course I do.” I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the door. “It's everyone else I'm worried about.”
Terry was out of the car before I managed to set a foot outside. Steeling myself for whatever she hadn't told me yet, I headed for the trunk to get our bags, then followed her to what I assumed was the main building of this resort.
A man stood at the front desk wearing a crisp white shirt and tie. Oh, thank God. Someone who actually has their clothes on. “Welcome to Second Chance Ranch. How might we serve you today?”
I opened my mouth to say something, but Terry beat me to it. “I made a reservation. Owens.”
The man poked at his computer screen, grabbed a key off the back wall, then handed it to her. “Will you be needing any assistance in pairing up?”
I frowned. “Pairing up?”
“Oh, excuse me. You aren't here for the event?”
“Come on.” Terry pulled at my hand.
“What event?” I asked as we stepped into a long corridor. “What aren't you telling me?”
She either didn't hear me or left my question unanswered because there wasn't much she could say. Feeling more cautious since we left the security of our car, I read the numbers on every door along the hall as we strode past. Terry stopped at one toward the very end, unlocked the door, then ushered me inside.
“We aren't staying here,” she said.
I released a sign of relief. “Good, because I—”
“Not in this room, I mean.” She threw her bag onto the queen bed then started rifling through its contents.
I watched as she pulled garments I didn't even know she had from within smaller luggage compartments. Black lace. A leather collar. A leash. Handcuffs. A ball-gag?
I gently closed her suitcase and took the miscellaneous items out of her hands before setting them on the bed. “Terry, this isn't us. How did you even find out about this place?”
“Bridget told me. She and Mark came here and—”
“But they're swingers.” Holy fuck. I lowered onto the bed and held my head in my hands. “You and I, we're plain, and I'm perfectly happy being private at home. It's comfortable.”
She perched on the foot of the bed. “I know. It's also familiar, but don't you remember how it felt when we first started dating? That excitement of not knowing?”
I exhaled. “Of course I do, though I think that was mostly nerves if we're truly being honest with ourselves.”
“I still think it's worth trying.” She met my gaze. “We've been hang gliding, skydiving and even bungee jumping. Don't tell me you're afraid of a little role-play.”
“Role-playing?” I stared at her luggage. “Is that what this is all about?” I faced her and took her hands in mine. “What about the event? You still haven't told me about it.”
She shrugged, then freed one of her hands to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I thought that, once we got here, you might want to try being with someone else.” Her eyes glazed over as she stared at her lap.
I caressed her cheek with the backs of my fingers. I lifted her chin but didn't miss her averted gaze. “Terry, look at me.” When she did, I brushed a tear from under her eye. “I'm happy with bedding just one woman in my life. I truly am. I don't want another woman or to lay with another man. I don't want fancy clothes, tights or leather. I just want you. Okay?” I lifted my eyebrows.
She released a shaky breath. Nodded, then smiled as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
“Is that what's been making you so nervous?” I studied her bright blue eyes. “Babe, I don't ever want you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable.”
“If I did that,” she laughed, “we'd never go on any adventures at all. They're worth doing at least once.”
I nodded. “Life-threatening adventures maybe, but not ones that will mess with the way we feel for one another.” I coughed and searched our room which was pretty boring compared to the landscape and wildlife I'd seen outside.
Terry was out of the car before I managed to set a foot outside. Steeling myself for whatever she hadn't told me yet, I headed for the trunk to get our bags, then followed her to what I assumed was the main building of this resort.
A man stood at the front desk wearing a crisp white shirt and tie. Oh, thank God. Someone who actually has their clothes on. “Welcome to Second Chance Ranch. How might we serve you today?”
I opened my mouth to say something, but Terry beat me to it. “I made a reservation. Owens.”
The man poked at his computer screen, grabbed a key off the back wall, then handed it to her. “Will you be needing any assistance in pairing up?”
I frowned. “Pairing up?”
“Oh, excuse me. You aren't here for the event?”
“Come on.” Terry pulled at my hand.
“What event?” I asked as we stepped into a long corridor. “What aren't you telling me?”
She either didn't hear me or left my question unanswered because there wasn't much she could say. Feeling more cautious since we left the security of our car, I read the numbers on every door along the hall as we strode past. Terry stopped at one toward the very end, unlocked the door, then ushered me inside.
“We aren't staying here,” she said.
I released a sign of relief. “Good, because I—”
“Not in this room, I mean.” She threw her bag onto the queen bed then started rifling through its contents.
I watched as she pulled garments I didn't even know she had from within smaller luggage compartments. Black lace. A leather collar. A leash. Handcuffs. A ball-gag?
I gently closed her suitcase and took the miscellaneous items out of her hands before setting them on the bed. “Terry, this isn't us. How did you even find out about this place?”
“Bridget told me. She and Mark came here and—”
“But they're swingers.” Holy fuck. I lowered onto the bed and held my head in my hands. “You and I, we're plain, and I'm perfectly happy being private at home. It's comfortable.”
She perched on the foot of the bed. “I know. It's also familiar, but don't you remember how it felt when we first started dating? That excitement of not knowing?”
I exhaled. “Of course I do, though I think that was mostly nerves if we're truly being honest with ourselves.”
“I still think it's worth trying.” She met my gaze. “We've been hang gliding, skydiving and even bungee jumping. Don't tell me you're afraid of a little role-play.”
“Role-playing?” I stared at her luggage. “Is that what this is all about?” I faced her and took her hands in mine. “What about the event? You still haven't told me about it.”
She shrugged, then freed one of her hands to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I thought that, once we got here, you might want to try being with someone else.” Her eyes glazed over as she stared at her lap.
I caressed her cheek with the backs of my fingers. I lifted her chin but didn't miss her averted gaze. “Terry, look at me.” When she did, I brushed a tear from under her eye. “I'm happy with bedding just one woman in my life. I truly am. I don't want another woman or to lay with another man. I don't want fancy clothes, tights or leather. I just want you. Okay?” I lifted my eyebrows.
She released a shaky breath. Nodded, then smiled as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
“Is that what's been making you so nervous?” I studied her bright blue eyes. “Babe, I don't ever want you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable.”
“If I did that,” she laughed, “we'd never go on any adventures at all. They're worth doing at least once.”
I nodded. “Life-threatening adventures maybe, but not ones that will mess with the way we feel for one another.” I coughed and searched our room which was pretty boring compared to the landscape and wildlife I'd seen outside.
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