All of the moisture left my mouth, and I found myself at a loss for words. Wade’s words though were screaming at me; don’t get distracted with Colt and think before you answer anything. I was failing miserably at that.

I hadn’t expected him to ask me to tell him about my most erotic experience. We had been having an easy conversation and then it turned personal so quickly. Maybe this is what Wade was telling me about.

I looked up from the table and met his dark eyes, and I felt as though there was no harm in testing the waters with him. Our conversation had been great up to this point, and if he dismissed me, then I will at least know that I gave hope a shot.

“I think that what I find erotic, many would consider really screwed up,” I nervously said.

Colt’s elbows and forearms were folded on the table as he leaned forward and stared deep into my eyes.

“Tell me. Tell me what you find erotic. Fuck what other people think. I want to know what turns that pretty little head of yours on and soaks your panties.”

“Pain,” I whispered.

Colt’s pupils dilated, and his lips parted ever so slightly. My heartbeat was pounding in my ears and I wondered if I had I just nailed the coffin shut.

“What else, Leda?”

He hadn’t cast me aside…yet.

“Being disciplined, as odd as that sounds.”

“Why do you say that?” he asked.

Colt seemed like he genuinely wanted to know, but I couldn’t go there with that. At least not yet, and possibly never. His head was still cocked to the side, watching me with curiosity.

“How many Doms have you belonged to?”

“I’ve only had experiences with Service Tops.”

Colt frowned at me.

“Quick fix?”

“Since I don’t have a Dom that I can express a need to, the Service Top option has worked well for me.” I shrugged and suddenly felt as if he thought less of me for having only scened with Service Tops. “They’re always there when I’m in need.”

His eyes searched my face, and he nodded.

“So, what’s missing then, Leda?”

“I feel like I’m missing something. Like there’s so much more to this great lifestyle, but I lack that connection with a Dom. My play with Service Tops is very artificial. I tell them what I’m looking for, we negotiate some, the scene plays out and before I’m even dressed, he’s already thinking about his next session.”

Colt’s eyes were intense as I spoke. I felt like he was actually listening to me and interested in what I had to say. He tossed back the rest of his drink, and as he leaned forward, he reached out and touched my wrist. I watched his finger trace a circle around a mark on my wrist. He hadn’t touched it, but dragged his long index finger of the tattooed hand around my scar and looked down at it.

“Let me ask you again, Leda…why did you agree to meet me tonight after Wade and his girl warned you about me?” he asked without bringing his head up.

“Hope,” I said quietly.

Colt didn’t move his head, but his eyes looked up at me between his lashes. He never broke eye contact with me as he brought his head up. His firm hand curled around my hand. He hadn’t taken hold of my hand, but simply covered my hand with his. There was something about this gesture that was affecting me, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on the reason, but I liked it. I really, really liked it.

“Well, you know what they say, Leda,” Colt said as he stood up from his seat. He made a gesture with his hand toward a hallway and said, “Give hope a chance.”

I nodded and followed him down the hall and around the corner to a dimly lit room. Colt closed the door after I walked in behind him. I gazed around at the magnificent furniture in this room. I had never seen such incredible BDSM furniture.

“You said pain turns you on, Leda. It just so happens, pain turns me on, too. You like to receive, and I like to give.”

He sauntered toward me as he unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt. By the time he reached me, his entire shirt was unbuttoned, and my eyes were treated to his sexy chest. He reached out and dragged his finger from my ear down my jaw, and when he reached my chin, he turned his wrist quickly and captured my chin and jaw in his firm grip.

Inhaling quickly, I took in a short breath of air. I felt myself begin to dampen between my legs. The feeling of his grip on my flesh sent surges in all the right directions.

“Let me rephrase that, Leda. You need to receive pain, and I need to give it.”

“Yes, Sir.”

He gave me a cocky smile and said, “It wasn’t a question.”

Pay attention! I screamed at myself. I was in a private room with the Master Dom of Seven, who happened to also be some sort of monster Wade tried warning me about. I needed a clear head and to pay the fuck attention.

“What’s your safe word, Leda?”

“Metal, Sir.”

He nodded and looked in my eyes for a few moments before speaking again.

“Are there any places on your body that I need to avoid, or any prior injuries that I need to know about?”

Injuries? I had plenty of those.

“Nothing you need to be aware of, Sir.”

“What are your hard limits?”

“Rope bondage, loss of sight and pinching.”

He gazed at me before nodding and asked me if all pinching was off limits, or just certain areas. I closed my eyes, chastising myself. I wasn’t focusing and wasn’t clear with him.

“Sorry, Sir. Pinching my sides is the hard limit.”

“You need to be crystal clear when communicating, Leda. Otherwise, you aren’t effectively communicating.”

“Yes, Sir. My apologies.”

“No rope, blindfolds or side pinching. Anything else?”

“No, Sir.”

“Good. Now that that’s out of the way, lose the clothes and straddle the spanking bench.”