Page 25 of Wild Fire

God he must think I’m an absolute mess.

AJ gets up quickly, and just as I get the piece of pancake down my throat, he sets a glass of water in front of me.

“I didn’t know what you’d want to drink, so—”

“Water’s fine,” I cough, sucking it down to both distract myself and cool my jets.

The cool temperature is a welcome balm to my perpetual heat of embarrassment.

“I meant the club,” he says awkwardly. “Not… you know…” He averts his gaze.

“I’m sure you’ve got a good handle on that. Unless you have a bathroom kink or something.”

I laugh, and though it starts out sarcastic, it derails into a full on psychotic laugh because I think I am indeed losing my mind.

“Nope. Just humiliation, apparently.” I clear my throat and take another sip of water.

AJ grunts. “Are you being serious or…”

I look up at him and his eyebrows are furrowed and he looks like he really is considering my sarcasm to be the absolute truth.

“No. I mean… is that a thing?”

AJ lets out a low breath. A very long low breath.

I think I count almost ten seconds.

“Yeah, it’s a thing.”

Oh.

Well, now this is even more awkward.

“I was joking. Yes, it was my first time at a… kink club?”

AJ nods. “Most of us just call it the club.”

“Most of… you?”

He clears his throat and glances at the clock on the wall, and I follow his gaze. It’s almost ten thirty. Shit!

“I’m sorry, I’ll get out of your hair,” I say as I finish my pancake and stand, but he doesn’t. Instead, he just watches me. Curiously.

“What?”

AJ smirks.

“Not going to get far without the proper attire, Bright Eyes.”

“Huh?”

He nods at my feet and legs, and I realize I’m still in my fucking underwear.

Jesus Christ.

“Where are my clothes?” I ask, the panic in my voice evident.

“Sit down, Nate.”