Faintly, Ruby heard the front door open at the other end of the apartment. Yvonne was home. It was too late to back out now. As Ruby repositioned herself on the bed, Yvonne’s footsteps grew louder, before slowing down in the hall. Ruby’s pulse raced even faster. Could Yvonne see the light coming from the room? Was she wondering why the door was open?

Did she have any idea of what she was going to find inside?

Ruby held her breath. A second later, Yvonne appeared in the doorway.

Ruby gazed at her from the bed. “I’ve been waiting for you to come home.”

Yvonne froze in place, taking in the scene before her. Scattered on the bed around Ruby was a selection of Yvonne’s toys and tools from the drawers and closet. Handcuffs. A blindfold. A coil of rope. A whip. And Ruby had placed herself in the middle as a centerpiece, kneeling with her hands in her lap, looking up at Yvonne from under her eyelashes.

Yvonne’s eyes met Ruby’s. They burned hot. Was it anger, or something else?

“What are you doing in here?” Yvonne’s voice was edged with ice.

“What does it look like?” Ruby gestured around herself. “I found all your toys. And I’m intrigued.”

“No.” Yvonne shook her head. “No. You need to get out of here.”

“Why? And don’t say you don’t want me.”

“I don’t want this.”

Ruby gave her a playful smile. “So you do want me?”

Yvonne tore her eyes away from Ruby. “I already told you our arrangement is purely financial. It can’t be anything more.”

“And why is that?” Ruby crossed her arms, abandoning her attempted display of submissiveness. “I know you’re not shy about sex. Everything I’ve found in this room is proof of that. And I understand what you meant now, about your tastes.”

“No, you don’t,” Yvonne said firmly. “This isn’t a game, Ruby!”

“I know that. And I get it. I get what it is that you want. I want that too. Whatever you want from me, I’ll give it to you.”

“That isn’t how this works.”

“Then how does it work? Show me. Please.”

Yvonne folded her arms over her chest. “No.”

Ruby let out a frustrated groan. “I don’t understand you! You look at me like you want me, and I want you too, Yvonne. I want this.”

Yvonne shook her head. “You have no idea what you’re asking of me, Ruby.”

“What, do you think I haven’t been with anyone who’s into kinky stuff before?”

“Not like this. Look at you.” Yvonne waved a hand in Ruby’s direction. “You don’t understand any of this, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing what you are now, offering yourself up to me on a platter. You have no idea what you’re doing. You’re obviously a complete novice.”

“Maybe you’re right. But you can teach me.”

Yvonne shook her head again. “I’m not the right person to teach you. This just demonstrates that. You’re rash, controlled by your desires. You need someone who will slowly and carefully ease you into this world. I am not that person. I can’t be that person for you.”