SATED: #3 in the Fit Trilogy (3 page)

“What?”

“Nothing,” he said with a hint of a smile. “After you.”

Keira ducked her head to hide her embarrassment. She wasn’t used to guys looking at her like they were actually looking at her. That subtle smile still in place, Daniel guided her through the hotel doors with his hand gently touching her back, touching the skin exposed by the cut-outs in her Naymorian gown. She did her best to ignore the goose bumps that popped up all over her body.

✶

Keira couldn’t believe how much fun she was having. She couldn’t believe how much fun she was having
with
Daniel. He stuck by her the whole day, as she bounced from vendor to vendor and panel to panel. He held the stuff she accumulated while she posed for dozens of pictures. He encouraged her to enter the costume contest being held before the main panel of the day. She didn’t win, but she won an honorable mention prize, a replica of the pins the Galaxis fighters wore on their uniforms.

The highlight of her day came when it was time to head to the grand ballroom. The line was ridiculously long. Keira was afraid she wouldn’t get in, let alone get near one of the mics for the Q&A, but that didn’t matter. Daniel had an in. Turns out his brother’s “involvement” in the show really meant that his brother was JD Song, who played Orora’s love interest on
Galaxis
. A few words to the guys at the door got them to the front of the line and back to the green room after the Q&A.

It wasn’t like she should have made the connection. It wasn’t like everyone with the last name Song was related. Plus JD spent his whole run on the show in full Naymorian make-up, complete with a flattened nose and massively enlarged eyes. Also, he and Daniel didn’t really look alike.

Still, it was great to meet him. JD introduced her to the rest of the cast, including Selia Monroe, the actress who played Princess Orora. She went on about Keira’s costume and somehow Keira managed not to break down in crazed fangirly tears. There was a Naymorian ball that was meant to wrap up the day’s events, but neither Keira or Daniel were in the mood to dance, so Daniel suggested they continue their evening at a diner up the street.

“I wish Armando had told me about your brother. I wouldn’t have dragged you around with me all day. You could have spent time with him,” Keira said, as they settled into the tiny booth. She felt bad for monopolizing Daniel’s time, but she could not stop smiling.

“No, it’s fine. We hung out last night and this morning.”

“But you had to listen to me all day. Sorry I’m such a dork about the show.”

Daniel shook his head at Keira’s bashful smile. “Trust me, I enjoyed it. It’s nice to meet someone so passionate about something my brother works on.”

“You mean disturbingly obsessed?”

Daniel laughed and picked up his menu. “Maybe a little.”

“I thought I was going to cry when he introduced me to Selia.”

“I’m sure she’s used to it. It’s a popular show.”

“It is.”

Still smiling, Keira watched Daniel for a moment as he looked over their dinner options. He really was good-looking. And he was sweet, kind of soft-spoken—as soft-spoken as anyone could be with a voice like that—and witty. He only had nice things to say all day, even though Keira could tell he was having about an eighth of the fun she was. She liked him a lot so far, but she wanted to like him more. Which was good, right? Armando hadn’t meant to “set them up” so to speak, but if the shoe looked like it worth trying on…

Keira squeezed her eyes closed and almost hid under the table. She’d really just compared Daniel to a shoe. At least she hadn’t said the stupid words out loud. Just a quick second to clear her throat and she gave not sounding like a complete dummy a shot.

“We spent the whole day focused on me and my
Galaxis
problem. Tell me about you. What do you do? Armando never told me.”

“Thank you for asking. I’m part owner of Fire in the Sky Pyrotechnics. Spend most of my time designing fireworks and fire displays.”

“That’s so cool. I was going ask you what you do in your free time, but—”

“But, what?”

“Actually, I’m sorry. I was about to say something super rude.” See, this was the real reason Keira was single, her inappropriate verbal diarrhea. She did not know when to keep her mouth shut and that just plain turned guys off. Maybe if she buried her face in the menu Daniel would forget she was there.

No such luck. He nudged her foot under the table. “I can handle it. Tell me.”

“Oh, geez. Okay. I was going to ask what you do in your free time, but I know you hang out with Armando and Grant. And I know what they do in their free time.”

“Did they tell you all about it?”

“No…I just…know. They aren’t rubbing anything in my face, but they aren’t exactly hush-hush about it either. And Armando posts things on Facebook sometimes.”

“And what do you think about it?”

Keira shrugged. “I don’t really know.”

“Do you know much about sadomasochistic practices and power exchange?”

Keira’s mind blanked for a second. She had no idea what he was talking about, but she wasn’t about to admit that. “I just know they like control or whatever. They like bossing Violet and Nailah around, telling them what to do. And then there’s lots of sex involved. It’s not really my thing.”

That small smile touched the corner of his lips again. Keira wanted to be annoyed with him but she couldn’t. And then she realized what she’d said.

“No! I like sex! I definitely like sex—”

“It’s more than that, but I see what you’re saying. It’s not for everyone.”

“I’ll be honest. Most of what I know it, I learned from fanfiction.”

Daniel’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

He shouldn’t have said that. Keira felt her geek mode activating again. “There’s this AU fic where Orora— Are you sure you want to hear this?”

“After you tell me what the hell an AU fic is, yes I do.”

“It means Alternate Universe. So Orora is a florist and she lives next door to JD’s character, and he’s a carpenter and he seduces her and ties her up and—”

“Okay, stop. I don’t want to think about my brother seducing anyone or what follows.”

“Right. Sorry.”

“You liked the story though?”

“Yeah. I like reading it, but the stuff he made her do? Not my thing.”

“Why’s that? Not that I’m trying to persuade you.”

“I don’t like being told what to do, even if sex comes as a perk.”

“I gotcha.” Daniel let the subject drop and turned his attention to the menu, but then Keira’s curiosity was piqued.

“What’s the draw for you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I don’t mind, I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“I’m good. One hundred percent comfortable. Go.”

“Alright. How can I put this? I may roll with Grant and Armando, but we’re into different aspects of the lifestyle. They are Dominants, clear and easy. I’m what you would call a switch.”

“I don’t know what that is,” Keira said.

“I like to play both sides. I can do what your boys do. Have a partner or partners who agree to follow my lead. I can act as Master and Dominant, give out the orders, take the control. And just as easily I can submit.”

Keira swallowed as she felt her face heating up. She did not mean for the conversation to go anywhere near this direction, but now she was interested. And possibly picturing Daniel doing all sorts of things with his shirt off. “Which do you like more?”

“I’m most at peace when I’m submitting. What looks good to you?”
 

“Oh, ah. I think I’m going to get the waffles. I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about this. What are you going to get?”

“The waffles actually sound pretty good. We can talk about whatever you like. Armando mentioned to me that you weren’t into kink.
You
just told me you weren’t into kink, but I’ll go on if you want to know more?”

“He wasn’t wrong, but will I sound like a complete hypocrite if I say yes, I do want to know more? Armando and Grant are more like brothers. I can’t really talk to them about sex.”

“Nothing hypocritical about being curious. But before I get into it, let me tell you about some of my other interests.”

“Oh yes. Please do.”

“I enjoy puzzles and I love to bowl. And I try to go to the movies at least once a week.”

“No, wait. Let’s go back to the puzzles.”

“I love puzzles.” Daniel lifted his arm off the table a bit. “They helped me with my rehab and they’ve been a bit more of hobby ever since.”

“Interesting. Do you mind me asking how…? Jesus. Never mind.” Keira really,
really
needed to shut up, but Daniel just laughed her latest faux pass off.

“It was an accident on my first set. Our lead was an idiot, didn’t check to see if I was clear of the blast zone and the effects went off.”

“Oh my god.”

“I’m on the mend, I promise you.” That wink of his was too much.

“I see that. Um, back to your other interests. You said something about going to the movies. Would you…like to go with me some time?” Keira took the leap then instantly regretted it when Daniel practically froze behind his menu. “Sorry. I know this wasn’t that kind of hang out. I just—”

“No. I would love to.”

“Are you sure? You’re not saying yes now to be nice, but then you’re gonna call me sometime next week and tell me you can’t?”

“No, no. How about this? Keira, would you like to go on date with me in the next seven days. Your schedule permitting, of course?”

“I would love that.”

“Excellent. Now I say we see about these waffles and then I’ll tell you more about my attempt at the jigsaw puzzle world record and how I was off by a full fifteen minutes.”

Keira managed to hold back her laughter, but still she smiled.

✶

Keira plopped down on her couch with her laptop. As soon as she pulled it open, a chat box lit up the screen.

LoriNLynn+Twins:
TELL ME EVERYTHING!!!

Keira snorted at her friend’s enthusiasm. Lori was one of several online buddies who had to back out of the Con, and the person Keira missed the most. She lived in Milwaukee with her wife and their kids. Unfortunately wife and the kids came down with a horrible flu and Lori couldn’t bear to leave them. Keira understood, but she was still bummed. Lori was her best fandom friend. They’d only met in person once, but they talked on the phone or online and texted every day.

ItsKeiraTime:
How are the babies?

LoriNLynn+Twins:
there is snot everywhere. i have kid snot in my fucking hair. and Sammy threw up on me this afternoon.

ItsKeiraTime:
lol omg im so sorry.

LoriNLynn+Twins:
tell me your day was better than mine. how was the con? send me all the pics. did you get to see Selia? was JD there? Did JD take off his shirt? did Selia take off her shirt? did they simulate a sex act on stage during the panel?

This was why Keira loved Lori; she was just as obsessed with everything
Galaxis
as Keira was.

ItsKeiraTime:
no sex, but i think i got a date out of it.

LoriNLynn+Twins:
what? SPILL!!!

Keira set about explaining how she met up with Daniel at the convention and how she’d ended up asking him out, even though their time together was only supposed to be a friend-type thing. Then she casually mentioned that Daniel was JD’s brother.

LoriNLynn+Twins:
WHAT THE FUCK!!! I feel awful for abandoning you and then you end up scoring a date with JD’s brother??

ItsKeiraTime:
i know. he introduced me to JD and Selia too.

LoriNLynn+Twins:
Brb dying on the floor. i can’t fucking believe this. should I ditch you more often?

ItsKeiraTime:
maybe.

LoriNLynn+Twins:
why don’t you sound more psyched? you met JD and Selia and now you have a chance to pork JD’s brother. I can feel it through the computer. you’re not psyched.

Keira knew exactly what was bothering her. She’d had such a good time with Daniel, and he was so cute, but…

ItsKeiraTime:
I think I might have spoke too soon. Jumped the gun in asking him out. He’s into the bondage stuff.

She included a somewhat conflicted frowny face.

LoriNLynn+Twins:
And?? Let him tie you up.

ItsKeiraTime:
No!

ItsKeiraTime:
He’s the real deal, Lor.

Not that she actually knew for sure, but from the way he talked and the mere fact that he ran in the same circles as Grant and Armando? Yeah, they were pros. And Keira? She wasn’t, nor did she want to be, any type of sexual professional.

LoriNLynn+Twins:
What made you say yes, then? Did we not learn a lesson with Travis McLoser? Don’t go out with guys you don’t like.

ItsKeiraTime:
I DO like him. That’s the problem.

LoriNLynn+Twins
: Afraid you’ll let him do more than tie you up?

That was exactly what Keira was afraid of. What if she ended up really crushing on Daniel? What if he ended up being really good in bed and he turned her into some weirdo perverted sex addict who had to go to therapy because she’d been arrested for public indecency?

Keira’s mind continued to run wild. Too many what-ifs. She wanted a boyfriend, but she wasn’t so sure she wanted a boyfriend who was a freak.

ItsKeiraTime:
He said he’s a switch.

LoriNLynn+Twins:
Oooh that means he goes both ways! You can tie him up.

ItsKeiraTime:
How do you know all this?

LoriNLynn+Twins
: google, honey. the internet is your friend. just do it. go out with him once. for me. i need this excitement.

ItsKeiraTime:
aren’t you gay?

LoriNLynn+Twin:
kid. snot. in. my. hair. i need this excitement.

Keira leaned back against her couch, her laugh turning into a sigh. She wasn’t going to back out of her date with Daniel, but she needed something. Some sort of reassurance that everything was going to be okay. She had to know more about Daniel. She had to know he could seriously be with someone like Keira, someone who wasn’t into those kinky things. She had to talk to Armando and Grant.