“I’m a different person than what I was then.”
“All right. But what about now? You work in a BDSM club, you must have some idea of whether what you were shown was bullshit or not.”
Yeah, she did. She nodded. “Yeah, okay, he might have been a prick, but I guess he knew what he was doing.” She cut her eyes to his. “Doesn’t mean I do that stuff anymore.”
“Why did you choose to waitress in a bar at a BDSM club if you didn’t intend to ever play again?”
“Maybe I’m a masochist,” she muttered.
“Are you?”
Well, that was a pretty stupid thing to say to a Dom. She sighed. “No, not really.”
“Not really? We need to work on your communication skills. When you’re not mad, that is. When you’re angry everyone knows what you’re thinking.”
She had to grin. “I know you’re trying to insult me but as someone who never used to voice her opinion, I like knowing I now can.”
“I’d like to know more about your past.”
“You won’t ever know about my past.”
His face filled with interest. Damn it. Idiot. This guy was an investigator. What was she even doing talking to him? And now she’d practically dared him to look into her. If he hadn’t already.
Shit. Did he know anything?
Of course, he didn’t. If he had, they wouldn’t be sitting here like this. Besides, her ID was solid; she’d paid enough to see to that. No, he didn’t know anything. Still, probably not a good idea to get his suspicions aroused.
“Look, it’s not even that interesting, okay? I was involved with a Dom, he was an ass, and it turned me off having another one.”
“Yet you’re surrounded by them every day.”
“Okay, so maybe I could have gotten a job in a normal bar and maybe there’s a part of me that misses it. But that doesn’t mean I’m prepared to get involved with a Dom again.”
“What about if it was just for some play? I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m here to do a job and then I’ll be gone. I’m not going to lie and promise forever. There will be things I won’t tell you because of work, but I’m not lying about my reasons for being here or my reasons for wanting to play.”
“Which are?”
“I’m attracted to you,” he stated simply.
“That’s it?”
“In its simplest form. I admire your loyalty to your friend. And your courage, although you do need to know that while I’m here I’ll be doing my best to take care of you. Which means there’s going to be trouble if you deliberately put yourself in harm’s way.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. And at the same time, she did.
Well, she never claimed to be an uncomplicated person. God, was she considering this? Playing with him while he was here?
“Sex?” she asked.
“We can negotiate terms. But like I said, I’m attracted to you. I want you.”
She nodded.
“I always use protection. I’m completely clean also. You know I had to provide medical reports before being cleared to play here.”
“Yeah, I did too even though I never go into the dungeon.”
“What do you say to a trial run tonight? We go into the dungeon and play for a bit. I’ll get you off, but no sex for now. Not until you’re certain. If we both agree to continue on, while I’m here, we can sign a contract.”