“No,” she said.

He looked at her curiously. ”No? I didn’t ask you anything.”

She laughed, “But you were about to ask me if you could sit here, weren’t you?” The coffee shop was crowded, there weren’t any other tables left, and he definitely had the look of someone searching for a seat.

“Oh, you’re waiting for someone,” he said, “the seat’s already taken?”

“Well,” honesty forced her to say, “No, not actually waiting for anyone. Just not – ” and she gestured vaguely at the room around her. 

He nodded. ”Sure. I’ll find somewhere else to sit.” He scanned the room, and she began looking too, trying to find an open spot where he might be welcome. When neither of them saw an opening, he said, “I’ll just stand here for a minute then.”

Feeling that she had been a bit churlish, she said, “Fine, you can go ahead sit here til there’s a table open. Just don’t…” and she trailed off, not sure what she wanted to say. ’Just don’t talk to me,” sounded rude. 

After all, she was here at the dungeon. Even if her friend, Sara, had insisted she come and then bailed at the last minute, she had wanted to be here. She wasn’t sure why she still hadn’t left, but she’d already ordered coffee when she got the message from Sara, and was sipping it slowly. Sara’s car had broken down while she was on the way and she had to get it towed to the shop, which was a legit excuse for not being here. But still. It was Amelia’s first time and she had expected to have Sara for support.

The man settled himself in the seat across from her, “Thank you,” he said, “I promise I’ll leave you alone – I won’t even talk to you.”

“Thank you,” she said.

But as they sat there silently, each of them drinking their coffee and gazing around the room, she started to wonder why she had been so unfriendly. After all, she was here, and hadn’t she come with the idea that she might meet someone? She had wanted to learn more about BDSM and the community, to explore the feelings she had been having since the first time she read Story of O. When she had confided in Sara, and learned that Sara was involved here, all leading to this night out, she had planned to meet people, hadn’t she?

With a bit of a sigh, she said, “Do you come here often?”

He turned his gaze to her, and for the first time, she felt the intensity of his focus. Like having a spotlight turned on you, she thought. But there was a hint of laughter in his eyes as he said, “Talking to me?’

“Yesss,” she said, feeling foolish. ”There’s really no reason we can’t talk since you’re here anyhow.”

He laughed. ”Well, I guess there isn’t. Is this your first time here?”

“It is,” she said. ”I was supposed to meet my friend here, but her car broke down, and I was already here – so… But I asked you first – do you come here often?”

He shook his head. ”I used to, but I moved away. I just got back to town this week, looking for a place to settle down. Thought I’d come see if anything had changed.” He paused, his eyes sweeping the room. ”Looks about the same,” he added. ”My name’s Joshua, I go by Josh.”

“I’m Amelia,” she said, thinking, oh my gosh, this is really happening – I’m at a dungeon, talking to some man who – what is he? Is he a Dom? I don’t think he can be submissive, but I guess maybe… no, I don’t think so.

“Amelia,” he said, as if savoring the name. ”It’s nice to meet you.”

She smiled, “It’s nice to meet you, Josh.” 

Amellia was trying to figure out what to say next when she heard a squeal and a young woman appeared behind Josh, threw her arms around him from behind and cried, “You’re back! i can’t believe it! So good to see you!!” Amelia looked away, feeling awkward.