Page 26 of Games We Play
“Well, you havemyforgiveness if you promise the sex was bomb and totally worth it.”
Leah laughed. “It was the best night of my fucking life. If you told me it was going to happen a week ago, I would’ve never believed you.”
“Then you have my forgiveness. Congrats.” Gina chuckled. “Where did you meet her? Online?”
“I actually met her at the club on my birthday.”
“You slut!”
“She was only in town for the weekend. For business. So when she reconnected with me Monday afternoon, I decided to follow my pussy. You know how rough it is for us gay girls.”
“So was that shit about your sister a cover?”
“No.” Leah sighed. “She really wasn’t feeling well. Imeantto come back to work, but I got the… call.” Here came the little white lies. “My date called and asked me to come meet her. Guess I was so excited that I completely forgot about work. I should’ve at least called and made up some excuse to the boss.”
“Yeah, well, we got it done.” Gina took the cigarette Leah wasn’t smoking and lit it with a flick of her lighter. “I’ll overlook your transgression this time, because Idoknow how rough it is for you gay girls.”
Leah kissed her fingers and tapped them against Gina’s cheek. “You’re the best. Besides, I doubt I’ll ever be seeing her again. Like I said, she was from Chicago. Anyway, I’m going back to work. Enjoy your cig.”
The parts of Leah willing to treasure the memory of her night with Sloan conflicted with the ones begging her to forget.If I remember, I’ll have something to think about on my lonely nights.If she forgot? She wouldn’t have to deal with the pang of regret thumping with every beat of her heart.
No, she didn’t regret doing it, although she woke up feeling like the irresponsible adult her mother always made her out to be. Leah regretted the fact she would never truly know what it meant to be in the relationship of her dreams. One where a strong woman could take care of her, whatever that entailed.Financially, emotionally, maybe spiritually…Leah was that kind of person. She needed constant guidance. She knew how to take care of herself, yes, but she truly flourished when she had someone to give gentle guidance and make the hard decisions that overwhelmed and stressed her out.I don’t need someone tothinkfor me. I want someone who likes doing the heavy lifting and naturally takes charge.Sloan was like that. She called the shots, and that turned Leah on.
The cigarette smoke Leah left outside reminded her of Sloan, though the brand and filters were different. She had a feeling the scent of tobacco would trigger these recent memories for a long while.
Leah finished her shift late enough to see nothing but darkness when she stepped outside. As she had promised her mother that morning, she texted that she was on her way home. She did not expect her mother to immediately text something back.
“Good. Because there’s something here for you, and you locked your bedroom door so now it’s taking up space on the dining table. We need to use it for dinner.”
What was waiting for her? Leah, bundled up in her winter clothing and throwing a hat on her head to protect her scalp from the rain, began the long trek home.I didn’t buy anything.The last time she did any online shopping was when she bought birthday presents for Karlie. That was back in October. Nothing had beenthatdelayed.
She didn’t get to find out what it was until she reached her doorstep twenty minutes later. Karlie’s head perked up from the living room sofa. When Leah asked where their parents were, Karlie announced that Janet and Ray and gone to get takeout for dinner. No wonder they wanted the dining room table so quickly.
“Mom said there was something for me on the table.”
Karlie folded her legs beneath her. The TV played some teen drama rerun Leah could remember watching when she was her sister’s age. “Yeah, what’s that about?”
Leah put her things down and went straight to the kitchen. There, acting as the impressive centerpiece to the family dining table, was a package big enough to fit a cat in.
“I’m going upstairs.” The only return address Leah could find was some nondescript building in Illinois. Wait, Illinois? Chicago was in Illinois…
She raced up to her room faster than if she were a teenager receiving a love note in the mail. For, in many ways, shehadreceived a lovely note from a worthy suitor.
The package was opened within two seconds of hitting Leah’s bed. The first thing she found was a white card on top of black silk. The golden lettering was handwritten with a pen. Who knew a woman could have such beautiful cursive handwriting?Maybe it’s a dying art, after all.Leah soaked up the lettering before reading what it said.
“My dearest Leah,
I haven’t stopped thinking about you since last night. Forgive an older woman for being a big softie, when what you clearly need is someone who isn’t afraid to be tough. But sometimes, in order for us to be tough on the outside, we need to remember what it’s like to be soft on the inside.
That said, unfold the scarf and take a look at what I can offer you.”
Leah placed the card on her bed as gingerly as she would a newborn baby. No folds. No bends. No little stains from her inability to keep popcorn salt and melted chocolate off her comforter.
She pulled back the silk scarf and found the submissive starter kit she once put together in an Amazon wish list.
No, it wasn’t from theactualwish list. Sloan probably could hack the site and find the goods Leah wanted, but they wouldn’t be as high in quality as the items in the bottom of the box. The negligee and accompanying sheer robe was made of the finest lace to ever touch Leah’s fingers. The silk blindfold felt like a warm bath against her face. Even the leather strips on the whip enclosed within a silk handkerchief was so gentle to the touch that Leah almost couldn’t believe it was real.
Those weren’t… no. All right, so perhaps the hardest things in the box were the sterling silver nipple clamps that could easily attach to the collar and leash coiling at the bottom of the package.
