Playing with Fire

by J. S. Cooper

  “We’ll do it together.”

  “I don’t want to do it, period.”

  “I need you to show me you trust me, Evie. I need you to step outside your comfort zone.”

  “This is outside my comfort zone.” I pointed at him and then myself. “Everything that’s going on is outside my comfort zone. Being with you. Being around Grant. Talking to Eu...” I cut myself off and looked at the ground. “I don’t know if I can do this, Tyler.”

  “I won’t let you fall.”

  “You can’t guarantee that.” I looked up at the building again, and at all the ropes. “No one can guarantee that.”

  “Trust me.” He grabbed my shoulders and looked into my eyes. “I need you to trust me. I need to know I can be all someone needs.”

  “I, I...” My voice trailed off at the intensity in his gaze. The look in his eyes made me feel wanted. It made me feel loved. Odd, I know, but the fact that he seemed to care so much if I trusted him … it made me feel like I was important. And that was a feeling I’d been craving half my life.

  “Will you do it?” He asked again softly.

  “Okay, I’ll do it.” I took a deep breath. “I hope I don’t piss my pants.”

  “Oh Evie.” He burst out laughing. “It won’t be that bad.”

  “Let’s hope not.” I gave him a look, and he gave me a kiss on the cheek and told me to stand where I was and he would be back. I watched him walking away as he went to talk to one of the workers. I stood where I was and realized this was like a date. Our first date. It felt weird to think that. It was almost like we were a normal couple, but we weren’t. Nothing was normal. I chewed on my lower lip as I realized I needed to call Hailey. She’d be freaking out. Possibly. Hailey was no stranger to weird and unusual activities. It came with her job. It was something I’d always been in awe of—scared for her, but in awe. She’d done some really crazy things with men. Like the time she’d slept with a Congressman at the White House by pretending to be his assistant. Or the time she’d pleasured a famous rock star with a dildo. I couldn’t believe it when she told me who he was. Or the time she’d been spanked by a famous news anchor. Hailey had some stories that were out of this world. And I knew she did more than stripping in her job. She was somewhat of a stripper/glorified escort, which was shocking and glamorous and confusing, all at the same time. I had lived vicariously through Hailey, and now, well now here I was, living my own sexual adventure. Only mine was tinged with something darker, something more real than what she experienced. I had already committed a cardinal sin by starting to fall for one of the guys, though I was hopeful he was falling for me as well. I was a fool. A big old fool.

  “Ready?” Tyler walked back up to me, his blue eyes excited as he handed me a piece of paper.

  “What’s this?”

  “Indemnity agreement.” He laughed. “It’s a contract that releases the company of liability if anything happens.”

  “Oh.” I held the paper in my hand and swallowed hard. I looked down at the words and they all seemed to jumble in-front of me.

  “It’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah, until the cord breaks or something.”

  “It’s very safe, Ma’am. You and your boyfriend will be well taken care of,” the nameless man next to Tyler reassured me.

  “Thanks.” I looked at Tyler, and he was grinning at me. My face was warm with pleasure that the man had called Tyler my boyfriend.

  “Let’s do this.” Tyler grinned as we followed the man to the top of the building. We got strapped into some sort of harnesses and the man talked about technique and how to hold the rope, but all I could think about was the way Tyler was looking at me. My body felt warm inside, and I knew I was in trouble. I had fallen for Tyler, and I knew it was absolutely crazy. How could I have fallen for him so quickly?

  “That was amazing.” I couldn’t stop speaking as we left the building. I was flying high on adrenaline. I’d never felt as alive as I had scaling down the building. “I felt like Spiderman or something.”

  “You were Catwoman and I was Spiderman.” He grinned as he grabbed me around the waist and swung me around. “That was amazing. I feel so alive.”

  “So do I. I feel like I’m still flying.” I gazed at him and grinned. “Thank you for that.”

  “I’m glad you had a good time.” He put me down and frowned. “Now onto the next step.”

  “Ooh where are we going now?” I asked excitedly.

  “Somewhere to have more fun.” He turned away from me, his expression changing. “We need to leave now.”

  “Is everything okay?” I asked quietly, surprised by his sudden transformation.

  “Yes, it’s fine.” He walked to the Porsche and opened the door for me. “Get in.”

  “Tyler, what’s up?” I looked at him with confused eyes.

  “Don’t fall for me, Evie.” He looked at me with a blank expression.

  “What are you talking about?” I sputtered.

  “Nothing.” He slammed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. He got in and turned towards me. “I don’t want you to forget what you’re doing here.”

  “What am I doing here?”

  “I can’t tell you.” He closed his eyes, and I could see his fists were clenched. “This isn’t a situation you should be in, Evie. You’re too good for this.”

  “Too good for what?”

  “I wish I could change.” He whispered under his breath and then opened his eyes again. “Open the glove compartment.”

  “Why?”

  “Just do it,” he commanded, and I opened it slowly, scared of what I was going to see inside.

  “Take out the black blindfold.”

  “Okay?” I took it out and tried to hand it to him.

  “It’s not for me.” He shook his head. “Put it on.”

  “Why?”

  “So you can’t see.”

  “Why don’t you want me to see?”

  “I don’t want you to know where we’re going.”

  “Oh?” I stared at the blindfold and sighed. “Fine.” I placed it over my eyes and tied the back so it didn’t slip down.

  “Can you see?” he asked, and I blinked in the darkness.

  “No, I can’t see anything.”

  “Good.” He sounded pleased. “Okay, we’re going now.” He turned on the radio, and all I could hear was the sound of hard rock coming through his Bose car speakers. I must have fallen asleep, because I didn’t wake up again until I found myself in his arms being carried.

  “Where are we?” I said, unaccustomed to the darkness of the blindfold as I opened my eyes.

  “Somewhere special.” He said quietly.

  “Special how?”

  “You’ll see.” And then he laughed. “Well maybe see isn’t the right word.”

  “I can’t take the blindfold off?”

  “No.” His voice was gruff. “You cannot take it off.”

  “Why not?”

  “I want you to experience my lovemaking without any visuals. I want you to concentrate on the pleasure and touch completely.”

  “The pleasure and touch? Lovemaking?” I shivered.

  “Yes, Evie. I’m about to make sweet love to you.”

  “Sweet love?”

  “Shhh.” He pressed a finger to my lips. “No talking. Just wait.”

  He continued carrying me for a few more minutes, and then I felt him putting me down on a mattress. I tried to smell, but there was nothing familiar about the scent in the room. My heart raced as I wondered where I was. Why was he doing this, and was he going to let Grant do anything to me?

  Then the music started playing, and it was Usher’s ‘Make Love in this Club’. My entire body started trembling. I knew Grant liked to play Usher songs. The music seemed to surround my body, and I could hear Tyler moving around me.

  “What?” I whispered as I heard Tyler saying something I couldn’t quite decipher.

  “I was singing along to the song,” he suddenly
whispered in my right ear, and I jumped. “Don’t be scared.” I felt his lips on mine. “I want to make love...” His tongue traced my lips as he moved away from me. “I’m going to have your body begging for me to take you.”

  “Are we in the club?” I asked softly. “Is Grant here?”

  “Grant isn’t here and he won’t be touching you.” Tyler’s voice was deep. “Don’t you understand by now? Grant...” His voice trailed off.

  “Grant what?” I asked softly.

  “He did his job.” Tyler pulled my hands up. “That’s all that matters.”

  “What job?” I whispered, but he didn’t answer as he pulled my top off.

  “Sit up for a second,” he said and then pulled my bra off. The cool air hit my breasts, and I trembled as I lay back down on the bed. My entire body was on edge. I was more scared now than I had been when we’d gone rappelling, but I knew this was another test. He wanted to make sure I trusted him. I wanted him to know I did. I wanted him to know I had picked him. I wasn’t sure why it was so important to him. He could have any girl he wanted. It made me feel special that he seemed to want me so bad. My inner consciousness was screaming at me for having so little self-esteem. Maybe things hadn’t changed so much after all.

  “Don’t be tense, Evie. I’m not going to hurt you.” He kissed my lips again. “This is going to be fun.” He pulled my pants and panties down, and I lay on the bed naked. “I’m not going to restrict your movement. I’m not going to handcuff you or tie you down. You’ll be free to move around as you want, okay?”

  “Okay.” I nodded and groaned as he slipped a finger between my legs and rubbed me gently. My back arched on the bed and I moaned. I sighed as he withdrew his fingers and I heard him moving away. I wasn’t sure where he was going or why, but I was excited. The music pulsated through the room, and I found myself moving my body on the bed in time to the beat of the drum. Usher serenaded me as I lay there and my heart rate increased as I heard Tyler walking back towards me.

  “I want to make love to you.” Tyler groaned and I felt something running up and down my body. It was sharp, but not painful. It only served to heighten my senses, and I groaned as the object stimulated and teased me. “Now soft,” he whispered, and I felt a feather running across my nipples, teasing and taunting me.

  “Oh,” I cried out as his thumb brushed my nipples after the feather.

  “Sexy,” he groaned and leaned down and sucked on my nipples. I ran my hands to his back and was pleasantly surprised to feel he was bare chested.

  “I don’t care who’s watching,” Tyler said loudly as he moved up and then ran the feather down my legs. My body was on high alert, and I couldn’t tell if I was listening to the words of Usher or Tyler as I lay there, waiting to find out what was going to happen next.

  “Huh?” I moaned as Tyler slipped something up my legs. “Oh,” I cried out as I felt a small vibrator between my legs, rubbing me gently.

  “Do you like that?” His fingers flicked my nipples.

  “Please Tyler, please just make love to me,” I moaned as I felt his breath on my nipples as he licked them gently. “Tyler, please.”

  “Not until every nerve in your body is ready and waiting for me to take you. Not until your body knows it is mine,” he growled, and he bit down on my nipple and tugged harder. “Domination. Total and absolute domination.”

  “I want you, Tyler. Please just take me!” I cried out. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stand this much longer.

  “Hold on. Turn over.” He rolled me over and I lay on my stomach, my pussy wet and waiting. I felt his fingers on my ass as I lay there and took a deep breath. What was he about to do? I felt some beads in his hand, and I knew what that meant. I knew what beads were used for. I held my breath as I waited. It would be a new feeling. One I wasn’t sure I was ready for, but instead of feeling the beads inside me, I felt a warm oil on my lower back and his hands massaging it into my butt. I groaned as his fingers squeezed my ass as the vibrator kept rubbing me quickly. I knew I was close to having my first orgasm, and I closed my eyes to concentrate on the feelings running through me.

  “I’m going to come,” I cried out as I felt my climax building up. It was then Tyler rolled me back over and pulled me to the edge of the bed and lifted my legs over his shoulders. I felt his cock enter me deeply and swiftly and I cried out as I came hard and fast. Every part of my body was floating on high as the vibrator still rubbed my clit as his cock kept pushing into me, harder and faster.

  “Tyler!” I screamed as his fingers played with my nipples. Every part of my body was being taken care of, and I knew this was the most intense experience and orgasm I’d ever had in my life.

  “Evie,” he grunted as he thrust into me even more urgently, “you’re mine, Evie. You’re mine,” he groaned, and as the song ended, I heard a loud spatter of applause. I gripped the bed, my heart thudding as we both orgasmed together. I ripped the blindfold off my face and looked to the right and saw a group of men sitting there watching us.

  “What’s going on, Tyler?” My face went white as I looked up at him.

  “I want everyone to know you’re mine.” His eyes stared into mine.

  I stared back at him in shock. What the fuck was going on here? I jumped up off the bed and grabbed my clothes from the floor and pulled them on. “How could you do this to me, Tyler?”

  “I told you I was taking you someplace special.” He grabbed my hand. “This was fun, Evie. Wasn’t it fun?”

  “It was fun until I realized people were watching us.” I pulled away from him and ran out the door, anxious to get away from him.

  “Evie, wait. This is who I am. You can’t put labels on me that don’t fit.”

  “How could you do that to me, Tyler? How could you? I thought you were falling for me.” My voice sounded accusatory, but I couldn’t stop myself.

  “I don’t know what love is.” His voice was bleak as he stared at me with steady eyes. “I’m a twisted man.”

  “How can you not know what love is?” I stumbled through the hallways, tears in my eyes. I’d also forgotten to take the vibrator off and so my body was getting ready to experience another orgasm.

  “My heart is a cold pit of despair and regret.”

  “Why?” I asked him softly, wanting to know what had made him hurt so bad he’d live this life of darkness.

  “Have you ever lost someone?” His eyes lit up as he spoke. “Have you ever missed someone so much you weren’t sure how you could live each day without them? Ever just been sitting there and their smile popped into your mind? Do you know what that’s like?”

  “No,” I said softly, feeling numb for him. I was taken aback by the feeling in his voice.

  “Her face comes to me in the middle of the night, in the most random places. I have to close my eyes tight to see her eyes, but I can always remember how much she loved me unconditionally. I can always remember how much she looked up to me. She looked up to me, and I failed her.”

  “You must have loved her very much.” My voice caught, and my stomach rumbled anxiously with jealousy. I could feel the heat of shame in my cheeks. How could I feel so jealous of his unknown love? How could I be so selfish? I didn’t even know him, yet I felt his emptiness and pain.

  “I loved her with everything I was. I still do. She took my heart the first time I saw her. I was only young.” His voice caught, and he blinked. “Enough.” He shook his head and frowned.

  “What happened?” I stepped forward and grabbed his arm.

  “What happened?” He grabbed my wrists and pulled me towards him. “You want to know what happened? You know what happens to curious little girls, don’t you?”

  “I’m not a little girl, so no.” My heart was beating rapidly, and I felt like it was going to pop out of my chest. His eyes bore into mine, and he frowned.

  “You just don’t know what’s good for you, do you?” He shook his head slightly and moved his lips closer to mine.

  “What’s goo
d for me, Tyler?” I swallowed hard as I waited for him to kiss me. I craved his touch. I needed to feel his lips against mine. Maybe my touch would awaken something in him, something I wanted him to feel for me. His conversation had awakened something in me that I’d always craved—to be deeply loved. To be so loved that I was all someone needed. Tyler’d had that, and it made me envious and jealous. I was jealous that he loved someone, and I was envious that she’d had someone love her so much. I knew I was crazy to be feeling this way. I knew it was irrational. I knew he couldn’t possibly be the one for me. Not after everything that had gone on, yet I couldn’t stop myself from falling for him, falling into him. He was consuming me—heart, body and soul—and I didn’t know if I wanted him to stop.

  “I don’t know,” he groaned as his lips crashed down on mine. “At this point, I don’t even know.” He grabbed my hand. “Follow me. We need to go and talk.”

  18

  The field he took me to was beautiful and empty. We took our clothes off quickly and fell to the ground, not able to keep our hands off each other. I knew I was a fool for allowing him to touch me again without having gotten any answers, but I couldn’t stop myself. He was like a drug to me. I couldn’t resist him. I needed him in my bloodstream. We must have made love for hours, both of us using each other’s bodies to make ourselves feel something, anything. I knew this couldn’t last. There were too many questions. Too many answers loomed over us. I needed to know what was going on. I needed to know, but I didn’t want to know. I was scared of what I was going to find out.

  We lay back in the grass and stared up at the night sky, the stars illuminating our faces as we held hands in silence. We were both naked and exhausted from our lovemaking, and I rolled over and looked at him for a few seconds before speaking.

  “You’re a punk, you know that, right? I should have slapped you for what you did.”

  “You still can.”

  “I should, and I could if I wanted to.”

  “I like girls who have spunk.” He tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “It lets me know you can’t be broken.”