temperatures of the room, I feel my palms begin to sweat. I loosen my tie as I enter, hoping to stop the stifling rise of heat that I feel spreading across my skin.
Francesca waits for me inside on her knees. The dark-haired beauty looks up at me as I walk toward her. Her eyes are filled with primal hunger. She quickly tilts her head down letting me know that she’s ready and willing to surrender to me. I begin by rolling up my sleeves to my elbows. My dress shirt isn’t my regular clothing of preference when I do a scene, but today it will have to do. A smile of encouragement spreads across Francesca’s lips as I slowly pull a paddle from the display rack in the room. I’ll start slow. Maybe if I start slow, I’ll be fine.
Emily’s face pops into my mind as I walk over to the sub. The spanking that I gave Emily in bed left me itching for more. I shake my head to clear my thoughts, but the torn look on Emily’s face that day on the yacht plagues me. I can’t get her out of my fucking head. I slam my fist against the wall rattling the rack of floggers, leashes, and whips.
“What’s wrong, Tristan?”
Fuck, what am I doing? I quickly back away from Francesca and let the paddle fall to the floor.
Everything.
I leave the Pleasure Chest in a whirlwind. I don’t even bother grabbing my jacket from Felicity as she hands me my wallet, keys, and cell phone. It isn’t long before I’m near my apartment again trying to maneuver through traffic. The thought of being back at my studio gives me some peace, but it doesn’t drown the gnawing feeling of guilt in my stomach. I lift my phone from my pants and scroll through my list of contacts. Emily’s face pops on my screen. I stare at the picture that I secretly snapped of her at the beach. She wasn’t even aware of the candid I took as she swam in the water with her friend Augie. I click on her name as my phone dials her number. With each ring, my body begins to shake. Beads of sweat form on my forehead and on the back of my neck.
After several minutes, Emily’s phone finally goes voicemail.
“Emily, I love you. Please don’t delete this message.”
Emily
It’s funny how three little words can make or break you.
I love you.
His words feel like a kick to the chest. A wave of anxiety hits me as I listen to the voicemail Tristan left me on my cell. Most of his sentences come in and out, but those three words I’m certain I heard right. My chest squeezes in an all too familiar way, leaving me gasping for air. I never expected to hear him say those words ever, let alone over a voicemail. I’ve said them in my mind a million times over, but never out loud. I set down my book of poetry and replay the voicemail over again. Each time I hear Tristan’s voice, I feel my heart break just a little more. He sounds upset. His pitch matches the same desperation I feel whenever I hear his name.
It’s almost been three weeks now since I’ve spoken to Tristan. I thought his absence in my life would get easier, but it hasn’t been easy. I don’t feel like myself anymore. Every day seems a little less bright.
I’ve filled my days with reading to escape the reality outside my apartment. I get lost in pieces of literature where the hero and heroine always find their happy ending. Unfortunately, fiction doesn’t seem to translate well in real life. I’m starting to feel like happy endings were made for fools. Although Jane Austen would say, we are all fools in love . I’m just feeling a bit extra foolish today.
“Emily?”
A voice calls from behind me. I turn to find Augie dressed in a pair of plaid pajamas. Not too far off behind him is Harvey. My heart squeezes at the sight of them.
“Hey,” I say weakly.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“No.”
Tears rush forward as I bite back a sob.
“What’s wrong?”
Augie steps forward pulling me into his arms as he tries to soothe me. Shame overwhelms me as Harvey stands in the background unsure of what to say. This
Francesca waits for me inside on her knees. The dark-haired beauty looks up at me as I walk toward her. Her eyes are filled with primal hunger. She quickly tilts her head down letting me know that she’s ready and willing to surrender to me. I begin by rolling up my sleeves to my elbows. My dress shirt isn’t my regular clothing of preference when I do a scene, but today it will have to do. A smile of encouragement spreads across Francesca’s lips as I slowly pull a paddle from the display rack in the room. I’ll start slow. Maybe if I start slow, I’ll be fine.
Emily’s face pops into my mind as I walk over to the sub. The spanking that I gave Emily in bed left me itching for more. I shake my head to clear my thoughts, but the torn look on Emily’s face that day on the yacht plagues me. I can’t get her out of my fucking head. I slam my fist against the wall rattling the rack of floggers, leashes, and whips.
“What’s wrong, Tristan?”
Fuck, what am I doing? I quickly back away from Francesca and let the paddle fall to the floor.
Everything.
I leave the Pleasure Chest in a whirlwind. I don’t even bother grabbing my jacket from Felicity as she hands me my wallet, keys, and cell phone. It isn’t long before I’m near my apartment again trying to maneuver through traffic. The thought of being back at my studio gives me some peace, but it doesn’t drown the gnawing feeling of guilt in my stomach. I lift my phone from my pants and scroll through my list of contacts. Emily’s face pops on my screen. I stare at the picture that I secretly snapped of her at the beach. She wasn’t even aware of the candid I took as she swam in the water with her friend Augie. I click on her name as my phone dials her number. With each ring, my body begins to shake. Beads of sweat form on my forehead and on the back of my neck.
After several minutes, Emily’s phone finally goes voicemail.
“Emily, I love you. Please don’t delete this message.”
Emily
It’s funny how three little words can make or break you.
I love you.
His words feel like a kick to the chest. A wave of anxiety hits me as I listen to the voicemail Tristan left me on my cell. Most of his sentences come in and out, but those three words I’m certain I heard right. My chest squeezes in an all too familiar way, leaving me gasping for air. I never expected to hear him say those words ever, let alone over a voicemail. I’ve said them in my mind a million times over, but never out loud. I set down my book of poetry and replay the voicemail over again. Each time I hear Tristan’s voice, I feel my heart break just a little more. He sounds upset. His pitch matches the same desperation I feel whenever I hear his name.
It’s almost been three weeks now since I’ve spoken to Tristan. I thought his absence in my life would get easier, but it hasn’t been easy. I don’t feel like myself anymore. Every day seems a little less bright.
I’ve filled my days with reading to escape the reality outside my apartment. I get lost in pieces of literature where the hero and heroine always find their happy ending. Unfortunately, fiction doesn’t seem to translate well in real life. I’m starting to feel like happy endings were made for fools. Although Jane Austen would say, we are all fools in love . I’m just feeling a bit extra foolish today.
“Emily?”
A voice calls from behind me. I turn to find Augie dressed in a pair of plaid pajamas. Not too far off behind him is Harvey. My heart squeezes at the sight of them.
“Hey,” I say weakly.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“No.”
Tears rush forward as I bite back a sob.
“What’s wrong?”
Augie steps forward pulling me into his arms as he tries to soothe me. Shame overwhelms me as Harvey stands in the background unsure of what to say. This
Similar Books
