Chronicles of a Serial Dater - Book 2: A New Adult Romantic Comedy Read Online Free Page A

face.
    “I’m really glad I met you, Talia,” he breathed. “I…” He pushed up to sitting again, pulling me up along with him. “I don’t normally do this until I’ve gotten to know the person first, but… I’d like to show you something.”
    I blinked a few times, trying to hide my confusion. My body was still go, go, go . Why was he putting on the brakes when I’d just given him the green light?
    “Yeah, of course,” I replied, adjusting my clothes back into place.
    With an expression of relief and excitement, Forrest threaded his fingers with mine and led me down a narrow hall. We passed two doors before stopping at the third. I could sense his nerves and for the first time, I wondered if I hadn’t made a huge mistake. As if sensing my unease, he lifted my knuckles to his lips, flaming the spark he’d lit deep in my core.
    He pulled his keyring out, selected a pure black key, and slid it into the matching black doorknob. Why does he have a locked door in his own apartment? I wondered.
    “There are things about me not many people know. But I feel like I can trust you. I’m not going to spout off some stuff about connections and all that,” he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck in a charming gesture. “There’s a strange need to share this with you.”
    My heart was absolutely racing now. “Sure, yeah.” There was a weakness in my thighs that left me feeling wobbly.
    Forrest rested his hand on the doorknob, took a big breath, and opened the door. The room was black and windowless. I hesitated at the threshold, waiting for him to flick on the lights before I entered.
    Lights.
    Camera.
    Bondage.
    I tried to be cool, I really did. I read 50 Shades, I’ve seen the movie. But imagining a scene from a book while having a little private time with your shower head is completely different than being confronted with a room full of whips, chains, and restraints. There were things hanging from the walls I didn’t even recognize.
    I felt Forrest’s intent gaze on me, watching. He reached down to the bulge in his pants and pressed the flat of his hand against it, making no effort to hide the motion. I took a few deep breaths and tried to temper my reaction, but I knew my expression was far from the one I wanted to convey. If I’m brutally honest, it was a little too much, too soon. But there was a part of me that thought, I’ve come this far. I’m already doing something I don’t normally do… why not?
    He wisely gave me a few moments to come around. When our eyes met, my stomach clenched in a strange mix of arousal and trepidation.
    “You aren’t freaked out?” he asked with an arched brow.
    I gave him a tight smile and I glanced at the walls again. “A little, but isn’t that the point?”
    He held my gaze as he slowly licked his bottom lip. With a hand over his shoulder, he pulled his shirt up over his head and dropped it on the floor. The overhead lighting accentuated every ripple and crease of his muscles. With a smirk, he closed the distance between us but didn’t touch me.
    “You’re happy to indulge my little… kink?” His voice was deep and sultry, a sparkle in his eye at the promise of pleasure. I didn’t trust my voice, so I only nodded, which seemed to be answer enough for him.
    He took a deep breath that flared his nostrils before turning. I watched with wide eyes as he browsed the walls of the room, fingers slipping across the various surfaces of leather, plastic, wood, and latex. I was wandering into a dark world I’d never even entertained, but inside, I was psyching myself up. You can do this. Lots of people do this. Maybe you’ll really enjoy it…
    Forrest casually plucked a black collar off the wall, the two silver rings jingling in his hand. A second later, he paused in front of a collection of whips, choosing one with a thick handle and dozens of leather strips hanging from the end.
    My eyes fell between his legs as he returned to me. Despite my trepidation, I was