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  After a last once-over in the mirror, she grabbed her purse and headed out.

  Lara didn’t spend a lot of time on her looks. It wasn’t because she didn’t need to—although thanks to good genetics she really didn’t—it was because she knew there was more to her than the way she looked.

  Besides that, being pretty wasn’t always what it was cracked up to be; it had brought her more grief than happiness. When she was fifteen a drunken friend of her father’s didn’t want to take no for an answer. He’d pinned her to the floor tried to rape her while her father was passed out on the couch.

  She’d cracked his head open with a crystal ashtray before taking off on her own for good. And she never looked back.

  Then she’d learned how to use her looks to her advantage. Men never thought women were good at pool, or darts, or cards, and they certainly didn’t concentrate well when the woman flirted and flashed a little cleavage. The looks helped her, but it was her mind that had helped her survive on her own.

  She climbed into her little Honda hatchback and set out for the restaurant Karl had named. The car wasn’t fancy, but it was hers, bought and paid for, and she was proud of it. Karl had wanted to pick her up for their date, but she’d nixed that idea fast. She wanted to keep things casual.

  * * *

  From behind the closed blinds of his bedroom window, Peter watched Lara get into her car with mixed feelings. Why he was even paying attention he wasn’t sure. It’s not like she never went out, or like she never brought men home. He knew she did both on a pretty regular basis. But he’d sensed something while she was getting ready, something new.

  She was excited about Graham’s boss.

  “I’m home.” Graham’s call from the kitchen was loud and clear. “And I brought sushi for dinner.”

  Peter scrubbed a hand through his hair and headed for the kitchen. “Great, I’m starved.”

  “I passed Lara just up the road,” Graham said as he unpacked the food. “She’s meeting my boss for dinner. How weird is that?”

  “Not so weird. Most men want Lara when they see her.”

  “I don’t.”

  He pulled a couple of plates from the cupboard and carried them to the table. “If she was willing to wear a strap-on you wouldn’t hesitate to bend over for her.”

  “Petie!”

  Peter turned to smile at his lover. “What? It’s true and you know it.”

  Graham sidled up close to him, putting a hand on his back and stroking it up and down. “I’m happy with you, I don’t need anyone else to make me happy.”

  Peter knew that was supposed to make him feel good, but it didn’t. He loved Graham, but he also loved the feel of a woman every now and then. “What if I need someone else every now and then to satisfy me?”

  Graham froze, and then pulled his hand away slowly. “You’re not happy with me?”

  “No, baby. I am happy with you!” Peter’s gut clenched at the look on Graham’s face. “I love you.”

  Graham folded his arms across his chest, color creeping over his cheeks as he cocked a hip. “Then what exactly are you trying to say?”

  “You know I’m bi—you’ve always known. Sometimes I just crave the feel of a woman beneath me. I admit I’ve thought of inviting Lara to join us sometime.”

  Graham’s brow furrowed and his bottom lip thrust out. “I thought you gave women up.”

  “I don’t know that I’ll ever give them up completely.” He reached out and cupped a hand at the back of Graham’s neck and pulled him close for a kiss. “But I’ll always want you.”

  * * *

  It didn’t take her long to find the right place. The little Italian restaurant was buried between a print shop and a New Age retail store, and she was even on time.

  “Not what I was expecting,” she said as joined her dinner partner.

  He was eye catching, even dressed to blend with the crowd in dark slacks and a button-up shirt. Her eyes had gone straight to him at the small table along the far wall the minute she’d stepped through the door. Maybe it was the curls. The dark blond looked soft and enticing. The urge to reach out and touch was strong.

  He gave a small smile when she was settled in her seat. “You don’t like it?”

  “I didn’t say that.” She looked around the place—red-and-white-checked tablecloths, candles in each centerpiece, and the dark-skinned couple at the kitchen doorway arguing passionately made the atmosphere homey, yet still intimate. “It’s just not what I expected.”

  “I’m going to take that as a compliment,” he said with a rough chuckle.

  Lara met his gaze and grinned, her posture relaxing a little. “It was meant as one. Predictability is boring.”

  Karl was intrigued. “Do you think it’s really as simple as that? Keep things unpredictable and life won’t be boring?”

  “Why not?” Lara leaned back in her chair, her smile bright and flirtatious. “Life is meant to be lived. That means experiencing new things all the time and not getting stuck in a rut.”

  “You’ve never been in a rut?”

  Something dark flickered in her eyes, and then it was gone. “Not me. I’ll try anything once and do the good stuff again…and again.” She leaned forward, putting her arms on the table and plumping up her cleavage nicely. “What about you?”

  Karl’s blood heated when he heard her say the magic words. “You’ll do anything once? That’s a pretty bold statement.”

  “I’m a pretty bold girl.”

  “Yes, you are, aren’t you?” So very different from what he’d always wanted in a woman—in a submissive. As much as it surprised him, there was no denying his body’s reaction to her, and that, he wanted to explore. “But I’ve met many who say that—not everyone can back it up.”

  She laughed outright. “Oh, I can back it up. When I want to.”

  His balls tightened and he smiled. This was going to be interesting.

  A small movement behind her showed the waitress on her way over so he changed the subject. “Would you like some wine with dinner?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t need alcohol to have a good time.”

  Even more intriguing. He waited for the waitress to leave to get their drinks before leaning forward and gazing at her intently. “What do you need to have a good time?”

  “Nothing but a willing partner,” she winked playfully. “And sometimes I don’t even need that.”

  He laughed. She was a spitfire, and he was officially interested.

  Their drinks arrived and they ordered their meals. He watched Lara as she looked around the restaurant, sipped her iced tea, and flirted with him. She wasn’t being shy about it at all. She went from sassy and bold, to sweet and almost little girlish at times, making his pulse pick up when she looked at him from under her lashes and nibbled on the luscious bottom lip that had him imagining lots of long, wet, and sloppy blowjobs.

  Oh yeah, he wanted her on her knees before him, smiling pretty and begging for his cock. “You’ll try anything once, huh?”

  She shrugged. “Pretty much, yeah.”

  “Pretty much? Or you will?”

  It was an outright challenge, and he waited expectantly to see if she was really as bold and adventurous as she claimed. If she just might have a submissive streak, a need to please.

  He watched as she leaned forward, her silky top shifting enough to tease him with a quick peak at the deeper pink of a nipple before she shifted and it was gone. His eyes traveled over the smooth skin of her neck to see her lips part slightly and her tongue press sassily against little white teeth as she watched him look her over.

  Neither spoke, and the tension built. Hot, electric and…exciting. That what he was feeling—excitement. For the first time in too long, he was captivated.

  “How is everything with your meal?”

  Just like that, and the moment was broken, and surprisingly, Karl wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

  “Lara?” he asked.

  She broke their
gaze and smiled up at the waitress. “It’s wonderful, thank you.”

  The waitress left and they went back to eating. After she swallowed another forkful of penne she gave him a soft smile. “So Karl, what happened to turn a tattooed tough guy into a lawyer?”

  Surprise rippled through him. There was no way to completely hide the tribal tat that crept up his neck, even when in a suit and tie, but it was rare for someone to come right out and comment on it. “I decided the best revenge on those that said I’d never amount to anything more than a street thug was to prove them wrong.”

  She looked like she wanted to ask more, but she let it go with a smile, and his opinion of her went up another notch. Sexy and smart.

  Now he really wanted to see if she’d do anything once, and exactly what she’d do again, and again.

  3

  Lara squeezed her thighs together under the table as the waitress cleared their plates and asked if they wanted any dessert. She shook her head and Karl sent the pretty waitress away with a smile.

  The meal had been great, and the company much more interesting than she’d anticipated.

  Normally when she spent too much time with a guy, some of the attraction wore off. They’d prattle on about sports and cars and how great they really were, and she’d just try to imagine how big their cock was. It wasn’t absolutely necessary for a guy to have a big cock to satisfy her in bed, but it sure helped pass the time to wonder if he did.

  Plus, she’d learned that most men who went on and on about themselves, or their jobs, over dinner, were often equally selfish in bed and only size and some stamina could redeem them.

  Then there was the opposite.

  The men who tried so hard to be romantic, and sweet, and told her how beautiful she was and asked all sorts of questions she’d have to dodge. They’d be giving in bed, often going down on her and trying to make sure she came before they did. But sometimes that was almost worse because it felt like they were trying to make love, when all she wanted was to fuck.

  Love was a trap Lara refused to think about.

  She watched Karl’s sure movements as he pulled out his wallet and laid some cash on the table. He was certainly confident, and the throbbing between her thighs hinted that he had reason to be.

  They were both quiet as they stood to leave, and it was a nice quiet. Not comfortable exactly; there was too much heat bouncing back and forth between them for it to be entirely comfortable, but it was nice.

  As soon as they stepped outside the restaurant his hand settled at the small of her back and heat seeped into her bloodstream. Oh yeah, this was going to be good. Sex with Karl was going to be well worth the effort of actually getting to know him a bit. She’d even enjoyed it, but now she really was ready for dessert.

  “This is mine,” she said as they neared her little Honda. When they were between the cars she turned and put her hand on his chest. “Dinner was nice. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She gazed into his heavy lidded eyes and waited…and waited…and finally, unable to wait any longer, went up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

  His muscles flexed beneath the palm of her hand and his lips parted, letting her control the kiss for a brief moment before his hand cupped the back of her neck and he took over. His body pressed against hers and she fell back against her car, enjoying the pressure of his hardness against her as his tongue thrust into her mouth and wiped all thought from her mind.

  Hot breath filled her as their tongues rubbed and thrust and danced together. Her breasts swelled and ached, her legs spreading as she undulated against him. Then his fingers wrapped in her hair and tightened. She couldn’t move her head and Karl took full advantage, nipping at her bottom lip sharply before pulling back.

  She gasped for breath, the sting in her lip making her pussy clench. “I’m ready for dessert now. How about you?” she asked breathlessly.

  He stepped back, his hands falling to his side as shutters came down over the heat in his eyes. “I think that was enough for now. The perfect end to the evening.”

  What?

  He leaned forward, pressed a quick hard kiss to her still-parted lips, and then walked away without another word.

  “Hey!” she called after him. “What was that?”

  He stopped and turned around, an amazingly cocky smirk on his lips. “When you’re ready to promise to truly do anything once, give me a call.”

  Stunned, Lara watched him leave and bit back a few choice words. Part of her really wanted to let him have it…but another part of her refused to let him know just how disappointed she was.

  He might’ve turned her down, Lara thought as she pulled open her car door and slid into the driver’s seat, but she’d never chased a man in her life. And she wasn’t going to start now.

  4

  Karl watched the blonde’s sultry hip swing as she walked away, and once again wondered what the fuck his problem was. Her offer to do anything for him was for real, but unlike Lara’s questionable claim of a similar attribute the other night, it hadn’t stirred the least bit of interest.

  In fact, the only thing that had raised any interest in him lately had been Lara. Strange, considering he normally liked sweet and submissive—not sassy and bold—but there it was.

  Being a Dominant had come natural to him. In fact, he’d never even realized that he was controlling and directing women in the bedroom until one of his lovers, a submissive, had explained it to him. He’d been in his early twenties when that had happened, and she’d introduced him to the Dungeon and the lifestyle that had helped him find his true nature.

  More than ten years in the lifestyle, and he’d become accustomed to women as adept and comfortable in it as he was.

  Maybe that was the problem.

  Lara had tempted him, but at the end of the night he’d still walked away. Something told him that if he got involved with her, it wouldn’t be simple.

  Then again, maybe it was time for things to stop being so simple.

  He glanced over at a couple of other regulars he knew. He’d watched them scene before, and the submissive was a bit of a brat, the Dom having to discipline her often. It was obviously a dynamic that worked for them, but he’d never been into the strict discipline aspect of D/s.

  He considered himself a loving Dom, one who could be firm when needed, but who, above all, rewarded submission with praise, affection, and pleasure.

  “Another one incoming, Master Karl,” Marc, the bartender, warned as he set another beer in front of him.

  Karl felt the presence of a warm body at his right side and turned his head. “Hello, Marie, how are you tonight?”

  “Eager and willing, Sir.” The redhead’s smile was sincere and the spark in her eyes attractive.

  Sweet, eager, and submissive. Exactly what he’d always enjoyed.

  Yet, he still wasn’t interested. Despite that, he put his arm around her and cupped her rear fondly. “That’s nice to hear, sweetie. But I’m not up for any games tonight. You girls about wore me out last weekend so I’m gonna take a pass this time. You go have some fun without me.”

  Her bottom lip quivered and he shook his head sharply once. He didn’t want to see her pout.

  “What the hell am I even doing here?” he muttered after she’d disappeared back into the crowded club.

  “No idea, sir.”

  Karl met Marc’s gaze and chuckled wryly. “Aren’t bartenders supposed to have all the answers?”

  “Some things people need to figure out for themselves,” Marc replied with a grin.

  “And I’m not going to do it sitting here at this bar, am I?” Karl tossed a bill next to his still half-full beer, and headed for the door.

  He weaved through the crowd, not even bothering to look at the people around him. He climbed the stairs and sucked in a deep breath of fresh air when he hit the street. It had rained again. The pavement was wet and the air was fresh and clean.

  Spring had arrived. Spring was a good time
for a change. Maybe waiting for Lara to call him this past week had been the wrong tactic.

  Normally he’d be a hundred percent confident she’d call. Women always called—but she was different. It was what had intrigued him. A week later and he was still intrigued.

  Now he just had to figure out how to proceed. It would be different with Lara. She wasn’t someone in the BDSM scene, and she wasn’t someone in the society scene. And he was already pretty sure she was someone he’d want more than one night with.

  Pulling the keys for his truck from his pocket, he wished they were the keys for his bike. A nice, long drive through the mountains with the wind against his face would be welcome right about then.

  Laughter and catcalls from the pub across from the Dungeon caught his attention as he crossed the street and started for the black Dodge Ram he’d parked half a block down. His steps slowed for a minute as he looked in the windows of the pub. The live band and boisterous crowd was easily heard from where he stood.

  It sounded alive and enthusiastic, just like Katie Long had been that night almost a year earlier when they’d had drinks there.

  Katie’s enthusiasm for life and unique blend of innocence and open sexuality had hooked him pretty good. She’d been a wonderful change from the jaded and angry women he met through work, and the overeager and overexperienced women he had as playmates. She’d been the change that had given birth to this strange restlessness, and now, another eager, but obviously experienced, woman kept sashaying through his mind.

  One that was loud, and bold, and enthusiastic…and who he could see shaking her ass on the dance floor of the very same pub.

  Tucking his keys back into his pocket he headed for the pub’s entrance. It was time to see if she really would try anything once, and do the good things again and again.