Page 62 of Over the Line
“I’d marry any guy who cooked for me,” Leaundra said.
“You’re going to.” Jacqueline rolled her eyes.
“See?” Lea looked at the cookies, then glanced away and refocused on Sydney. “He doesn’t seem to expect service, right?”
“Actually, no. And he was a very good host.”
Lea grinned. “So maybe he wants you kneeling naked in the living room when he gets home from riding the range.” Then she frowned. “Or whatever it is that cowboys do all day.”
Sydney had no idea what he did, either.
“Anyway, you’re always the one who tells me that relationships, especially lifestyle ones, are all about excellent communication.”
At Lea’s pointed words, Sydney winced.
But in her usual way, Leaundra didn’t linger on her statement, something Sydney appreciated. “And Doms are supposed to be caring, aren’t they?”
“That’s what he said yesterday morning. Something about having my best interests at heart.” She wrinkled her nose. “Forgive my skepticism.”
“I know!” Lea went on, her eyes twinkling. “Jacqueline, you could draw up a contract for her. You know, with all the juicy details in black and white. And I can review it for you.”
“Hold on,” Sydney protested.
“Give her some negotiating tips, and this way, as we work on it, we get to know all the kinky things Syd is into.”
She’d known Lea long enough to realize she was at least halfway serious. “Absolutely no freaking way.”
“Like anal.” Lea was undeterred by Sydney’s protests. “Or paddles. Ohh…wax play? Are you down for that?”
Sydney shook her head. “Enough.”
“And we can add a rider that you want to be treated like a princess. No service or anything like that for you.”
“I’m sure I’ll figure it out.” Before she could change the subject, Jacqueline leaned forward.
“Honey, you spend too much time thinking about the future and worrying.”
Sydney scowled at her friends over the rim of her glass.
“We all know that Lewis—”
“Loser,” Lea interrupted.
“What a shithead. And more than anyone, I urge you to be cautious.”
Sydney nodded.
“But sometimes we—and I’m also talking to myself here—we let the bad experiences ruin the joy of the moment,” Jacqueline continued. “You’re always looking for the next big thing. What if, just for now, you focused on today? If you see him again and have a good time, great. If you don’t dig him or he turns out to be a jackass, me and Lea will kick his ass.”
Lea pretended to sharpen her fingernails into tiny knives. “For sure.”
“But don’t throw away the chance for a good time because you got a crazy idea that fucking leads to being collared—or whatever you call it in the lifestyle—or worse, marriage.”
Sydney and Lea both gasped. Generally it was Leaundra who made that kind of outrageous comment.
“What she said.” Leaundra grabbed a cookie, then sighed and put it back uneaten. “I’ve got another wedding dress to fit into.”
“I’ve already told you I didn’t give him my phone number.”