“Oh, they were definitely doing that.” She swallowed, staring at his hand. Bad time to dwell on Ethan’s big, strong fingers, and the passionate way he played… “I thought the most beautiful part was at the end, when the bride and groom looked into each other’s eyes. I’ve never seen anything like that out in public. I felt like a voyeur.”
“They were definitely into each other. That was really cool.”
“And the Tchaikovsky worked perfectly in the background. Ethan, how did you know? You suggested the perfect song.”
He shrugged. “The truth is, I know a lot of kinky people. Even been to a kinky wedding or two.”
“Like that one?”
“Not quite. I wish.”
He wished? Oh God. Now he was lingering at her door, Mr. Dark, Gorgeous, and Possibly Kinky, scrutinizing her to make sure she was okay. She definitely wasn’t okay.
“I’ve got to be honest with you,” she said, looking down at her key card. “I have all these questions now.”
“I don’t mind answering them, if you want.”
She tapped the card against the handle, feeling heat rise in her cheeks. “Well, I mean, they’re kind of complicated questions.”
“Want to hang out for a while, then? Decompress?”
His closeness was scrambling her brain. Ruby, you idiot. Unlock the door and invite him in. She waved the lock open, pushing the handle down way too hard when the green light flashed. Wow, so much to think about, above and beyond what had gone on at the reception. Ethan, her quiet, reserved quartet friend, knew “a lot of kinky people.” That meant he was kinky too, right? She definitely, definitely needed to know more about that.
“Come on in,” she said, leading him inside. “Welcome to my hotel room, which probably looks exactly like yours.”
“Kind of.” He lingered by the door. “Except everything’s reversed.”
Her champagne-colored gown from earlier was strewn across the bed, next to last night’s balled-up pajamas. Ethan had been in her hotel room before, many times, but not like this, with her horny and full of questions, and him a kinky bastard. She led him to the sitting area near the window, covering her anxiety with chatter. “God, this hotel is so luxurious. Look at the ocean in the dark. It looks like it goes on forever.”
“It goes on a long time,” he said from over her shoulder. “Almost forever.”
She was very aware of his body behind her. When she turned her head, she could see his square-jawed profile, and his intent gaze focused on the water. Breathe, girl. It’s just Ethan. You’ve stood this close to him a thousand times. “Do you want anything to drink?” she asked, moving from the window.
“I’m good.”
She went to hang up her formal gown as he sprawled back on the couch. “So, explain it to me,” she said, snatching the gown off the bed. “Those activities at the reception. I just… God.”
“What activities?” he asked. “What surprised you the most?”
“I don’t know. All of it. I mean, I understand why people do BDSM. I know it feels good, it’s exciting, all that, but they were so free.” She paused to smooth the gown’s wrinkles. “I guess that’s what I don’t get. How do you trust someone that much? Those people were hitting each other, tying each other up, getting naked, fucking, and none of them ever looked worried or scared.”
He nodded. “Trust is a big part of kink, possibly the biggest part.”
“But it’s trust and so much more, isn’t it?” She hung the gown in the closet and started folding her pajamas. “I mean, I trust you. I trust Steve and Jonathan and my friends, but I don’t give any of you the power to tie me up or hit me, or bite my neck.”
He gave a soft chuckle. “What you have to understand is they enjoy those things. In your mind, hitting and biting are negative things, but to a kinky person, hitting can be like a caress. Biting might be the sensation they crave most in the world. Tying someone up…” He paused. She realized she was folding her pajamas a third time. “When it comes to kink, everything depends on why you’re doing it, and how it makes you feel.”
She put the pajamas in her bag, and decided to fold her other pair, too. “But…how do you know how it’ll make you feel?”
“People usually have a pretty good idea.” He patted the space next to him. “Stop messing with your suitcase and come sit down.”
Yes, sir. The words popped into her head, words she’d heard during the reception from various submissive types. Was she imagining the authoritative note in Ethan’s voice? She sat beside him and twisted her hands in her lap. He looked great in a tux, but even better in worn jeans and a tee shirt. Ethan, her friend, the guy who’d just triggered a “yes, sir” response from somewhere near her vagina.