Page 12 of Below the Surface
I find it difficult to breathe when I step into Piper’s house. It’s been longer than I want to examine since I’ve felt the ache of anticipation and desire. She tosses her keys onto the kitchen counter and turns to look at me. Her smile is soft and understanding, and my belly flutters. It’s nearly impossible to imagine Piper taking a commanding role. She’s charming and caring. I’ve enjoyed the time we’ve spent together this month. The idea ofbrokeringa relationship unsettles me. It’s one of the reasons I’ve never tried to immerse myself in Kelsey’s world. Aside from the fact that the club scene—any club scene—holds little appeal for me, I’m uncomfortable and turned off at the idea of making a formal agreement with a lover. Terms are meant for business contracts, not love and sex. Piper strides toward me confidently.
“Cameron?” she asks.
“I’m sorry, Piper.”
“If you’d prefer, we can share a bottle of wine and talk.”
I exhale and shake my head.
“This is new to you,” she says.
“Yes.”
“And that makes it uncomfortable.”
“Yes.”
Piper’s hands lift to hold my face, and she softly brings her lips to mine. “It’s normal,” she tells me. “To feel unsure.”
I sigh.
“And it’s a feeling you’re unaccustomed to having,” Piper says. “Always in control for everyone. You’re the foundation for everyone around you.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. I’ve tried to be open with Piper about my feelings. When my desires become a topic, I struggle to voice my thoughts. She’s listened to everything I’ve said.
“Can I ask you something?” Piper requests.
I nod.
“Do you think desiring someone to lead makes you weak?”
I look at my feet. “I don’t know.”
“Do you think it makes me feel less for you?”
My head snaps to attention.
Piper smiles. “Cam,” she says. “I wouldn’t have brought you here unless I felt something for you. Nothing that happens between us will ever be done tohurtyou. Nothing.”
“I know.”
“I’m not Kelsey,” Piper says.
“I know that, too.”
“Let’s start slow.”
I thought a month of shared dinners, late-night conversations, coffee dates, and a few kisses qualified as slow. Piper seems to follow my train of thought. She giggles and kisses me.
“I’m not your mistress,” Piper tells me. “That works for Kelsey and Caleb. It doesn’t need to be part of our dynamic. I’ve done that. It worked for me until it didn’t, and I don’t think it will work for us. That doesn’t mean I can’t be dominant.”
The flutter of my heart surprises me, and I feel my face flush.
“Cam?”
I nod.
“I know it was hard for you—to let me know what you want to explore and your limits. I listen to everything you say. I understand that to you, what’s developing between us feels like an arrangement rather than a relationship. That’s not true. It’s just a form of communication—ensuring we both have clarity.There’s so much for us to discover together. I promise it won’t remove the mystery you crave.”