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Oh right. Because he did.
Act normal. Act normal. Act normal. Don’t say anything stupid… and whatever you do, do not call him Daddy.
“Right, yeah. I guess that makes sense. So…uh, how does this work?”
Without saying a word, Bain came around the counter and took my hand, holding the tops of my fingers like he was about to lead me onto the dance floor. Only this was a BDSM club, not a dance club, and they did very different things than dancing out on the floor. Things I’d never really enjoyed watching, and things that reminded me of Henry. Things I’d only ever done with him.
“Relax,” Bain said, leaning close to whisper in my ear. “We’re just going to talk.”
I couldn’t relax with him so close that I could smell his expensive cologne, talking in that low, sexy tone. I couldn't relax in this club, with the softly pulsing music, the low lighting, and the memories of Henry. Bain led me to a far corner of the dimly lit room, where there was a table and two chairs surrounded by other small tables, with just enough space between them to allow for intimacy and privacy and, if one wanted, a good view of what was happening out on the floor.
He pulled out a chair for me and I sat, again tugging on the hem of my too-short dress. Bain sat down across from me and scooted his chair closer to mine. “Before we get started, would you like a drink?”
I wanted one—I did, but I knew that was a bad idea. I was already jittery and nervous, and I needed to keep my wits about me. Not to mention, every time I drank around Bain I ended up in bed with him, and that was not the goal. Then again, if Bain was having a drink, maybe a glass of wine would make this easier on both of us.
“Are you having one?”
He shook his head. “I pre-gamed before we opened, and while it was only two shots, that’s more than enough for now. I need to keep a clear head.”
I nodded, then skittered my gaze around the club, which was starting to fill up. “Aren’t you needed at the counter?” I didn't want to keep him from anything more important.
“Lennon will fill in.”
Even as he answered, Lennon appeared from out of nowhere and took the spot Bain had just occupied. So much for stalling.
“Oh. Okay. So, how does this work?” I repeated my earlier question.
“Well, first, you should probably tell me more specifically what brought you here tonight, and what it is that you are needing help with.”
“Oh, right.” I took a deep breath and thought about my disaster of a day and all the things that were constantly closing in on me. Bills, deadlines, kids’ activities, housework, laundry. How did I explain that I needed someone to help me remember to set an alarm without sounding like the most pathetic person on earth? I licked my lips and tried to come up with a way to explain that, but words escaped me. I closed my eyes, feeling like the world's biggest idiot. “This was stupid,” I whispered. I wondered if it was too late to get my money back.
Bain reached across the table and took both of my hands in his. “It’s not stupid. We all need help sometimes. Just start at the beginning and tell me what you need.”
Why did this man always seem to say the exactly perfect thing? Why did he make me feel as if he could see into my soul?
I stared at him, too totally overwhelmed and not sure where to begin. There were just so many little things that pressured me from day to day, and it was hard to believe that anyone who wasn’t a parent would understand.
I sat in silence, my lips parted as I searched for words that didn't seem to want to come. Around us, the music started with a dramatic beat, and I looked over to see a woman, naked from the waist down, bent over a padded vault-like thing. The man she was with strapped her into place, restraining her wrists and ankles until she was unable to move.
I didn’t want to watch, but I couldn’t look away as the man walked over to a nearby table, opened a black leather duffel, and extracted a mean-looking leather strap. My mouth went dry and my palms grew damp. Was this what I had signed up for? Would I be able to do something like this without Henry?
My panic must have been evident on my face because Bain snapped his fingers to bring my attention back to him. His voice was calm and commanding. “Jasmine. Look at me. Don’t pay any attention to them.”
I managed to tear my eyes away from the scene that was unfolding, but the sound of leather striking flesh made it impossible for me to focus. I realized I couldn't sit in this place with this man and talk about kids and laundry and alarm clocks, but I also knew I needed this desperately, and even though I didn’t want to, I trusted Bain. If there was anyone who could see inside my head and be the Daddy I needed, it would be Bain. The problem with that was, if there was anybody who would tempt me out of devoted celibacy, it would also be Bain. It was a Catch 22. Still, if there was any possibility that the accountability of Rent-A-Daddy would help me get out from under the constant pile of stress that was my life, I had to give it a chance.
Still holding onto Bain’s hands, I stood. “I need you to come with me.”
Bain
Jasmine’s hands visibly shook when she attempted to unlock her front door. It was endearingly adorable how nervous she was. I knew the Daddy thing to do would be to take the key and unlock it myself, but the other part was enjoying the show. By the time I decided to put her out of her misery, she got the door open and swung it wide, then stepped out of the way.
“I’ll wait here while you see what a mess my life is and decide it’s beyond saving,” she told the floor, refusing to meet my eyes.
It was in that moment I realized that Nyla had made the right decision choosing me. I had intel on her that a Daddy going in blind wouldn’t have. The little bit I already knew gave me the upper hand, and with a skittish client like Jasmine, I was going to need all the help I could get.
Hooking a finger under her chin and forcing her to look at me, I shook my head. “That’s not how this works. You’ve been through a lot; more than I can imagine, and probably more than I know. But this process only works if you commit to it and go all in. This is your life and you need to own up to your own mess before I can help you fix it. I’m not going to let you hide.” I let go of her chin and gestured for her to walk in front of me.
She looked as if I was forcing her to walk into a fire, and it took her a minute to comply. I was ready to encourage her with a corner time threat when she finally huffed out a breath and walked inside.
