Page 3 of Ride With Me
He hesitated as my hand reached out, our fingers brushing one another. “You okay, love? I’m here any time you want to talk.”
I sucked in a breath and shook my head. Talking was the last thing I wanted to do.
“Logan, can you give me a hand?” Paige called from down the bar.
Logan had opened his mouth, but he closed it without saying anything and nodded to Paige. He looked back at me as he took a step toward her. “You let me know if you need anything, love.”
As he walked down the bar, I grabbed the drink and hopped off the bar stool, retreating to a couch on the far side of the seating area. I curled into the sofa and settled in to watch the scenes as they got started. Maybe someone would want to play tonight. Someone who didn’t want to talk, who didn’t study my face like he could read every bit of my history in my expressions.
I wanted to move on from my past. I wanted what Avery and Brax had. But some nights, both of those seemed like impossible goals.
Those nights I’d scened with Logan had been the best nights of my life. He’d read my body, given me exactly what I’d needed. He was a master of Shibari, using rope to create intricate patterns to bind my body. And when he’d used the ropes to suspend me, the feeling of comfort, calm, freedom… nothing since had come close. I still fantasized about that scene when I was alone in my bed at night.
But then he’d wanted to talk, to discuss the scene, to hear my thoughts and feelings. I shook my head, remembering.
I couldn’t let someone into my head like that.
3
Logan
I picked up an empty glass and wiped the bar top. I looked out over the sitting area as I placed the glass with the dirty ones that needed to be cleaned. Savannah was curled up alone on a sofa. My gaze seemed to seek her out in any crowd. Her bright red hair was like a beacon, drawing me in.
I picked up another used glass from the bar top, pulling my attention away from Savannah. We’d had an amazing couple of scenes those times we’d been paired at the single’s nights. It was too bad I couldn’t scene with her any more.
“Hey, Logan.” A voice from down the bar captured my attention. I turned to see Jackson leaning against the bar.
“Hey, Jackson. How’s it hanging?” I moved toward him. “Planning to play tonight?”
Jackson shrugged. “Maybe. I like to choose my own partners, so I didn’t sign up for singles night, but most of the subs are spoken for now.” He paused, looking out over the club. “How’s Savannah tonight? Think she’d be up for something?”
My instinctive response was to punch Jackson. Yeah, I couldn’t scene with her anymore, but that didn’t mean I wanted anyone else touching her. “You never know. Maybe.”
Jackson’s brows knit together as he studied me. “What happened with the two of you? You seemed so perfect together during those scenes you did a few months ago. The subs seem to think she’s still pining for you.”
Fuck, that wasn’t what I wanted to hear. It was hard enough for me to stay away.
I shook my head. “They were good scenes—amazing even—but when I tried to talk to her afterward, she clammed up. She hasn’t said more than a dozen words to me since.”
Jackson chuckled. “Maybe you scare her.”
My gut twisted. I didn’t want to scare her, but I needed her to trust me enough to open up. “Maybe, but I can’t scene with someone who can’t talk to me. How can I trust her to give me feedback? To safe word? I could push too far and hurt her. I can’t do that to her.”
Jackson ran his hand over his chin as he nodded thoughtfully. “Fair enough. Well, if I’m not playing, go ahead and give me a whiskey.”
I pulled a glass off the shelf and poured two fingers of Jameson, then slid the glass across the counter to him. He took a large sip before standing from the barstool.
Jackson lifted his glass toward me as he stepped back from the bar. “Good luck, man.”
RING. RING.
Who the hell called this early on a Saturday morning? I rolled over with a groan and silenced the phone before I swiped to answer and put the phone to my ear.
“Hello?” My voice was gravelly with sleep.
“Hello, is this Logan Wilder?” A woman’s voice, but not one that I knew.
“Speaking.”
