Primal Instincts_ Volume 2(44)
Author: Nicole Edwards

 

Before she had revealed she was a member of an online kink community, I probably would’ve classified her as vanilla or perhaps a submissive who hadn’t fully tapped into that side of herself yet. Now I wasn’t so sure I hadn’t underestimated her experience.

 

Journey grinned up at me. “I’ve had two first dates, not counting this one, in the past two weeks.”

 

“Are you bragging?”

 

“Considering I haven’t dated anyone since high school, I’m not sure it qualifies as bragging.”

 

We kept walking toward my car, our pace incredibly slow.

 

Journey stopped suddenly and looked up at me, her expression almost serious but not quite. “I’m sorry. I didn’t consider it might be past your bedtime.”

 

A strangled laugh escaped me. “You’re teasing me about my age?” I didn’t tell her that I’d paddled submissives for less.

 

“I mean... I’m not the one who was alive when Top Gun came out in what, ’79?”

 

Her eyes glittered with amusement, and I wasn’t sure she’d looked more beautiful than in that moment, the moonlight cascading over her, bathing her in cool white.

 

“Try ’86,” I corrected her.

 

She tapped her chin, shook her head. “Nope. Not born then, either.”

 

I laughed because I couldn’t help myself. If she thought I was even remotely bothered by the fifteen-year age gap, she was wrong. I didn’t give a shit one way or the other.

 

“Let me ask you this,” I said, clicking the fob to unlock the car door. “What would you be doing right now if you weren’t out with me?”

 

Journey leaned against the car and stared up at me. “Well, if my parents weren’t out of town and I wasn’t cat-sitting for them...” She shrugged. “I’d be camped out on my couch at my apartment.”

 

Her answer reminded me of her innocence.

 

“And since they’re not home?”

 

“Camped out on their couch.”

 

“Not out with friends?”

 

“From time to time, sure. But I’ve only got one who lives close enough to hang out. Rhylee. The one you met at Austere. The other’s in Florida. We talk on the phone a couple of times a week, though.”

 

I crossed my arms over my chest as I stood in front of her. “Prefer solitude?”

 

She shook her head. “Not particularly, no. I had a few good friends in high school, but we didn’t keep in touch after. I ended up a bit of a loner in college. It took a lot out of me. With so many classes, I didn’t have time to do laundry, much less hang out.”

 

“But you have more time now?”

 

“I do,” she said slowly. “Why?”

 

Unable to resist, I placed a hand on her cheek and smoothed my thumb along her cheekbone. “I plan on filling some of that free time.”

 

A slow smile pulled at her pretty mouth. “Is that a request or a demand?”

 

“Does it matter?”

 

We stared at each other for a silent beat. I could feel the energy shifting between us. It was a potent mixture of curiosity and desire, one that I suspected would be explosive when we finally gave in to it.

 

Her voice took on a softer tone. “Can I ask you something personal?”

 

“I can’t promise I’ll answer.”

 

Journey’s eyes skimmed over my face. “Are you a Dominant?”

 

Of all the questions she could’ve asked, I didn’t expect that one.

 

“Would it matter one way or the other?”

 

She shrugged. “Not really, no.”

 

“Then why would you ask that question?”

 

“I don’t know. It’s just … I guess I got this vibe.” She waved me off. “Forget I asked.” Her smile returned, but even I could tell it wasn’t quite as genuine as before. “What would you be doing if you weren’t out with me?”

 

I considered that for a moment and opted for the vanilla answer. “If I’m not at Austere, I’m usually at the house. Playing poker or darts with Garrison and Hawk.”

 

“Do they come over often?”

 

“They live there.”

 

“Oh.” Her eyebrows arched. “Like roommates? Or…” She shrugged. “Or whatever?”

 

I grinned. She was fucking cute. “Yes. Roommates.”

 

“And Nick?”

 

“He’s not around as much.”

 

“Falling out?”

 

“He got married.”

 

Her eyes rounded with concern. “Oh.”

 

“Not anymore. He recently went through a divorce.”

 

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

 

I couldn’t stop touching her or staring into her eyes. Something about this woman tripped me up and made me see things from an entirely different perspective.

 

“Anyone else live in that big house of yours?”

 

I shook my head.

 

“Just the three of you?” She put her hand around my wrist; mine was still caressing her cheek. “Y’all are close, I can tell.”

 

“We are.”

 

“So, how big’s this house you live in?”

 

I hesitated, then went with, “Big enough for the four of us.”

 

“You mean you, Garrison, Hawk, and Nick, right?”

 

“Who else would I mean?”

 

“Me, you, Garrison, and Hawk.”

 

My entire body hardened, and I tried to hide my reaction. For whatever reason, her comment triggered an image of her spread out between Hawk and Garrison, the two of them drawing out her pleasure slowly while I watched.

 

Journey smiled. “I’m teasing.”

 

I was aware of her fingers gripping the pocket of my slacks, a light tug encouraging me to step closer. I did, without hesitation, placing my other hand on her hip. I liked how she fit nicely in the circle of my arms and had to tilt her head back to meet my eyes.

 

“Are you?”