“Thank you,” she said, and followed his lead to a narrow staircase. “So the whole store is upstairs? Why rent the downstairs space as well?”
He glanced back at her and smiled. “A lot of people prefer the privacy of knowing that those walking by on the street can’t peek in and see what they’re shopping for. Many of our customers have conservative jobs or public images. So that’s important. Plus, I doubt the neighborhood would’ve agreed to allow this type of store if our merchandise was going to be on display.”
“Makes sense,” Brynn said, climbing the last step and walking into the main shop. The décor matched the bottom floor, but instead of erotic photography, there were rows of sex toys, bondage equipment, and high-end lingerie.
Marius crooked a thumb behind him. “I’ll go get Jason for you. Feel free to browse. You have the store to yourself right now. We usually don’t get busy until after ten or so.”
“Thanks.” She waited until he disappeared before she took him up on the browsing offer.
Brynn wandered down the first aisle, trying to keep her mind off the conversation she was about to have. She eyed the collection of vibrators, the shear variety astounding her. She shook her head. Dolphins, rabbits, butterflies. Why were they all named after animals? What was sexy about that? If she invented a line, she’d name them after movie stars. The Mark Wahlberg. The Brad Pitt. She smiled. Maybe she had missed her calling.
She turned the corner to the next aisle and sucked in a breath. Rows of black leather restraints, paddles, and whips lined the shelves along with loads of things she couldn’t identify. The photo from downstairs flashed through her brain. This was what she was signing up for—complete submission to a stranger. A golf-ball-sized lump lodged in her throat.
She picked up one of the items, a flogger according to the tag, and threaded her fingers through the soft strips at the end of the handle. The leather felt cool against her skin, but she imagined the material would heat up quickly when wielded by a strong hand. She resisted the urge to smack it across her palm to test the theory.
She’d never done anything with actual equipment. She and Reid had both been new to the idea back then and hadn’t ventured very far into this world. They’d worked with whatever they had around. She drew the leather across her hand again, and images of Reid standing behind her, flogger in hand, invaded her thoughts. A hot tingling fired up in her belly and crept lower.
She shook her head—God, she was so twisted up with this. Her body hadn’t forgotten what it had been like with Reid, how unbelievably explosive the sex had been. But the same thoughts that got her body slick and ready made her mind want to splinter into a thousand pieces.
“My God, Brynn LeBreck,” said a genial voice, startling her from her errant thoughts.
She looked up, fumbling to put the flogger back on the rack, and her breath caught.
“I didn’t think it was possible for you to get more gorgeous,” Jace said, green eyes sparkling. “But clearly I was wrong.”
“Jace?” she asked, her mind still processing his presence as the broad-shouldered man gathered her into a crushing hug.
He stepped back, smiling. “Didn’t you know that’s who you were coming to see?”
She shook her head. “No, Reid didn’t mention it, and I didn’t realize your full name was Jason.”
He laughed and scrubbed a hand through his surfer-style blond hair. “That shithead. I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
No, but it would’ve been nice to be warned. She was going to kick Reid’s ass when she got back to the office tomorrow. She took a deep breath and smiled. Her problem was not with Jace. He’d never been anything but kind to her. “No, it’s fine. Actually, better than fine. It’s great to see you.”
He motioned for her to follow him. “Why don’t you come on back to my office so we can chat?”
When he reached his door, he swung it open and let Brynn walk in before him. The space was large, but cozy, resembling a sitting room in a fancy hotel more than an office. Only the massive cherrywood desk gave away the room’s true purpose. She settled into the cushioned wingback chair. “Beautiful office.”
“Thanks. I’d take credit for the decorating, but this was my sister’s project. She was starting an interior design business, and I was her guinea pig.” Instead of sitting behind his desk, Jace dropped into the matching chair across from her. “So how the hell have you been? Reid tells me you’re a therapist now.”
She crossed her legs and tried to give the appearance of being at ease, although her insides were knotted into a pretzel. “I am. I work at the Women’s Crisis Center.”r: Roni Loren
He groaned. “I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
She smiled and moved her fingers under the edge of his dress shirt, walking her fingertips along the ripples of his abdomen. “I just want you to be you—whoever that is.”
He lifted his head, his eyes darkening. “No, you don’t.”
He grasped her wrists and gently removed her hands from beneath his shirt, then placed a soft kiss on each one. “You’ve had a long, emotional night. I’m going to leave before we take this too far again.”
Her jaw fell open. “You’re leaving?”
He grabbed her shoulders and eased her off his lap, his expression pained. “I’m not going to risk you hating me in the morning. We’ll go out tomorrow night on a real date. If you still want this by then, I’m all yours.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, anger bubbling in her belly. “Don’t patronize me, Reid. I’m not some flighty chick who is going to jump in bed with someone because I had a bad night. And I’m not some virgin princess either. You don’t have to treat me with kid gloves. Anything I do with you is because I want to.”
Reid’s eyes turned stormy, the vibe rolling off him almost animalistic. He opened his mouth to respond.