Please let it be Darren.

The door opens, and I breathe a silent sigh of relief when I see Darren standing at the threshold. Even in a simple pair of jeans and a loose-fitting tank that reveals his muscular arms and parts of his chiseled chest, he looks hot as hell. Physically, he hasn’t changed all that much, whereas I’ve put on a few pounds. The main visible change is that he’s grown a faint stubble, giving him a rugged quality. In more ordinary and non-threatening circumstances, if he didn’t turn out to be a gangster, I might have told him I liked the new look.

He sets down a suitcase before walking over. Taking the panties out of my mouth, he asks, “How we doing, Bridge

I really want something to drink, but I put that need aside and brace myself for the performance of a lifetime. I have zero experience in acting, but I’ve got to qualify for an Oscar now.

“Mercy, sir,” I reply, wanting relief from the bondage and the crotch rope.

He lifts a brow. “That’s funny. You think you get a fucking safe word?”

My heart accelerates, and I try not to let fear grip me too tightly. No safe words? We’ve never played without safe words before. But that’s actually not the issue. There was a time I would have trusted Darren enough to go without safe words. It’s his anger that scares me.

I lower my eyes. “I’m sorry, sir.”

He tugs on the crotch rope, making me gasp as the knot rubs further into my clit.

“I could have you wear this all day,” he says.

“Yes, sir.”

The muscle about his jaw tightens. “That all you’ve got to say?”

What does he want me to say? I could tell him I want to suck him off, but the timing doesn’t feel right. It might come off disingenuous.

“I-I deserve to be punished?” I try.

“You bet the fuck you do.”

I swallow with difficulty. He releases the rope and caresses my flesh.

“So how should you be punished?”

A thought crosses my mind. “Depends.”

“On what?”

“Where we are,” I answer. “There’s a BDSM club in downtown Denver. If we’re not too far…”

“We’re too far.”

“How far?”

He stares at me. I think he knows I’m trying to figure out our location.

He folds his arms in front of him. “What’s this BDSM club called?”

“Club Kink.”

“You been there?”

I shake my head.

“Then how do you know about it?”

“I was bored one day and was curious if Denver had that kind of scene.”

“I don’t believe you. How often did you play there?”

“I’ve never been there,” I insist truthfully. Even though I had looked it up, I couldn’t imagine playing with anyone but Darren.

He shakes his head. “I used to think you were such a goody two-shoes, someone trustworthy. Guess I was wrong. I hate being wrong.”

My toes come off the floor as he pulls the crotch rope up.