Chapter 9 Josie
“We have half an hour before we have to leave to make curtain,” Fleur leaned against the wall next to the kitchen, surveying the crowded counters.
“Sorry. Avery is late and I needed to make sure the trays were ready to go. It’s for the burlesque dancers' holiday party.”
“You don’t need to go?”
“No, Avery has a friend who is going to help her and I might hire her.”
“I think you need the help.”
Josie sighed, giving the pot of pasta a stir and tried not to let her mother’s comment bristle her.
“I know but it takes time to find good people. I’m not a fine dining operation.”
“You’re a busy operation, Josie. Look how your business has grown from simple takeout meals to catered events. It’s impressive.”
Josie shook her head at her mother’s praise, but she was proud of how far her little catering business had come. Her mother was her biggest supporter and fan, and it meant a lot to Josie that Fleur was proud of her success.
Her phone buzzed behind her from the bench. Expecting it to be Avery, Josie grabbed it and read the text.
“Just Ares,” she set the phone down.
“Put that man out of his misery and answer his text.”
“You’re as bad as Cecilia!”
Fleur spread her arms wide, the sleeves of her shimmery purple dress falling. “I want to see you happy too.”
Josie shook her head but grabbed her phone. The whole week she’d been dodging Ares’s calls.
She knew that was unfair and maybe even childish. If not childish it was scaredy cat behaviour.
That night at the Christmas market was so intense, the entire experience soaked into her pores and then when she collided with Harper in the hall and her two gorgeous men, it made all of it seem too real.
Too real with how she tossed and turned, awake with need and want and lust.
“Must be good. You’re blushing.”
“Mom!”
“It’s true,” Fleur shrugged an elegant shoulder. “You told me you liked the first date. Why not go out with him again?”
“I didn't say I wouldn't,” Josie mumbled. It’s not like she could tell her mother that she got spooked because all the talk about kink and BDSM were suddenly right in front of her face, literally. As if being in a real dungeon didn’t drive that point home.
Josie glanced at the time, wondering where Avery was because she needed to be at the organizer’s home in twenty minutes.
“So put the man out of his misery and answer his texts.”
“Do you think I would be happy with Ares?”
Fleur raised a pair of perfectly groomed eyebrows. “I don’t know. I’ve known the Montagues a long time and they are serious about the people they have around them.”
“What does that mean?” Josie took trays from her rack, starting to pack up the food.
“I guess it means, while I want you to have fun, I don't want you to get hurt.”
Tension pounded between her shoulder blades. The fear of being hurt wasn’t why she hadn’t responded to Ares. Maybe it was because her last relationship left her numb. She viewed this thing between her and Ares as something different. She’d never felt the way she had when Ares kissed her.
And maybe it was because they had been friends for years before she said yes to him and she knew he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.
“Hey, sorry for the interruption,” Carter knocked on the doorway.
“Not interrupting, trying to pack up this catering order for an event tonight.”
Carter stepped into the kitchen and grabbed a container. He took down a ladle from the rack and started scooping sauces into the container.
“I don't need help.”
“Yes, she does,” Fleur said. “Nice to see you again, Carter.”
“You too. Three sauces?”
“Yeah, and I have a tray of meatballs to pull from the oven. It’s a pasta bar with paninis for a group of burlesque dancers.”
“Wish I could go with you,” Carter rubbed his hands together.
Josie laughed. “I’m supposed to go with my mom to the symphony. This is Avery's event but she’s not here yet. “
“How many are you catering for?”
“Supposed to be 45 people,” Josie moved to the oven to check on the meatballs. She’d been looking forward to an evening hanging out with her mom.
“Buffet style?”
“Yes, an extra pair of hands would be nice but it’s fine,” Josie set the pan down on the counter, then reached for another container to start packing the pasta.
“Going to assemble the sandwiches on site?”
“Yep. That’s all ready to go.”
“Smart girl,” Carter raised an eyebrow and heat flooded Josie’s cheeks. “I wish I could send someone from my staff, but I had two call in sick and we’re a full house.”
“You didn’t come back here to help me pack up. What did you need?”
“Almost forgot, you had me jump into action,” Carter grinned, and the way he looked at her, as if he was going to touch her, made her shift from foot to foot.
“I have an electrician coming bright and early tomorrow. He should be done by the time you start but just in case, I wanted to give you a heads-up as to why some strange man might be standing on your counter.”
“What’s wrong?”
“The lights above the bar keep flickering out. Best to get it looked at now before it becomes a problem.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
“Yep, good luck tonight. I'm sure it’ll work out,” Carter backed away from the counter. “Nice seeing you again.”
“You too,” Fleur waved and pulled out a stool at the small desk across the room. “You know that man is into you.”
“Okay, now you’re like Cecilia’s twin.”
“She’s right.”
“Would you prefer me to go out with Carter?” Josie moved, securing the lids to the pans, wrapping it all up.
“Who you go out with is your business. He’s closer to you in age.”
Josie smiled, knowing her mother couldn’t help but toss out that remark.
“I’m not going to the symphony, am I?”
“Not unless Avery walks through that door in two seconds. How are you transporting all this?”
“I can fit it in my car.” It was going to be a tight fit but fortunately the house the event was at was only a fifteen-minute drive.
“I better go, honey. I’m going to see if Carlos’s sister can come with me.”
“Have fun, Mom,” she gave her mom a quick hug and Fleur squeezed her back tightly. “Don’t work too hard.”
“You know I will,” Josie kissed her mom on the cheek, and the door buzzed as it opened. Fleur gave her a wave and blew her a kiss and then was gone.
Her mom knew how hard she pushed herself, how determine she was to succeed. Josie had no idea what she would have done if her mom hadn’t been such a strong advocate for her, growing up.
But she was here on her own and right now, she had an event to get to.
Grabbing her phone, she tried calling Avery and it went to voicemail.
Taking her keys off the hook, she stepped out the door and right into a muscled chest, causing her to stumble back.
“Whoa, sorry. I wanted to surprise you.”
Her mouth went dry, as she stared at green eyes filled with concern. His fingers gripping her arm felt so good, so right.
She pulled herself away. “You did. I’m on my way to a catering job.”
“Is that why you didn’t answer my text today?”
“Yes,” Josie brushed by Ares, pressing the fob to unlock her trunk.
“Is that the only reason?” Ares held the door for her.
“I don’t know. Can’t talk right now, busy.” She strode by him again to go back into the kitchen.
“Let me help.”
“I got this,” Josie picked up the container of sauces that Carter had packed, walking by Ares she caught his scent. He always smelled good and it did things to her, like waking up her lady parts.
“Yeah, but I'm here and I can carry stuff,” Ares picked up the pasta tray.
Josie directed him to where she wanted to put it in her trunk, then went back into the kitchen for the next container.
After loading the trays of panini fixings, Josie closed the trunk.
“Thanks for helping. I got to go.”
Ares stepped into her space. “I’m coming with you.”
“I don’t need help.” The way he was gazing at her made her pulse jump. She didn’t want to be anywhere else.
“Okay but I want to spend time with you. I came by because I wanted to talk to you and invite you over to my place.”
“For what?”
Ares’s sly smile blasted a fresh wave of heat to her cheeks.
“Rope. Hot tub.”
“I don’t know if that’s a great combination.” She couldn’t help it, she had to touch him. She trailed her palm along his chest.
“Trust me, it's the perfect combination. I might as well be a useful human and help you.”
“Have you ever made a sandwich?”
Ares laughed. “Once but I'm a fast learner.”
“Fine. Get in the car.”
“Now who’s bossy? This is going to be a great second date,” Ares tugged her close to him, slanted his mouth over hers, capturing her lips in a deep kiss that shot shivers all up and down her spine.
This was awful timing but Josie kissed him back, exploring his mouth with her tongue, getting lost in his rich clean taste.
“Better hurry.” Josie pulled away.
“Oui chef,” Ares opened the driver’s door, and bowed.
Josie laughed; he made a very handsome picture. “Thank you.”
She put on her seatbelt, her heart hammering in her chest. This was nuts, she always said no to help but Ares insisted and she couldn’t turn him down.
She didn't want to turn him down.
“What did you plan for our second date?”
Ares grinned, as she put the car in drive and placed his hand on her thigh.
“Xander promised me that the three of them are away this weekend. The entire weekend,” Ares squeezed her thigh.
The weight of his hand on her leg, the proximity to where Ares was, made her head spin.
“No more running into naked roommates.”
“I’m sorry, I should have done more to protect you,” Ares’s tone was so solemn, Josie’s heart lurched.
“I don’t need protection from your brother and his lovers, even if they are naked. I can handle my stuff, okay? I don’t need you to protect me.”
“You’re right,” Ares glanced out the window, then his heated gaze was back on her. “I love how confident you are. How independent you are.”
“It’s an act,” Josie grinned.
“I don’t think so,” Ares gave her thigh another little squeeze. “My plan was to bring you over; we’d have a light snack. Then I would bring you into the living room, where I moved all the furniture against the wall.”
“Why?” Josie swallowed, trying to steady her nerves. The timbre of his voice was so sensual she could melt.
“So, we have lots of room for rope. The floor there has carpet, softer than the hardwood that’s in the dungeon.”
Josie’s hands sweated on the steering wheel. “Are you any good at it?”
“Yes. One of my long-term partners and I were really into it. I’ve practiced rope for…”
“Longer than I’ve been alive?” Josie quipped. Seeing his face drain of colour made her smirk.
“It’s not that big of an age gap.”
“Tell that to my mother.”
Ares shifted on the seat and a thrill raced through her that she made him unsettled.
“I like teasing you. It’s fun.”
“Do you like being tickled by the way?”
“No. And no touching my feet. At all.”
“Are they sensitive because of how you walk?”
“Yes, and I hate having them touched. They get sore.”
“Okay, no feet. But I give a mean foot massage.” His sultry tone raised goosebumps along her arms.
“Still hate having them touched.”
“Anything else I need to know?” Ares laid his palm flat on the top of her leg, sweeping it in a circle.
“I don’t do well with standing or being still in one spot for long. I need to move. I always have pain in my legs, hips, and back.” She threw out the words between gritted teeth, bracing herself for how Ares would reply.
Would he tell her that he couldn’t play with her? That she was too broken to enjoy kink?
“We can make it work. If I am causing you any pain or distress, you have to tell me and the scene ends immediately. I will do everything I can to keep you safe. I will always respect your boundaries but you are responsible for your safety.”
She swallowed. The steely tone of his words made her nod.
“After you bring me into the living room, then what?”
“I like to start the scene by standing in front of each other, touching, maybe hugging, kissing or just breathing. What kind of mood are you looking for?”
“Nothing with pain and nothing too intense.”
“To start, I would aim for a five. Nothing that’s going to bore you but something that will give you a taste.”
“No suspension?”
“Not yet,” Ares grinned. “We can work up to that if you’re interested.”
“You can make me fly?” She was wet between her legs, shifting on the seat.
“I would love to see you fly, pretty girl. But I can also make you fly by giving you so many orgasms you’re out of your mind.”
“You’ve said that before,” Josie grinned, making a left into the parking lot.
“But for this first scene, I would ask you to sit cross-legged and I would tie columns on your legs.”
The air was scorching inside the car. Thankfully they had arrived at the house. “Why start me like that?”
“I want to make sure you’re comfortable.
You’re sensitive about having your feet touched, and I guess you might feel the same way about having your legs touched.
This would work on trust and I'd want you to feel good. The tie would leave me lots of room to play with your breasts,” Ares swept his palm from the top of her thigh, along her waist to her neck.
“I have to go to work.”
“I’m coming with you,” Ares unclicked his seatbelt, and came around to her door.
“I can get it myself,” Josie mumbled. She needed to focus on making these customers happy and put the fantasy the man wielded out of her mind.
“I know but the faster we're done here, the sooner I get to take you to my living room.”
Her cheeks flamed but she grabbed the bags and set off to the front door. Fortunately, a woman with short purple hair was waving at her.
“Hi! I’m so excited for this party! Avery said you were the best! Let me show you were to set up and let me know if you need anything. I’m Lane by the way.”
Josie smiled and followed Lane into a house of music and laughter and focused on her job, no matter how much she wanted to feel Ares’s rope on her, it had to wait.