“Are you sure you don’t want another tapas?” Simon asked.

Phoenix shook her head, “No, no, thank you, I’ve had three already – that’s more than enough. It was so good. But it’s getting late. I need to head back to my hotel.”

Simon nodded. “It is late and I’ve got an early morning tomorrow too.” He caught the server’s eye, gesturing that they were ready for the check.

Phoenix watched him closely, noticing how purposeful his movements seemed, so – ‘I don’t know what exactly,’ she thought. ‘Intentional maybe. There’s no wasted movement. His hands look strong,” and just for a second, she imagined him touching her.

“I’ll walk you back to your hotel,” he said, adding after a moment, “If you agree to that.”

Phoenix smiled. “Yes,” she said, “that would be nice.” She wasn’t afraid to walk by herself, but it would be good to have company.

The walk was pleasant Just cool enough for Phoenix to put her wrap on, and to be aware of the warmth of the man next to her. They walked slowly, chatting about the food and the island, til she was lulled into a sense of safety.

They were right outside the hotel when he said, quite casually, “So how do you know Sofia and Lucas?”

Like a deer in the headlights, she froze, not sure what to say. She wished she had made up a good story when she had the chance earlier, but she had not. And he was looking at her.

She blushed.

Simon waited. They had been walking steadily, but he stopped and looked at her with curiosity.

“I – I’ve known Sofia for a while,” she said.

He smiled. “Yes? How do you know her? Where did you meet?”

“Oh,” Phoenix thought frantically, “We met, let me think, we met — ” she looked up at Simon, suddenly intensely aware of his body, his physical presence.

His gaze was steady, even though he looked a bit amused. “You seem uncomfortable with my question. What makes you uncomfortable?”

Phoenix looked away then, unable to meet his eyes. “Um…” she squirmed, annoyed with herself for being uncomfortable, for not having something smooth to say.

Still watching her, he said, “You don’t have to answer me. You can say you don’t want to talk about it. I’d like for you to tell me, but you don’t have to do anything just to please me.”

Those words struck Phoenix hard as she realized that she did want to please him, and for just a second, her nipples tingled and she felt herself soften. Damn it, she had not bargained for this. And he was still standing there looking at her.

“Oh, fine, ok,” she said, turning her head away from him. “I’ll tell you.”

“No, wait,” he said, and she looked at him. “When you tell me,” he went on, “I want it to be because you choose to. Not because you’re feeling pressured and going along with what I want, but because you choose to offer me the information. Here, let’s sit down a minute and you can think about it.”

There were a couple of tables and chairs in front of the hotel and Simon pulled out a chair, gestured for her to sit. She perched on the edge of the chair while he settled himself across from her. They were in the shadows and she was glad for the near darkness.

“It’s not a big deal,” she said. “I don’t know why I’m acting like it’s a big deal.” And still she paused.

Simon said, “But it is a big deal. We were strangers, just passing time together. Pleasant time, but still, just passing time. When you tell me this thing that is a big deal for you, you will have given me a piece of yourself.” He placed both hands on the table, palms up, cupping them together. “You don’t know how I will hold that piece of yourself. Of course you hesitate. Of course you want to think about whether or not to do what I ask of you, to give me that part of yourself.”

A deep longing swept through Phoenix and she leaned forward. Of course she wanted to give him – oh, damn it, tricky Doms – but she did want to share herself with him. “At a private club,” she said, demurely. “Sofia and I both belong to a private club,” echoing his words from earlier, “Not a women’s group or anything. No big deal.”

She looked down, unable to meet his eyes now that she’d said it. His hands on the table, still cupped, reminded her that she had placed a small part of herself right there, and she trembled.

“Thank you,” he said. “I appreciate your honesty. And courage.” He held his hands up a bit. “I’ll hold that knowledge carefully. ” He leaned back. Grinning, he went on, “Underneath this mild mannered facade, I’m actually Master Simon, a sensual and slightly sadistic Dominant. It’s nice to meet you.”

Phoenix laughed, charmed by his approach. “And I’m Phoenix, a bit anxious but potentially eager to please submissive woman. It’s nice to meet you.”

He smiled, “It’s my pleasure.” The words hung in the air for a minute tempting them both. He pictured her kneeling at his feet, naked, waiting for instructions on how to please him. She saw herself pulled over his knee, imagined the taste of his cock, and shivered with anticipation.

“I want to see you again,” he said.

“Yes, of course,” she said.

He stood, offered her his hand, “Come on, I’ll walk you to your room. Lunch tomorrow? 1:00?”

She gave him her hand, pointed him in the direction of her room with the other. “Lunch sounds lovely.”

At the door to her room, he brushed his thumb across her lips. “Lovely,” he said. She felt herself soften again, as if her legs were too weak to hold her, but, “Sleep well,” he said. “I’ll see you the pier at one and we’ll decide where to go from there.”

“Yes,” she said, noticing how quickly she was falling into doing what he wanted. “Yes, I’ll see you then.”