Starbucks buzzed with mid-morning chatter as Sophia fidgeted with her cup, the rich aroma of coffee doing little to calm her nerves. Jake sat across from her, his blue eyes filled with concern.
“I’m glad you wanted to talk about this,” Jake said, his voice low and warm. “It’s better to address this stuff head-on, you know?”
Sophia chuckled nervously, her gaze dropping to the swirling cream in her latte. “Yeah, well… Emily threatened me when we went out for lunch with the girls yesterday. The three of them ganged up on me, I wasn’t sure how to bring it up.”
Jake leaned forward, his muscular forearms resting on the table. “Hey, that’s what friends are for, right? To give us that kick in the ass when we need it.”
“More like a swift punch to the face,” Sophia muttered, earning a laugh from Jake.
“So,” he said, his tone growing serious. “What’s on your mind?”
Sophia took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around her cup. “I’ve been thinking about my limits. Some things… I think I need to pull back on for now.”
Jake nodded, his expression open and attentive. “Okay. That’s totally fine. Can you tell me more?”
Sophia’s mind raced, torn between embarrassment and the need to be honest. “It’s just… some stuff we’ve done. It’s intense, and I loved it at the time, but there’s this voice in my head…”
“What’s the voice saying?” Jake prompted gently.
“That I shouldn’t enjoy it so much,” Sophia admitted, her cheeks burning. “That it makes me weak or something.”
Jake’s brow furrowed. “Soph, enjoying what we do doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human.”
Sophia looked up, surprised by the conviction in his voice. “You really think so?”
“I know so,” Jake said firmly. “But if you need to dial things back, that’s absolutely okay. Your comfort is what matters most.”
Relief washed over Sophia, and she felt some of the tension leave her body. “Thanks, Jake. I was worried you’d be disappointed.”
Jake reached across the table, his hand covering hers. “Never. This is all about trust, remember? And I trust you to know what you need.”
Sophia smiled, feeling lighter than she had in a while. “Okay. Let’s talk about limits.”
Sophia reached into her bag, pulling out a folded piece of paper. Her fingers trembled slightly as she smoothed it out on the table. “So, here’s the revised list,” she said, sliding it towards Jake.
Jake’s eyes scanned the page, his expression neutral. Sophia watched him intently, her heart racing. She took a swig of her coffee, wishing it was something stronger.
“Bondage is off the table for now?” Jake asked, looking up.
Sophia nodded, biting her lip. “Yeah. I just… the idea of being tied up is freaking me out a bit right now.”
“That’s completely fine,” Jake reassured her. He continued reading, then raised an eyebrow. “Anal’s gone green though?”
“Jesus,” Sophia muttered, feeling her face flush. “Yeah, well… that part I’m still into.”
Jake chuckled, the sound easing some of Sophia’s tension. “Noted. Anything else you want to highlight?”
Sophia leaned forward, tapping the paper. “I’ve kept most of the toy stuff green. And I’m still good with spanking, hair-pulling, that sort of thing. It’s mainly the more intense power dynamics I need to dial back on.”
Jake nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Got it. We can work with this, Soph. And remember, this isn’t set in stone. We can always revisit and adjust as needed.”
Sophia felt a wave of relief wash over her. “Thanks for being so understanding about this.”
“Of course,” Jake said, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “This is supposed to be fun for both of us. If it’s not, what’s the point?”
Sophia grinned. “Well, when you put it that way…”
Jake leaned back in his chair, his blue eyes meeting Sophia’s. “Look, I want you to be comfortable opening up to me about this stuff. If you’re not, it’s never gonna feel good, you know?”
Sophia nodded, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. “Yeah, I get that. It’s just… not always easy.”
“I know,” Jake said softly. “But here’s the thing – no matter how well I think I read you at the moment, I’m not perfect. There are gonna be times I misread cues, ’cause that’s just part of being human too.”
Sophia snorted. “You, not perfect? I’m shocked.”
Jake grinned, but his tone remained serious. “I’m serious, Soph. Communication is key here. If something doesn’t feel right, or if you change your mind about anything – even mid-scene – you gotta tell me.”
Sophia felt a knot in her stomach loosen. “Okay. I can do that.”
“Good,” Jake said, his hand finding hers across the table. “Because I want this to be fucking amazing for both of us. No pressure, no expectations – just us figuring out what works.”
Sophia squeezed his hand, feeling a rush of warmth. “Thanks, Jake. I… that means a lot.”
As they sat there, surrounded by the bustle of Starbucks, Sophia realised maybe Emily was right – talking things out wasn’t so bad after all.
Jake leaned in close, his breath warm against Sophia’s ear. “But you enjoyed me playing with your ass, hmm?” he whispered, voice low and teasing.
Sophia felt her face flush crimson, a mix of embarrassment and arousal flooding through her. She chuckled, trying to hide her reaction. “More than I thought I would,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Glancing around the crowded Starbucks, Sophia’s heart raced. Jesus, why did he have to bring that up here? She thought, acutely aware of the elderly couple at the next table over. But fuck, just thinking about it…
“Good to know,” Jake murmured, pulling back with a wicked glint in his eye.
Sophia took a long sip of her latte, buying time to compose herself. “You’re terrible,” she muttered, but there was no heat in her words.
“You love it,” Jake shot back, grinning.
And damn it, he wasn’t wrong. Sophia bit her lip, fighting a smile. “Maybe,” she conceded. “But we should probably save the rest of this conversation for… later. When we aren’t in Starbucks.”
Jake’s eyebrows shot up. “Later, huh? I like the sound of that.”
Sophia giggled, her confidence growing. “Mmm, yeah. Maybe… if you’re not working, you could come to mine tonight?” She leaned forward, voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “I’ve got a few ideas I’d like to run by you.”
Jake’s eyes darkened with interest, but he sighed regretfully. “Fuck, I wish. Unfortunately, I’m working late tonight.” He ran a hand through his hair, looking genuinely disappointed. “But tomorrow night I finish work at eight. I could come around after?”
Sophia felt a mix of disappointment and anticipation curl in her gut. “Tomorrow, huh?” She pretended to consider it, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “I suppose I could pencil you in.”
“Oh, you could pencil me in?” Jake laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “How generous of you.”
Sophia smirked, enjoying their banter. “What can I say? I’m a giver.”
“That you are,” Jake agreed, his voice low and full of promise.
Sophia felt a shiver run down her spine. Christ, how did he do that with just his voice? She took another sip of her latte, using the mug to hide her flushed cheeks.
“So,” she said, clearing her throat. “Tomorrow at eight-thirty?”
Jake nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. “It’s a date.”
Sophia’s stomach dropped at the word ‘date’, a chill running through her veins despite the warmth of the coffee shop. She managed to keep her face neutral, refusing to let her sudden unease show.
“Great,” she said, forcing a casual tone. “I’ll make dinner. How’s steak sound?”
Jake’s eyes lit up. “Steak? Damn, you really know how to tempt a man.”
Sophia laughed, the sound only slightly strained. “What can I say? I know my way around a grill.”
As Jake launched into a discussion about his preferred doneness, Sophia’s mind raced. Date. The word echoed in her head, setting off alarm bells. This wasn’t supposed to be a date. This was supposed to be fun, casual, no-strings-attached sex. Nothing more.
“Earth to Sophia,” Jake’s voice cut through her spiralling thoughts. “Are you still with me?”
She blinked, focusing on his concerned face. “Yeah, sorry. Just… thinking about seasoning options.”
Jake raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Uh-huh. Sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” Sophia insisted, plastering on a smile. “Really. Just excited about tomorrow night.”
The lie tasted bitter on her tongue, but she swallowed it down. She could handle this. It was just dinner and sex. Nothing more. No matter what Jake called it.
Just as Sophia opened her mouth to change the subject, her phone vibrated loudly against the table, making her jump. She glanced down, grateful for the distraction, and snorted when she saw Emily’s name on the screen.
“Everything okay?” Jake asked, leaning forward with curiosity.
Sophia laughed, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “It’s Emily. She’s checking to make sure I didn’t bail on coffee.” She turned the phone, showing Jake the message.
Jake’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Sounds like you’ve got a pretty good friend there.”
“The best,” Sophia agreed, warmth flooding her chest. “She knows me too well sometimes.”
As she typed out a quick reply, Sophia’s mind raced. Emily would definitely have something to say about this ‘date’ situation. Part of her wanted to spill everything to her best friend right now, but she held back.
“So,” Jake said, drawing her attention back. “Your friends are pretty invested in your love life, huh?”
Sophia rolled her eyes. “Oh, you have no idea. They’re worse than a pack of grandmas sometimes.”
Jake chuckled. “Hey, at least they care. That’s more than some people can say.”
His words hit a little too close to home, and Sophia felt a pang of guilt. Here she was, freaking out over a simple word, when Jake was just being… nice. Normal. Maybe she was the one making this weird.
“Yeah,” she said softly. “I guess you’re right.”