“No. Thank you.”
She looked at him.
He looked back at her.
Awkward.
“Before we get down to business, can I just say that you have the prettiest skin?” He wasn’t content with that verbal caress. He dragged a rough-edged fingertip from the inside of her wrist beneath the bracelet to the bend in her elbow and back down.
Goose bumps danced up that limb, fanning out across her shoulder. Bennett scored points for his seductive touch but lost them when she noticed his smirk.
“So let’s set the parameters for tonight’s play.”
“Is this a negotiation?”
His teasing eyes turned shrewd. “Talkin’ about expectations is a club rule, in every club I’ve ever been in.” His gaze lingered on her gold bracelet. “Haven’t you found that to be true?”
“Of course I know to discuss the play rules.” The lie warmed her cheeks.
His expression didn’t change.
He kept watching her. “Stop staring at me,” she said crossly.
He lowered his eyes with a murmured, “Sorry.”
When another bout of silence stretched, she knew if she didn’t get a handle on this situation now, she never would. “Can I ask you something, Bennett?”
“Anything you wish.”
“Why the dual role of submissive and dominant?”
“For variety, I suppose. How about you? Why the dominant role?”
“It’s a power thing.”
“Hmm.”
She didn’t like his half-cocky hmm. “What?”
“If that’s the case, I find it odd you’re a Domme.” Bennett raised those compelling blue eyes to hers. The heat and intensity packed a punch so potent she nearly toppled off the barstool.
Way out of your element, Ainsley.
“See, the true power in a dominant and submissive relationship lies with the submissive. Because the sub cedes all control, it’s up to the Dom to make sure all the sub’s needs are being met. To give the sub what she—or he—wants.”
“What do you want?”
Bennett let his gaze slowly slide down to her cleavage, then back up to her mouth. “I want to please you.”
Had any man ever said that to her?
“In that I’ll gain my own pleasure. But since you brought up my dual sides, I’ll admit I’m not a switch very often. In fact, I’m the lone switch here right now. So if you want to play tonight, I’m your only choice.”
And what a fine, fine choice. She tempered her eagerness with an offhand, “I suppose that’ll work.”
“Good. But there is a catch. You’re planning to be here two nights so I’ll make you a deal.”
“I’m listening.” God was she ever listening. His deep, rich voice was as mesmerizing as his deep, rich eyes.
“If I agree to let you be my dominant tonight, then I want you to agree to be my submissive tomorrow night.”
Oh no. Oh hell no, automatically popped into her brain.
Stop lying to yourself. Isn’t this what you were secretly hoping for? To find a man who could see beyond your façade?
Here was her chance to experience both sides. To see if one really fit her better than the other—or not at all. One weekend out of her life. What would it matter? They’d probably never see each other again anyway. “I accept your terms.”
Bennett brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the inside of her wrist. “Thank you. Let’s get hard limits out of the way.”
Ainsley had no idea what that meant. “You first.”
“No other guys in the play. No kissing guys, no blowjobs from guys and definitely no sex with guys. Not that you’d probably get any offers of men in this club wantin’ to do me anyway.”
“Anything else?”
He scratched his jaw. “I wouldn’t be crazy about you donning a strap-on and shoving it up my ass.”
Geez. That possibility hadn’t crossed her mind. At all. She tossed off a breezy, “I’ll take that into consideration.”
“Thank you.”
Bennett appeared to be waiting for her to lead the conversation. “Layla mentioned you’re a switch because occasionally you want pain. And I’ll be honest, I’m not comfortable with that.”
A dark brow winged up. “Ever? That seems unusual for a Domme.”
Rookie mistake. “Not ever, but definitely not on the first play date. So if you’re looking for someone to take a cane to your butt…I’m not your dominant tonight.”
“What about usin’ restraints?”