I’d been reading through some other submissives’ profiles when a message had come through from another user. He wasn’t the first, and given some of the messages I’d already received, I’d been seriously guarded when I’d opened it.
To my very pleasant surprise, it wasn’t a dick pic, nor was it a solicitation for a butthole pic, and he didn’t introduce himself as“the man who’s going to beat your slutty ass until you cry.”Like that could be hot and all—God knew it had been when Devon had done it—but maybe lead with something a bit less aggressive?
This latest message was more civilized.
Sanjay
Hi, your profile sounded interesting and your pics are quite nice. (wink emoji) I’m Sanjay.
Before responding, I’d gone to his profile. Turned out Sanjay was a little younger than me, but he had years of experience in kink. He was upfront that he was married, but his husband wasn’t into kink; Sanjay was fine with taking on long-term subs, but it would not be a 24/7 arrangement or anything monogamous. He enjoyed a lot of kinks—some I was into, some I wasn’t—but he was emphatic that he respected limits, that safewords were absolutely mandatory, and that he preferred written agreements to make sure everyone was on the same page. Everything about him screamedsafe, sane, and consensual, that phrase I’d been seeing over and over as I’d read up on kink.
And he was hot, too. He was Indian, with mischievous brown eyes and a cute smile. There was one photo with a slightly more serious expression, and hoo boy, his Dom sidecame through loud and clear. Like I could see him putting someone on his knees with nothing more than a downward flick of his eyes.
My heart had fluttered as I’d switched back to the chat.
Hi. I’m really new to this app. Nice to meet you.
Welcome to the app. Are you also new to the lifestyle?
Very. I just had my first experience a couple of weeks ago.
And you enjoyed it?
A lot. Turns out I’ve been needing this for a long time. So now I’m looking to explore it more.
Sitting here now at the breakfast table, my eggs getting cold as my stomach wound itself in knots, I felt weird about that conversation, which had been ongoing ever since the other night.
Well, no. That wasn’t true. The conversation had left me giddy and excited. Especially as we’d started dancing around the subject of meeting in person. Even more since we’d agreed to meet for coffee tomorrow afternoon.
But it had also left me off-balance and uncomfortable. Apprehensive, and not just because the weather outside threatened to keep me in Buffalo and delay my date with Sanjay.
And that discomfort only got worse when, two tables away, Devon’s laughter rose above some of the other voices.
“You’re such an asshole, Claus,” he said, still laughing. “What the fuck?”
I had no idea what the context was. What Claus had done to warrant the laughter or the title of asshole. All I knew wasDevon’s voice made my neck prickle. It made guilt churn in my painfully knotted stomach.
That didn’t make sense. I wasn’t cheating on him. Hell, he’d stopped just short of making me a profile on Leathr and shoving my phone into my hands. Hewantedme to do this. He wanted me to meet someone like Sanjay so I could get what we both knew I couldn’t get from Devon.
“Jack?” Amy’s voice shook me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to see her and Tori fixing puzzled expressions on me.
“Hmm? What?” I sipped my cold coffee. “Sit down, sit down. Sorry, I was thinking.”
“I see that.” Amy furrowed her brow as the two of them joined me at the table. “Everything all right?” She gestured at my plate. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen bacon last more than thirty seconds in front of you.”
I glanced down at the two strips that had been languishing on my plate this whole time. “Oh. Uh.” I shifted in my chair and picked up one of the strips. Cold and leathery. Great. Still, I bit off a piece just to convince them I was okay. It did not taste good, but I didn’t let it show. “Just, you know…” I gestured with the remaining strip at the windows. “Concerned.”
They both glanced at the snow, and Tori frowned. “Something tells me the absolutebest-case scenario is the team playing in front empty stands tonight.”
Amy laughed dryly. “That’s optimistic. Last I heard, every road within half a mile of the rink is closed.” She picked up her coffee and motioned toward the windows. “I doubt those roads are the city’s highest priority right now.”
“Yeah,” I said. “And the airport’s shut down, too. Even if it’s reopened by tonight…”
“Fuck,” Tori groaned. “I was so ready to sleep in my own bed.”
“Same. Well… my regular hotel bed, I guess.”
Amy eyed me. “You’re still staying there? Haven’t they found you a place to rent yet?”