Hello everyone,
Thanks for joining me here in Campfire. I'm so glad you all are enjoying the story. It has been a pleasure writing it. I want to thank Sherry, Paige, Sassy, and Denise for all their support and attention. They are a great team to work with and I love hearing all of the advice and suggestions.
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Edward-
I have no idea what compelled me to wait for the sassy minx to come out of Campfire, or what possessed me to follow her to the gas station. Perhaps it was her boldness, or maybe it was the hypnotic scent wafting beneath my nose when I'd stopped her in the convenience store. Or it could have been the teasing tone she'd used when she'd saucily said Sir with that coy light in her eye.
When I'd first spotted her in Campfire, being circled like fresh meat on the cell block, it had been instinctive to protect her. Of course, a deeper truth would be this insane need to know—without actually voicing my questions—because I was no one to be asking anything of anyone anymore.
That didn't stop me from tailing the car and watching her reach her door safely, or returning a couple of nights in a row. I'd simply watched the light in her window for indications of her routine.
Why should I care what she did? Who she was around? Where she went? How she spent her time?
None of these things were any of my business. Even if I was interested—which I wasn't—I'd given up that lifestyle. Staying away from Campfire had been a struggle, but I found a way to deal with it. Yet, that simple little taste was enough to lead me by the nose.
So, once again, here I sat.
Driving into the parking lot of Campfire had been my first mistake. My second error had been stepping into Campfire. The third would be approaching that woman like I had any right to socialize with someone so innocent. Then like a deranged psycho, I followed her around town.
The discrepancies in my character were piling up by the heaps. This was not me. Even before that night, I never allowed myself to care outside of Campfire. The play consisted of the safety of those four walls. I'd never followed a woman around or cared to.
What made this time different? What made little girl capture my attention so much that I needed to know shit that wasn't my business?
Wrestling with these questions, I ran my hand through my hair, blowing a deep calming breath. This time facing the building didn't leave me in a cold sweat or fight the urge to vomit. There was only a slight tremble in my fingers as I gripped the steering wheel.
Even as little girl plagued my every waking thought, making it impossible to focus on my daily routine, memories threatened to overtake me. As soon as I closed my eyes, Jessica's face swam in my dreams, leaving me soaked in a cold sweat by the time I managed to pull myself awake.
Even while the past tormented me beyond all reason, I sat staring at the building. It was six o'clock, Friday night—in an hour it would be hopping with nightlife.
While it'd been a week since I'd come, the damn place just whispered to my soul. Even though I tried to stay away, here I sat.
This place, the promise of pleasure behind those walls, was more intoxicating than I ever realized. This time when I turned into Campfire my initial apprehension didn't wave its anxious flag at me.
Was I contemplating actually going inside? After all, it never hurt to sit and watch, right? Plus, what if she came back and I wasn't here to protect her? What if she fell into the wrong hands? Perhaps I could just go inside and talk to Jasper about it. Maybe I should just hang out and see if she even shows up.
Her curiosity might have waned over the last several days, and there was a very real possibility she wouldn't show up.
I was so wrapped up in my own mind, I didn't notice Jasper approaching my car. When his knuckle knocked on the window, I was startled, yanked from my thoughts. Hitting the automatic button, I cracked the window.
A hesitant smile played across his lips. "You coming in? Or are you going to sit here and stare at the building all night?"
Restlessness squeezed my chest and I had this insane need to pace. Shifting awkwardly in my seat, I shook my head. "I don't know yet."
"Edward, you need to let it go. It happened or in my speculation, it didn't. No way in a million years would I believe you did it." His hazel gaze intensified as he stared at me. "Whatever the case, no one knows and it doesn't matter. We have all made mistakes. Just let it go."
I gritted my teeth at the ease in which he said it, my nostrils flaring. "How could I possibly just let something like that go? Huh? Could you just let it go? What if you did that to Alice, huh? Could you just close your eyes and pretend it didn't happen?"
"No," Jasper admitted, his hands diving into his pockets. "As I said, I really don't think you did that, Edward. You are one of the most self-controlled people I know."
"Yeah, well, I was also snorting coke, Jasper." Just the memory had my hands tightening on the steering wheel. "the truth is I can't remember what the fuck happened. I just remember what I woke up to."
"Are you fucked up now?" Jasper leaned his weight against my car as he leaned down to meet my gaze through the window. "Your pupils aren't dilated, and you look sober to me."
Releasing a frustrated sigh, I glared back at him. "Fuck no I'm not using now. It took me two years to shake that shit. I would never go back down that road."
"Then I don't see the problem," he replied, tapping the roof of my car. "I'm going to head back inside, but if you choose to come in, I might have some news for you."
He had news for me? What the hell could he say that would be of any interest?
Fuck.
My chest tightened as I pushed the door of my Mercedes wide open. The whole walk up to those doors I cursed my own weaknesses that led me here in the first place. Gnawing the inside of my cheek raw, my hand curled around the brass handle, and with anxiety starting to burn in my throat, I yanked it open harder than necessary.
Jasper stood waiting inside wearing a gloating smile. His expression strangely eased some of the tension in my shoulders. "You know me too well. What information do you have for me?"
"Come into my office," Jasper laughed, leading the way in the opposite direction from the playroom.
When he opened a door at the end of the hallway, I scanned the contents of the lavish office. A large cherrywood desk stood in the corner with matching shelves lining the walls. A leather couch sat in the adjacent corner with palm tree looking plants sitting on either side. "You've done pretty well for yourself."
"I've been fortunate," Jasper nodded, indicating the chair next to his desk. "I didn't know Mike left this place in the gutter when I purchased it. That's why I'd contacted you for help with the back taxes. Thanks for your help on that. I will definitely pay you back as soon as possible."
"It's no problem. I am happy to be able to help," I told him, dropping heavily in the seat. Lemon oil clung heavily to the air coupled with the scent of leather. "I have a highly respectable clothing chain. Money is easy to come by."
Drumming my fingers on the arm of the chair, my gaze danced around the room. "So, what is this information you have for me?"
Jasper pulled out a cigar and lit the tip, a billow of smoke swirling overhead as he offered one to me. When I slipped the cherry-flavored cigar out of the package, Jasper passed me a lighter. "It seems that a pretty little number is interested in you. She was asking all sorts of questions the other night while she was here."
Taking a hit off the cigar, I sat back, avoiding Jasper's gaze. No matter what, I wasn't about to admit my own intrigue—especially since I didn't intend to act on it. "We both know it would be in her best interest to find someone else to be attracted to. I'm not into this lifestyle anymore—haven't been for a long time."
Jasper flipped his ashes, and I could feel his stare burning into my skull. "Then why are you here, Edward? You might want to be over this lifestyle and maybe for a while you have convinced yourself that you are. If it was true, you wouldn't be here."
I didn't argue. I didn't have a response that sounded adequate to my own ears. Shifting uneasily, I looked at him as my jaw clenched. "What are you suggesting? Huh, Jasper? I just sweep the past under the rug and give into my baser urges?" Leaning forward, I propped my elbows on my knees for support. "I don't think it's that simple."
"The fact is Alice tells me her friend is very curious about this lifestyle. If and when she comes back here, she will find someone to explore with. Alice also told me of your unexpected visit to the convenience store." Jasper shrugged, pinning me with a knowing stare. "You wouldn't have been prowling if you didn't return her interest. I know you, Edward. I know this life. I know the need burning in your soul. So, you can deny it all you want, but we both know how much of a lie that is."
It really didn't matter what Jasper thought but ever since that night, I had become unable to perform. Every time I thought about sex, fucking, or anything similar my fucking cock went flat. I wasn't about to even fill him in on that fact, however.
I knew my problem was psychological. Hell, physically there was nothing wrong with me. I was capable of masturbating but the thought of going beyond that—fuck.
Cringing at the thought of someone knowing this weakness had a flush running down my neck, sweat dotting my brow. Swiping the moisture from my forehead, I slowly met Jasper's gaze. "All I wanted to do was to make sure she was safe. Your girlfriend brought her in here and ditched her. All the wolves had their claws out."
"I reprimanded Alice for her negligence. She won't be doing that again." Jasper pulled his drawer open and dug through the contents. He withdrew a packet of papers and waved them at me before tossing them on the desktop. "She filled out paperwork to join the club, Edward." Smashing his cigar in the ashtray, he pushed back from his desk. "She even paid the membership fee in full for the rest of the year. Just so you know, I don't believe you did anything wrong and I would bet money on it."
Jessica's horrified face came to mind, her stricken eyes, bloodshot and red. Grinding my teeth, I forcibly shoved the image out of my head. "Fuck."
"You don't have to play. The couches are always open" Jasper rose, straightening the wrinkles from his shirt. "I imagine if you care as much as you say, you will at least want to make sure she doesn't fall into the wrong hands. I have a club to open. I will let you think about it."
As soon as the door closed behind Jasper, temptation beckoned me to pick up the forms. My skin prickled with awareness as I lifted the form, scanning the agreement of disclosure she had signed.
Name: Bella Swan
Age: 22
Date of Birth: April 10, 1998
A tingle zipped down my spine as I continued to read about the woman in question. I was thirteen years older than her, wiser to this life. If I was as determined as I believed myself to be, I would've tossed the membership aside and gotten the hell out of there. Technically speaking, I wouldn't have come in the first place.
What had she been thinking? Did she realize the predicament she'd put me in? I couldn't walk away with peace of mind knowing she was here—looking. What the hell was she looking for precisely?
'Does it make you want to spank me?'
Oh, I wanted to spank her alright. Bend her right over my knee and plant a couple of welts she would never forget. Shivering at the thought, I looked toward the door as I imagined taking possession of those sassy lips. My eyes closed on a wave of pleasure. I could envision sinking my teeth into her slim neck, sucking the skin there purple, marking her.
No, no. I couldn't. I couldn't go down that road. I could, however, do as Jasper suggested and make sure she didn't fall into the wrong hands. I could … I could help her find a Dom that would school her in this lifestyle and make sure she was safe.
My fingers curled. I didn't particularly like the thought of someone touching what was mine. Mine? Where the fuck had that thought come from?
Twenty-two-year-old, Bella Swan, wasn't my business, no matter how much I wanted to tie her ass up and …
My head dropped into my hands, knowing Jasper's statement had hit a nerve. Wiping the sweat from my brow I pushed up from the chair. In seconds I was standing before the receptionist desk, paying for another night of observation—another night of pure torture.
I had just taken up residence in my corner of the sofa when she stepped over the threshold. Her. Little girl. The fucking newbie—who was going to drive me right over the damn edge.
Every tendon in my body went rigid. She was wearing a bright white fucking nightie-looking thing.
What the ever-loving fuck? Every man in a ten-mile radius would be staring.
My jaw locked, wanting to lock her in a room for only me to see. Yet when she turned those bright green eyes in my direction, my cock leapt with excitement. When she headed my way with purpose in her eyes and a swing to those trim hips, my chest constricted, and my fingers curled.
She stopped inches before me, striking a pose, with her hands on her hips. "Did the lion come to play?"
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