Page 6 of Shattered Veil

I lean closer. “Are you... Asir?”

“I’m a man.”

“Yes, that’s obvious. I mean are you one of those Doms?” Thank you,FSOG–now every woman secretly wants one.

“No.” He turns his head. “I don’t have time to train subs.”

Because there’s so much sex in the D/s relationship, especially new ones, it’s an arrangement that requires a serious time commitment.

“Too busy for a relationship, eh?”

His eyes flicker back to me. “Are you Canadian?”

“No.”

“I thought you said ’aye.’ That’s what my brothers and I say when we mean yes. So,aye, I’m too busy for any kind of relationship or commitment. I use...”

Hookers? Escorts?

My core tightens as my nipples flare to life. I’ve heard of people hooking up after meeting on a plane. This could be my turn. Good Lord, an idea hits me.

He clears his throat. “Never mind.”

“Oh, no. You need to finish that sentence. Because if you mean paid company...” I slink my hand toward him and stroke his forearm. “Whoa, what’s this shirt madeof?”

He cracks a real smile, finally. “It’s Poplin. All my shirts are made with it.”

“It feels amazing.” I smooth his sleeve again, hypnotized by the softness and impressed he only wears custom shirts.

He stops me with his warm palm over mine. “I said, I don’t like to be touched.”

“Oops.” I pull my hand back.

His lips say no, but his eyes sparkle with curiosity. “And if you touch a man like that, he might interpret that as consent.”

“With a...woman like me, consent is irrelevant.” Oh my God, did I just say that?

“A woman like you?” His eyes drink me in. “Butterfly, are you a...”

I bite my lip and choose my words very carefully. “I can be whatever you want me to be.”

“Are you getting off in Los Angeles?” His gruff voice bottoms out.

“I am.” My pulse thunders in my ears. “If you get me off there.”

His face turns to granite, eyes blazing. “Where do you live?”

“New York City.”

He frowns again. “And you were just on a...date in Sydney, Australia?”

I smile, swallowing nervously. “Yes, sir.”

He leans into me and with an invisible barrier or propriety torn away, he says, “Did he come inside you?”

The immediate dampness between my legs startles me. A wave of arousal, something I’ve not felt in years, washes over me. It’s like a rebirth and it hits hard, strong. After what I went through with my ex, I never thought I’d experience this spark again.

And damn it, I want more. It’s the most alive I’ve felt in forever.