Page 57 of Sparks
Silas’s entire demeanor changed, going stiff, his eyes darting over. “What are you doing looking at her posts?” Holly and I exchanged a fascinated glance. My fingers itched to pull up her profile.
“Dude,” Lee laughed. “I follow her.”
Silas shook his head, looking at his friend like he’d lost his mind.
“What?” Lee smiled unapologetically. “It’s very entertaining.”
“What did the post say?” Beth asked. We were all leaning forward.
“Nothing,” Silas snapped, but Lee was like a dog with the end of a pull toy, and he wasn’t letting go.
“It’s a picture of her wrists with these black cuffs.” Silas brought a hand to his forehead as Lee went on. “And the caption said something likeAnyone else like to get smacked around sometimes?”
Oohsand titters rose up around the table, but I watched Silas’s jaw tick in silence.
“That’s enough,” Silas warned.
“And then in the comments someone said she was lucky that her husband was so adventurous, and she was like,I wish! He won’t play…with a sadface.”
Bryant mouthed “WOW” and Holly choked back a snort at his dramatics.
“What the fuck, Lee?” Silas said, somehow managing to keep his voice steady. “Unfollow her and get a life.” Lee just laughed.
“Holy shit,” Beth laughed gleefully while Bryant leaned forward, his face lit up.
“Are we talking domination?” Bryant asked. “As in chaps and leather masks?”
Silas gave him a droll look and crossed his arms.
“No,” Beth said. “I think she’s got that humiliation fetish. She wants to be smacked and choked and called a dirty whore.”
The three of them laughed together while Silas sat stone-faced, and Holly and I were as still and quiet as statues. I felt awful for him, and yet fascinated. I’d often wondered about Silas in the bedroom, but this was wrong. Silas stared down at the table. He looked tense and ready to bolt.
“Leave him alone, guys,” I said, trying to sound light. When our eyes met, I felt a rush of gratefulness from him.
“We’re all friends here,” Bryant said. “We’re just fucking with him. It’s funny to get insight into Mr. Private.”
“I take it you’re not into the slapping and name-calling?” Beth asked.
I didn’t expect Silas to respond, but he gave a tight, “No.”
“Oh, come on,” Beth teased. “It’s like role playing. She obviously knows you don’t mean it.”
“Someone’s a little vanilla,” Bryant teased. Silas’s face did not change.
“But he hasn’t denied the domination part,” Beth noticed. “Maybe he’s vanilla with sprinkles.”
Silas crossed his arms and looked at her. I honestly could not believe he was still sitting here and humoring this conversation.
“Be honest,” Beth said to Silas. “What’s your favorite position?”
I glared, about one second away from snatching her out of that chair by the hair. Silas’s mouth was curled up ever so slightly at the edge, arms still crossed.
Beth pointed at him. “Your favorite is missionary! Admit it.”
Bryant and Lee were cracking up and clapping, falling sideways.
Silas stared back at her, unflinching, and I began to wonder if he might be amused by all of this.
