Free No Strings Attached by Erin Lark Page A

the burger down, wiped his mouth with a napkin, then looked right at me. “As soon as you walked into that bar.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Yup.”
    “And you didn't say anything? Not even after the other night?”
    He shrugged. “Figured it wasn't my place to ask. Besides, what we did was pretty tame, but still acceptable if I'd been wrong. A bit of hair pulling never hurt.”
    I shivered from the memory and quickly crossed my legs to quiet the throbbing of my clit. “Where do we go from here?”
    “That's entirely up to you and what you're comfortable with. If you want, we can remain friends and forget this discussion ever happened—even though I consider it a good thing. Or, you can come and play for me until after Webster hall.”
    “And if I want to try something else?”
    “Sleep on it for a few nights, and we can talk about it again. I don't want you to feel as though I'm forcing you to do any of this. You have every right to decline every single one of my offers, but I also won't walk away should you ask for my help.”
    “So I guess that means sex is out for tonight, huh?”
    He cocked an eyebrow at me. “I never said that.”
    “But you just said—”
    “About your submission and being my violinist, yes. Not sex.”
    “I obviously have a lot to learn then, because I thought the other night—”
    “Was us clearing the air. Besides, you've had sex without anything attached before.”
    “Yeah, but not with someone I actually lo—someone I knew.”
    He smirked. “Minor details. The ball's in your court now. We can sit here and talk, you could play some more of my music, or we can go upstairs and see what happens.”
    “Well,” I said, scooting over so I was sitting on the middle cushion. “Seeing as we've already talked and we were in the middle of something before then...” I leaned in, barely kissing him on the lips. “I guess we could—”
    “Upstairs. Now. ” 

Chapter Seven
    I took the stairs two at a time. I didn't wait for Thayre's direction, knowing right where his room was. And he didn't stop me, not even after we got inside his room.
    “On the bed,” he said, heading for the nightstand. “But lie with your legs over the edge.”
    “Long-ways or—”
    “Doesn't matter,” he threw over his shoulder as he searched through his closet for something.
    Aside from the bit of light filtering in from the hall, I couldn't see much at all, but apparently Thayre knew exactly where he was going, returning moments later.
    “Inch down a bit so your ass is on the edge.”
    I trembled from his tone as much as his words but did as he asked.  I lifted my head and glanced down at the foot of the bed, eying the few items he put there: a scarf, cuffs and... a wand?
    “Before you freak out, let me explain,” Thayre said as he picked the scarf up off the mattress. “I got these things out in case you wanted to try something else, but I'm not asking you to do anything. This is entirely up to you, but what you decide now will give me a better understanding of where we're headed. Think of it as a roadmap.”
    I sat up and held out a hand, taking the scarf from Thayre when he offered it to me. “And the scarf's for what exactly?”
    “Blindfold.” He shrugged. “What? I had to improvise. Besides, most of the blindfolds out there don't do shit. That said, I have a feeling you know what these are.” He held up the set of leather cuffs, unsnapping one side so it was open. “They're more comfortable than they look.”
    “And the wand? Is that...”
    “A conductor's baton, yes.” He laughed.
    “More improvising?”
    “Not really. You'd be surprised how well it works as a tickler.” He went on. “Everything I have out now could be used by any couple.”
    “Kink,” I said, nodding.
    “Yes. Just because one might be bound or use a paddle, it doesn't make what they're doing BDSM. I know I've said this before, but it needs repeating. Being a sub is as much a frame of mind as anything else. Without