Perception (Club Destiny #6)(37)
Author: Nicole Edwards

To his surprise, she didn’t argue. She didn’t even wipe away the tears that had left tracks down her cheeks. Leaning forward, he thumbed away the wet streaks while keeping his eyes locked with hers. There was defiance in the magnificent gray color, which made her eyes darker than he’d ever seen them.

“Now where were we?” he asked, leaning back and letting his hand trail slowly over her breast, her belly, and once again to graze the perfect triangle of dark hair on her mound.

Yes, he’d certainly be shaving her later. He wanted her bare. The idea of her bare folds glistening made him hotter than hell.

“You told me that I’d spend every minute that I’m not working here with you.”

“Right. And you won’t be going to Kink tonight either,” he said, knowing he was going to hit a sore spot with her.

To his surprise, she bit her bottom lip, but she didn’t argue.

“I’ll call Shane and let him know,” Xander told her.

“About us?” she asked suddenly, her eyes widening as though the idea of Shane knowing about their deal was horrifying.

He decided to test her. “Yes.”

“What are you going to say?” she questioned.

“Whatever I want.” He didn’t elaborate. He would tell Shane exactly what was going on because he chose to. End of story.

“Now, do you have any questions?” he asked her.

“Will we be going to Devotion?”

“Yes. I want somewhere we can play. We’ll be more anonymous there.” He was doing that for her, wanting her to realize he was thinking about her. At Kink, she’d be mortified to submit to him. He got that.

Mercedes nodded, as though his answer was acceptable. Xander waited for her to ask more questions. She didn’t.

“Are you on the pill?” he asked.

“Birth control shot, yes.”

“You’ve seen my recent medical records but if you want, I’ll get you a copy.” Routine testing for sexually transmitted disease was a requirement just to be members of Kink, and at Devotion too, so they were both familiar with providing them. Just last week, Xander had sent his with her to Kink. And prior to the soft opening of Devotion, he’d seen hers when he submitted her application for membership.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because,” Xander told her, sliding his finger along her wet slit, “when I’m inside of you, I don’t want any barriers between us.” He paused, dipping the tip of his finger inside of her. “Does that bother you?”

If it did, Xander wouldn’t hesitate to use a condom. He’d never had sex without one, never been in a relationship that had made it to the point where he would trust a woman enough. Most of the time, he was just too weary that a woman would try and trap him by getting pregnant. A morbid thought, maybe, but one he had to consider with everyone he decided to spend time with.

With Mercedes, trust wasn’t an issue. The issue was that he wanted her with his body and his soul and, at least for now, he doubted the feelings were reciprocated.

“I’ve never…” she began, swallowed. “I don’t…”

She clearly couldn’t form an answer, so Xander helped her out. “You’ve never had sex without a condom?”

“No.”

“Are you scared to?”

There was hesitation in her eyes, but he waited her out this time, wanting the truth.

“A little. But not because of what you’re thinking. I just… It seems too intimate.”

Xander agreed. “That’s the point, Mercedes,” he told her, his voice low. “I don’t want anything between us. Nothing. I want to feel you in every way possible.”

She seemed to think it over for several seconds, and then she nodded her head. “Ok. No condoms. Unless we’re at the club,” she answered, the breathless tone of her voice belying the unaffected expression she tried to force into place.

Xander nodded. It was a requirement at Devotion that condoms be used in any public scene. It was also suggested that condoms be used at all times.

“Good,” he told her as he pulled his finger back. “Do you have any other questions for right now?”

She looked like there was something she wanted to ask, but she kept her mouth closed.

“The only thing I ask of you, M, is that you’re honest with me. Open and honest about everything. Answer me verbally when I question you. Talk to me when you have concerns. You know how this works; I don’t need to explain it to you.”

“I know how it works,” she said snippily.

“Good, then I think we’re on the same page.”