any other way than parental.
“If I answer your questions, will you let me get back to my date?”
“I guess that depends on your answers,” he retorts.
I don’t want to be under his scrutinizing gaze any longer than necessary, so I’ll give him the answers he wants. “Brad is my date. I was set up with him, because his friend Thadd had a date with Wrinley. Thadd and Brad are both members of your club and wanted to bring us as their guests. Et, voila. Is that sufficient for you?”
“Not in the slightest!” I look up to see a vein pulsing on his forehead. “Do you even know what goes on back there? Why would you come with someone you hardly know? And, why the fuck aren’t you wearing actual clothes?”
My body tenses at his rapid fire questioning. “Oh no. You are not my father. You have zero right to even contemplate those questions, let alone ask them. I’m going back to my date now. Thanks for the fucking water,” I argue, slamming the glass in front of him.
“Arabella, wait,” Ryker pleads. “I promise I’m not trying to parent you, but I am worried about you. You’re with a guy you barely know, you were intoxicated until very recently and I have a feeling you don’t really understand most of what happens back there. BDSM and kink should be engaged in responsibly, where both parties can give their consent and remove it if they choose to. It requires trust and a clear head. I’m sorry, but I won’t let you back there. Not tonight.”
I consider him for a brief moment before pushing against him to get out of the booth he has me trapped in. “Ryker, I’m not the same naive, seventeen-year-old little girl I used to be. I am a grown ass woman. If I want to engage in a mutually beneficial activity with a consenting adult, I will and I don’t need your fucking club to do it. I’ll go, but only because I don’t want you looking over my shoulder all night like some unhinged chaperone with boundary issues.” He nods silently as I turn my back and walk away.