Hello everyone,

I want to thank everyone for giving Campfire such a warm welcome. I love seeing readers return and new ones as well. Once again, you all amaze me and I love having you back.

I want to thank Denise for beta'ing, and Sherry, Sassy, and Paige for prereading and catching all of my mistakes. You all are awesome. Thanks so much for all you do.

Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following. This story is just starting to heat up and I can't wait to get this ride started. Or continue it, lol.

Please review …


Bella-

I was still staring at the door that infuriating, egotistical man had exited through as Alice came to stand next to me. Her breasts were on full display and to say I was shocked would be an understatement. "Dude, can you put some clothes on?"

"What fun would that be?" Alice asked, plopping down in the vacant spot where he'd been sitting. "I would ask if you missed me, but I saw that hunk of flesh you were talking to. What did he have to say?"

"You come here a lot, right?" When her chin tipped in agreement, I pointed to the door he exited. "Do you happen to know who he is?"

"Hey, Bella, what in the world are you doing here?" Just as Alice was about to answer Jasper came to stand beside her, his hand landing on her bare shoulder.

"We were headed out to a club but I decided to stop here first," Alice answered, looking a tad sheepish. "I couldn't pass up spending time with you here at work, now could I?"

"And you left Bella on her own?" Jasper asked, his brow lifting as he stared down at Alice. "Diamond, why would you do that?"

"What?" Alice squeaked at his reprimanding tone. "It's perfectly safe. I knew we weren't staying long so … what's the harm?" As soon as the words left her lips, her brown eyes went wide, and she bowed her head.

"The harm is not all of the relationships here are the same. There are some very big differences. Some extend beyond mere play and become a very serious lifestyle. Considering you are aware of this, you shouldn't have left your friend on her own." Jasper shook his head as he returned his gaze to me. "If you ever come back, Bella, Alice will take better care. Won't you?"

Jasper tapped the riding crop against his leg. Alice's eyes went round with acknowledgment. "Absolutely, Sir."

"Very good," he nodded, dropping a kiss to the crown of her head. "So, what were we talking about?"

Alice gestured toward Jasper. "If anyone would know who he was it would be Sir. He knows everyone that has a membership."

Jasper's brow drew together. "Who?"

"The guy that was sitting here beside me a minute ago." My frustration was starting to climb. Someone here had to know who I was talking about. "He was wearing nice jeans and a polo shirt. His hair was all crazy like he couldn't keep his hands out of it. His jaw looked crafted by God."

A smirk tipped Jasper's lips. "That's a pretty thorough description. Nice jeans, polo shirt, messy hair, and jawline gifted by God. Got it." Giving me the side-eye, I thought he was going to refuse to answer or that he was just teasing me. Finally, he nodded, "Yeah, I know him. He hasn't been here in quite some time. Honestly, he probably won't be back. He was feeling apprehensive about being here, to begin with."

A wave of disappointment slipped over me when Jasper indicated the man wouldn't be back. "Was he a member before? Why wouldn't he want to come back? He looked utterly miserable, to be honest."

Jasper raked his hand through his hair as his gaze danced between me and the occupants of the club. "I wouldn't feel right disclosing someone's personal life. It's his business and if he wanted the world to know—you get my drift. He was only here tonight to help out with a bit of a crisis. The likelihood of him coming back is slim to none."

"Well, you're just a wealth of information," I concluded, slapping my legs with impatience. Throwing another curious look around, I stood up, finding no more reason to stay as I turned my attention to Alice. "Are you finished? I'm ready to get out of here."

"Yeah," she readily nodded, "why don't you come back to the dressing rooms with me so I can change?"

This time she took me by the hand as we navigated the occupants of the club, leaving the acts of devotion behind as we stepped into a secluded dressing room. Curiosity getting the better of me, I relinquished my hold on her to look around. Three racks lined the wall with every possible costume imaginable. Running a finger over a feather boa, I glanced toward Alice. "Alice, what makes a woman want a relationship like yours and Jasper's?"

Alice pulled up her jeans and snapped the button, her movements stopping altogether as she thought over my question. "Because there is nothing more satisfying than pleasing the person you love. It's actually kind of relaxing in a way to relinquish all control and let someone else make the decisions—freeing. There is one person beyond myself that takes care of me—does what is best for me. Plus, I have never found a hotter relationship than the one Sir and I share."

"I don't know if I would like having someone control me." A soft smile played across her lips like she knew secrets I didn't. Was I giving this enough thought? What would it be like having someone order me around? The stranger's words came to mind. "The guy I was talking to said if I was curious I should find someone to play with."

Alice went still once again as she arranged her top to cover her breasts. "Are you curious, Bella?"

The image of the man I'd talked to earlier this evening came readily to mind. Just the thought of staring into those magnetic eyes sent a shiver coursing through me, my nipples going hard forcing me to cross my arms over my breasts to hide my reaction. With a stiff shrug, I shook my head. "I don't know. Maybe with the right person."

"You mean the guy on the couch?" The gloating expression on Alice's face had me passing her a glare. Of course, the witch didn't stop there either, her perfectly arched brow lifted. "You want the God-crafted man to bend you over and give you a couple of swats?"

I felt the color rise up on my cheeks, the skin heating to the point of needing to fan my feverish flesh. The thrill that shot down my spine at her description left me shifting uneasily on my feet. Intrigued and embarrassed in equal measures, my voice came out squeaky to my own ears. "Shut up, Alice."

She threw her head back and laughed, the throaty sound bouncing off the walls around them. She wiggled her eyebrows at me as she threw the strap of her bag over her shoulder. "Don't yell at me cause you want that stud to paddle your ass right before …"

"Oh my God," I yelled, effectively cutting her off mid-statement. "Get me the hell out of here. Nasty."

She pressed a kiss to my cheek which I immediately wiped off. "Chick, you were just sucking cock. Don't put those lips on me before washing your mouth out."

Alice stuck her tongue out. "Sir tastes so good. Sure you don't want a sample?"

Jasper was far from the man I wanted to sample. Knowing that Alice was playing kept me from saying so, however. Playfully pushing her ahead of me, I followed her through the dressing room, heading in the opposite direction than the playroom.

"So what do I need to know to become a member if that's something I wanted to do?" Despite my best effort to ignore the splash of interest swirling within me, I voiced the question lingering on my tongue. "I mean just out of curiosity, not that I want to be a member."

"Oh yeah," she winked as she opened her driver's door. "Just out of curiosity."

I dropped into the passenger seat, smoothing the barely-there skirt, my gaze jogging around the parking lot. She'd just started the car when my gaze landed on a Mercedes parked on the edge of the lot. I'm not really sure why but I couldn't tear my eyes off the jet black paint glistening beneath the moonlight.

Too bad the windows were tinted because the intensity holding me spellbound was unlike anything I'd ever experienced, and I had a feeling whatever the reason, it was staring back at me from behind that shaded glass.

When Alice put the car in reverse, the headlights to the Mercedes came on, and as she turned out of the lot, I noticed the car slide out of its parking spot. My breath caught when Alice turned onto the road, and the car in question followed close behind.

I shivered briefly wondering if it was the perfectly structured man I met in Campfire. Obviously, I was overthinking this, and perhaps creating something in my own mind. Even while I knew this to be the case, I watched the car through the mirror.

Rain dropped from the sky, pattering on the windows, yet still, I couldn't tear my gaze away. Nibbling on my thumb I shot Alice a quick look. "Can you stop at the gas station up here? I need to get something to drink."

I only asked to see what the car behind us would do, and as she pulled into the lot, the Mercedes drove by. Disappointment was mine once again as the turn signal flashed from the car as it turned a corner down the road.

Squashing the possibility it could be the man on the couch, I pushed the door open. When Alice followed suit, I managed to return to my question. "So, what do I need to do?"

A knowing smile flashed on her face, her features brightening several shades. "Well, you have to pay a membership fee, sign a disclosure agreement, and present an STI test. They want to keep all their members safe, you know, make the playroom fun for everyone without the worry of unforeseen problems."

Pulling the glass door wide, we stepped into the brightly lit convenience store. I nodded simply as she continued to explain things. Deciding to grab a soda I headed to the back of the store. I was just pulling the fridge door open when a voice interrupted Alice's explanation.

"You should opt for water. Optimal hydration is a must."

My head whipped around in search of the owner of that voice, goosebumps rushing across my skin. When my gaze collided with dark blue oceanic eyes the air froze in my lungs. Alice must've noticed my reaction because she sidled beside me as the lion prowled closer.

"Is everything okay, Bella? Do you know him?" Her hand touched my arm, and a flare of excitement raced through me when his gaze immediately dipped to where Alice touched me, his mouth settled into a firm line before returning to mine.

Without sparing her a glance, I nodded before shrugging. Honestly, I was fairly positive my mind was playing tricks on me. Like if I took my eyes off of him he'd vanish. "Sort of. He's the guy I was talking about."

"Ah … Should I leave you alone?"

Jasper's command of Alice came to mind briefly before my thoughts swirled into the vortex of his eyes. "Yeah, I will be fine."

"Okay, I will just see myself out." Alice bit her lip, amusement flashed on her face before she pivoted and headed for the cashier.

Once Alice was out of earshot, I pinned him with an inquisitive stare, letting the fridge door close. "Are you following me, Sir?"

The expression on his face when I said Sir caused the friction I'd experienced in his presence to return. His head tilted, and his eyes snapped. The nervousness I had seen in Campfire was nowhere in sight. The throb in his temple drew my attention to the perfectly etched jawline.

He must've noticed the interest sweeping through me. My entire form heated under the weight of those shadowed eyes. He looked like an animal ready to pounce, raising the hair on my nape. He inched forward with a lethal stare.

"I call it ensuring your safety," he explained, his tone dropping until only I could hear.

I smiled as his attention slid down my torso. My body reacted instantly, my nipples pebbling, almost begging. This time I made no effort to hide my response. Nervously, I licked my lips as his nostrils flared as if he were inhaling my scent. I couldn't disguise the tremble in my voice as I said, "Is that what we're call it now?"

"That's what I call it. Do you call it something else?" He leaned in, sniffing the side of my neck. His warm breath blew over my skin, beckoning me to move closer.

With the willpower of the saints, I refused to give in to the heady sensation consuming me. "Honestly, I don't really know what to call it."

"Then don't call it anything besides a simple curiosity." With that, his lashes dropped a fraction, practically glaring at me—almost blaming me— for his inability to control his actions. "Will you be going back to Campfire?"

Pulling out of the hypnotic hold he held over me, I turned around with a shrug, opening to the fridge to retrieve a soda. "I don't know. I haven't decided yet."

In unison, he too opened a door and yanked a bottle of water from the shelf. Thrusting it in my direction, he repeated his earlier statement. "Water for hydration."

I studied him long and hard. Finally, I snagged the bottle he offered with a mock salute. "Yes, Sir."

"You have such a smart mouth, little girl."

The air of danger was noted in the firm press of his lips. Boldness spiked, and I leaned closer until his spicy scent wafted to me. "Does it make you want to spank me?"

His chest vibrated with a growl, and his hand curled at his side as if he were just barely resisting the urge. He seemed to be really struggling with his inner demons, but finally, he pivoted on his heel and made for the exit. Before he could retreat entirely, I raced up the aisle to catch him, nearly stealing the water in my hand.

The store clerk behind me yelled, "Hey," stopping me in my tracks before I crossed the line.

The handsome devil glanced over his shoulder as I stumbled to a stop, catching his elbow before he could escape me a second time tonight. "What is your name at least?"

His lips twitched as if he were amused. "Just call me Sir, I happen to be partial to the title."

That night when I tossed the dress to the floor and pulled on my comfortable pajama bottoms, I replayed every minute of our encounter—it was on a constant loop—and I couldn't push him out of my mind.

I could've sworn but wasn't certain, he'd passed my apartment when I'd exited Alice's car. The thought should've left me uneasy, but oddly, I felt beyond secure.

Pulling the coverlet back, I slipped between the maroon sheets with his warm spicy scent lingering in my nose.


Please review … We will hear from Edward next;) Oh yes, nearly forgot. Look up: College Cutie on Amazon by J. Gaff and reserve your copy:)