Chapter Fifteen Alex
The plastic chains hanging in the basement doorway act like a beaded curtain, blocking off the area while offering a teasing glimpse of the dungeon beyond. I slip my hand through the beads and part them slowly, drawing the moment out.
“Welcome, adventurers! To our dungeon of delights.”
The booming voice startles me into taking a step back.
For the second time that day, I collide with Euan.
At least this time we don’t fall over. He catches me with a hand on my hip, holding me steady.
His hand lingers for a long moment. When he finally takes it away, his fingers brush against me in a gentle caress that sends a shiver down my spine.
“Would you like to play?” the dungeon master asks, drawing my attention back to them.
I expect another bored goth, but this one seems to have a lot more fun with their job.
The brown cloak they’re wearing has the hood up to obscure their face.
In one outstretched hand, they hold a giant, stuffed twenty-sided die.
The other hand looks empty at first, but when I step closer, I see a small metallic twenty-sided die resting in their palm.
“If you roll a nat twenty with the small die, you get a ten-percent discount on one item, not including furniture.”
Furniture?
“If you roll a nat twenty with the big die, you get a five-percent discount, including furniture.” They straighten and pronounce in a dramatic voice, “You may only choose one.”
“What happens if we roll a nat one?” Euan asks, leaning against the counter.
The dungeon master chuckles and gestures for us to look down.
Unlike the counter upstairs, this one is a glass case displaying the more expensive items. There are dozens of different leather collars, some of them thick enough to cover the whole neck.
A little sign proudly proclaims: “All leather goods are locally crafted.” Next to the collars are a variety of stainless-steel butt plugs, some with faux gems decorating the end.
But the dungeon master is pointing to a specific section of metal rods. They’re separated into groups, all in their own velvet-lined boxes so you know which ones belong together. Inside each group, the rods are organized from smallest to largest.
“If you roll a nat one on either die, you get a twenty-percent discount on a sounding rod set,” the dungeon master explains.
“What do you do with them?” I ask.
The dungeon master looks at me for a moment, then turns their head toward Euan.
Finally, they lower the hood to reveal a curly black mullet and a face full of piercings.
“You’re pretty new to this, huh?” they ask.
They set both dice down and cross their arms on the counter.
“So, a sounding rod goes in the urethra to stimulate the prostate from the inside. The sets come with anywhere between five and ten different sizes, plus instructions on how to use them safely.”
Heat rises on my face the longer they talk.
Five minutes ago, I was asking why someone would like men in lingerie, and now I’m getting a lesson on sticking a metal rod in your cock.
It’s very different from anything I’ve experienced.
I’d done anal before, from both roles, but that was about as adventurous as I’d ever been with a partner.
“You aren’t required to purchase it, obviously. You just get the twenty-percent-off coupon if you roll a nat one. So,” they say, straightening up and slapping a rhythm onto the counter, “do you want to roll?”
I glance at Euan, who shrugs. “Umm, sure. Can we both roll?”
“Yeah, but on the off chance you both win, you only get one coupon per transaction. Which one do you want?”
“I’ll take the big one,” I say, and they hand me the stuffed die.
Euan accepts the little one, and the dungeon master pulls out a little cardboard tower. Euan tips the die into the tower and it rattles all the way down, landing in the bottom.
“Seventeen,” the dungeon master announces. “Solid, but I’ve got a pretty high armor class. How about you?”
Not really sure what else to do, I toss the die into the air. It lands on the floor and rolls over several times until it eventually bumps into the wall and stops. I crane my neck to see the result but it’s hard to read from here.
The dungeon master walks over to view the result and retrieve the die. “Twenty! Nice! It’s actually a lot harder to get on this one because it’s not balanced.”
I have no idea what that means, but I happily accept the coupon they hand me.
“Anything in the store,” they repeat. “It doesn’t have to be from the dungeon.”
The dungeon master returns behind the counter, ready to help us if we need anything behind it. Remembering their explanation of the sounding rods, I blush and turn away from them, focusing on the rest of the store.
The wall my die ran into is covered in bondage gear.
Even though I’m fairly vanilla, I recognize the gags and handcuffs, and I can guess what the hoods are for.
The rest of it is a mystery to me. I pick up a triangular leather sack with a zipper down its length.
There are a few different sizes, though I can’t figure out how you use it.
“You put your arms behind your back and your partner zips you into it,” the dungeon master explains.
I try to picture the position he’s describing, imagining my arms trapped behind me.
It doesn’t seem very comfortable. I put it back and examine the other options.
There are classic handcuffs and fuzzy ones, then there are thick bands lined in fur.
They’re in a rainbow of colors and it annoys me that they’re haphazard—blue next to pink with green on the wrong side.
“Do you want to be tied up or do you want to tie someone else up?” Euan asks as he picks up a teal set of cuffs and runs a thumb over the fur.
I scan him from head to toe, considering what he might look like wearing the cuffs. Both wrists and ankles bound, spreading him open across a bed. I could do whatever I want with him.
Except I have no fucking clue what to do.
If he’s the one tied down, am I supposed to penetrate him?
It seems like that’d be harder with him tied to a bed.
Or maybe he’d expect me to ride him? Treat him like my personal toy.
Honestly, that sounds like I’m the one doing all the work.
Not very different from my usual sex life.
No, I definitely have no interest in tying Euan—or anyone—up.
I take the cuff from Euan and lay it across my wrist, picturing the other scenario.
All my limbs bound, held immobile but still in a comfortable position.
I close my eyes and add a blindfold to the fantasy, because I think it’d be easier if I don’t know exactly what’s coming.
If I can shut my brain off for a bit. A phantom touch caresses my side, mimicking how Euan has touched me before.
This time the touch lingers, until my skin burns from the heat and desire for more.
Tracing a path over my side, along my chest, down my inner thighs.
With my hands bound, I can’t do anything to try to guide the hand except squirm and shift my hips hopefully.
I don’t know when, but I’ve added a gag to the little fantasy so I can’t even voice what I want. I’m solely at Euan’s mercy—
I snap out of the daydream and shove the cuff back onto the rack. Euan may be my husband on paper but using him to fuel my fantasies is a step too far. I should have pictured some faceless figure, not the man standing next to me just because he’s convenient.
Well, and because he’s attractive. I can’t help glancing at him from the corner of my eye, admiring the breadth of his shoulders, his thick arm muscles. He wouldn’t even need to tie me up to hold me down.
I move away from the bondage wall, telling myself that I’m not running away from him, I’ve just finished window shopping. I’m not going to buy anything even if I have a coupon.
Further into the room, I finally spot the furniture the dungeon master mentioned.
Several large, pre-assembled pieces are on display while their boxes line one wall.
Some of it I understand at a glance. There’s a fake throne with the seat cut out of it and a pillowed headrest underneath so one person can sit while the other eats them out.
A large X with straps on each point is obviously for tying someone up.
But I have to crane my head to figure out what the S-curve is for, and I’m not really sure how anyone would use the gymnastics vault.
“Hey, so I don’t want to sound like a creep,” the dungeon master says, speaking up for the first time in several minutes. Euan and I both look at them, but their eyes are locked on Euan, their pierced eyebrows furrowed. “But do I know you?”
Euan’s smile is polite but void of recognition. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure? I feel like I’ve seen you before.”
“I’m not from here,” Euan explains, “I’m just visiting.”
“Visiting,” they repeat. Then the dungeon master snaps and points a finger gun at Euan. “Nick’s boyfriend! The long-distance guy he met during an RPG.” As soon as they realize where they recognize Euan from, their gaze turns to me. One pierced eyebrow arches in a clear message: you’re not Nick.
My initial response is to defend myself with “We’re just friends.
” Except we’re not, because we’re married.
Then I remember that Euan and Nick broke up, so it’s none of this person’s business.
Euan could bend me over that S-curve right now and fuck me senseless, and the only problem would be the public indecency.
And shit, I’m thinking about it again.
Alright, so maybe I want to fuck my husband.
It shouldn’t be a surprise, since I might have slept with him the night we met if I’d been a little more sober and a little less depressed.
Instead, I married him, which means our relationship is already far too complicated.
The last thing we need to do is add sex into the mix.
Not that Euan has actually asked or offered.
Although he did ask if I want to be tied up …
Stop. Thinking. About. It.
“Nick and I aren’t together anymore,” Euan explains.
The dungeon master doesn’t look convinced, but they also don’t ask any probing questions. “Sorry for interrupting,” they reply. They finally break eye contact and duck their head to look down at their phone.
I’m pretty sure they’re texting Nick right now to verify the information. I imagine how that conversation would go:
Nosy Employee
Euan is here with some random blond. Did you two really break up?
Nick
We sure did! I’m a spineless, indecisive loser who doesn’t recognize a good man when I see him—
Okay, that’s probably not how the conversation is going.
I must not be that far off though, because the dungeon master’s expression smooths and they tuck their phone away. “Let me know if you have questions,” they say, a peace offering after potentially insulting a customer by implying they were cheating on their partner.
“Let’s go upstairs,” I say. The goth who ignored us was much better company than the nosy dungeon master.
They pull their hood up as we near the exit, either to prepare for another set of customers or to hide their face.
As soon as we’re at the top of the stairs, I glare back down at the dungeon. “I can’t believe they implied you were a cheater. Our relationship could be totally platonic.” It’s not like they know I was fantasizing about Euan. “Or-or you could be polyamorous! Did they ever think about that?”
Euan’s lips twitch. “Nick would also need to be polyamorous or it’s still cheating, and his friends would probably know he’s not.”
“Oh.” Some of my anger cools, but I still glare down the stairs one last time before moving to the other staircase.
After the dungeon, the upstairs is somewhat lackluster. As Euan thought, the toys aren’t themed, though they do come in an impressive variety. Dildoes, vibrators, cock-sleeves, and an entire display dedicated to lube and message oils.
We find the section with the creature cocks, but I’m too distracted to enjoy the ten-inch tentacle or the devil tongue. I trace one finger along the edge of a box, trying to figure out how to ask my question. “So … have you ever used one of these before?”
Euan looks at the box I’m touching. “An ovipositor?”
“A what?” I frown and pay more attention to the box.
It features a large cylinder that only barely resembles a cock, and several small eggs.
“Shit, no, I meant the dildoes. In general. Do you … use them?” I look at a point on his chin, pretending to be fascinated by his beard rather than too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
“Not this brand. And I prefer to use them on a partner rather than myself.” He waits a beat and then says clearly and succinctly, “I prefer to top.”
My breath catches at the words and the fantasy from earlier reignites—Euan bending me over, thrusting into me, dominating me. Subconsciously, I already knew what the answer would be.
Stepping away from the dildoes—away from temptation—we continue wandering through the other aisles. I keep my hands clasped behind my back this time so that I don’t accidentally touch anything weird.
“What about you?”
“What?” Startled, I look over at Euan. He’s examining a package with various sized butt plugs that advertises “perfect for first time anal training.”
“Would you prefer to top? I’m never sure with bisexual men.”
My cheeks flush and the heat of embarrassment makes my brain short circuit. It takes me a moment to stammer out, “I’ve done both, it’s just been a while.”
“Did you enjoy receiving?” he asks, still not looking at me.
This is definitely a step too far. We shouldn’t be talking about this even if we’re married—especially because we’re married and determined not to be. But I still whisper, “Yes.”
He nods without otherwise addressing my admission.
Then he holds up the panties, which I hadn’t realized he’s been carrying the whole time.
“I’m going to buy these and the ovipositor, as a souvenir for someone.
” From the way he smirks, it sounds more like a prank than a gift. “Are you going to buy anything?”
“Why? Are you trying to steal my coupon?” I ask, clutching the small piece of paper protectively to my chest.
He chuckles. “Well, if you aren’t going to use it …”
“I am,” I reply, raising my chin. “But you go ahead first.” I want to pick something out without the pressure of him watching.
He eyes me for a moment, then nods. “Alright, I’ll wait in the car for you when I’m done.”
I wait until he’s left, then snatch the item I want off the shelf and hurry down after him.
At the bottom of the stairs, I pause and look at the chained curtain again, then look toward Euan.
I can see his head of dark hair over the racks of clothes.
If I go to the counter now, he’ll see what I’m buying.
With that excuse firmly held in my mind, I walk down the stairs back into the dungeon.