Keaton smiled. "It will. And then it will be our little Miami excursion."

I blushed. "I know. It's all I can think about."

"I've been thinking about after Miami, too," he said, eyeing the camera in a way only a professional could. Dammit, Keaton, you disarm me at every turn.

"What do you mean 'after'?" I asked. Was this a relationship talk? My pulse quickened. Were we anything other than mess-around buddies?

"I'll tell you in Miami," he said cryptically. As usual. "Just be open-minded when I bring it up. I want to please you beyond your wildest fantasies, so at least hear me out."

I frowned. "Sounds tempting, but there's got to be a catch. You're not making me choose again, are you?"

He shook his head. "Not exactly. But like I said, be open."

So it wasn't about "us." My body tensed in anxiety. That was the only conversation I wanted to have. I knew it was dumb, but we may as well talk about it. I was bold and fearless on the court and dammit, I had to be the one calling the shots here.

"Speaking of open," I said, using his language to make way for this awkward conversation, "I was wondering if we're, I don't know, open."

His expression darkened. "Are you asking if you're free to see someone else?"

Was that jealousy?

I shook my head. "No, but-"

"You are, you know."

"Oh."

He must have seen my expression, because his tone changed.

"All I mean is that you can see whomever you choose. We don't live nearby and I'm on tour much of the year. I want you happy."

I nodded, having no clue where this was going. Was he trying to tell me he had a girl in every city? That was sort of what I expected, and what my mind had been nagging me about, but I didn't like actually entertaining the idea.

My chest heaved at the word. I swallowed hard. "Okay."

It was sort of an answer, and not exactly what I expected, but I certainly took it.

"So what does my goddess have planned for me tonight?" he asked, stretching his tattooed arms and pretending to strain in his bindings. I felt like turning the vibrator on now.

I rolled my shoulders. "I could use a massage," I whimpered, baiting him.

He pouted. "I would if I could."

Pretending I just thought of something brilliant, I pulled out the vibrator and held it up to the screen. "This should loosen the tension," I said, rubbing the discreet little tube across my collarbone and over my shoulders. "Mmmm," I moaned. I couldn't believe what I was about to do. It was worse than sexting, more embarrassing than getting caught masturbating, but I wanted to do it and wasn't ashamed. Who was I becoming? Was this a normal part of the college experience?

I trusted him, I wanted him, so we'd do this together and I wouldn't feel bad about it.

"Oh my," he said, and licked his lips. "Now I really wish I could help."

I leaned forward, making sure I showed the screen plenty of love in the form of black satin cleavage. "I want you to touch yourself, Baby Blue."

Keaton bit his lip and arched his back. I wondered if I'd even need the vibrator, and if it was possible to orgasm without actual contact. Just looking at that muscled, tattooed body displayed for me was enough to push me to the edge. Hell, anytime I needed release all I had to do was just use my memories of him. I probably came three times after I got home.

"Permission to remove this," he asked, flicking his eyes to the rope around his wrists.

I nodded. "Yes, but you have to talk to me the whole time. I want to hear that sexy voice tell me exactly what you're thinking about." Oh my goodness I was dirty-talking. Words like that had never, ever come out of my mouth before. It felt natural, which both excited and scared me. It did make me feel better if we ended up being in a long-distance relationship, because although nothing could compare to Keaton in the flesh, this was pretty fucking close.

His hand drifted down to his tight black boxer briefs and I watched as his long, guitar-skilled fingers stroked his length. Something I didn't get nearly a good enough look at last time. Wow. Just . . . wow.

"I promise." His voice was lower and dark and I knew then for sure that he was born to be a performer. That voice could bring me to orgasm alone. Maybe soon we'd try that. My body jumped and I noticed that the vibrator had fallen from my hand into my lap, right between my legs.

He had a ridiculous effect on me.

"Take those off," I barked.

Keaton nodded and slipped the underwear off completely and returned to his prone, lounging pose. Only now he was nude, aroused, and I thought I'd lose my mind if I didn't come soon. His hand slowly slid down his shaft as he began to speak. "Right now I'm thinking of how gorgeous you looked on the plane, us pressed against the wall. Clothes lifted and lowered. Your wild hair flowing around us. So beautiful."

Blushing, I smirked and prodded him on with a gesture. "Cut the compliments and get to the goods. Talk dirty."

Even now, I was stunned by how bold Keaton could make me. I really, really liked to hear his voice.

"I was just getting started," he said, picking up his pace, which made my insides clench. I turned the lipstick tube vibrator up and positioned it further up between my legs. "Anyway, Goddess, I loved how you looked with your clothes on, but when I took them off you I was worried I was going to come all over you."

My clit nearly melted off my body. "Oh yeah? But you wouldn't do that, would you?"

He shook his head and continued to please himself. "I need to restrain myself, just as you restrain me, Goddess. Part of me wanted to rip every article of clothing off you, but you were teaching me. Training me. Making me wait for a look at your luscious body. And as for my orgasms, you own them. I will never come before you unless I have your express permission."

All I could think about was getting that vibrator past the satin of my panties. I sat back and decided to give Keaton a bit of a show myself. "What if I don't let you come at all?" I slipped the tip of the buzzy inside and ran it up and down. I was so close.

His hands flew above his head, ready to be bound again. "You want me to stop, I stop. You could come ten times and I'd still insist on waiting until you wanted me to finish. Like I said, my orgasms belong to you alone."

I pulled my panties off and spread my legs for the webcam. "Do you want to come now?"

He nodded. "What I want is to push my tongue into that luscious pussy of yours."

"Not what I asked."

He sighed. "Yes, I want to come. All over you. Right now."

Pushing up a few pillows, I lay back on the bed and picked up the vibrator. "Let's come together. If I can't feel you, I want to watch you get off with me."

Keaton smiled and brought his hand back down. "Yes, my goddess. My Mistress. Come with me."

We both touched our most intimate of places, eyes locked and yet miles away. I watched how looking at my body made his eyes catch fire. I strummed myself with the vibrator the way he'd work his guitar and trust me, I was about to hit a high C.

"Please, Goddess," he said, throwing his head back in rapture, waiting for me.

The way his body arched, along with the voyeuristic indulgence of watching him touch his cock was too much, and I came hard, screaming his name. A smile spread across his face as he watched, and finished himself. A grunt and a low moan. God, even his orgasms sounded like music.

"Thank goodness for modern technology," he said after a moment. "Glad I don't have to chase you across the sea just for a glimpse of that body."

I leaned forward and cupped my face in my hands. "But you would."

"Of course. For you, I'd conquer armies. I'd do anything to please you."

Swallowing the strange sentimental feeling he had given me, I nodded. "It's mutual."

So I got an unexpected invitation from Scarlett today. This time she wasn't cryptic like with her little Nico surprise, but I was equally stunned at her proposition.

My conversation last night with Keaton drew a bit of a line in the sand-he said I could do whatever I want, with whomever I want.

I could have easily told him I wanted only him. Keaton is the only man I want right now, and nearly all my extra attention on a daily basis went toward thoughts of him and fantasies of us. This arrangement allowed me to keep my power.

The fact that I had the upper hand in the relationship by choosing whether or not I could be with someone else was a card I needed to keep in my pocket.

But I still told him about the play party Scarlett was taking me to.

"Have fun, Mistress. Just don't forget the other subs got nothin' on me. Consider them practice."

It was my eyebrows that were raised. "Oh really, Keaton. You want me to practice, or you're just okay with it?"

"The better trained you are, the more fun we'll have. Go. Enjoy yourself."

I was floored and possibly a bit charmed by his honesty. "I'm not going to, like, do anything with anyone."

I heard a faint snicker. "Goddess, you know the power you have over me. If you wish to avail yourself to others in my absence, I understand. And like I said, consider it training for this weekend. I know you already have lovely muscles from all that athletic activity, and with a little repetition you could become quite a whipmaster."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I replied with a wry smile. "I really wish you'd be there, but you're right, I may as well get some experience and broaden my horizons if I am going to spend some time with a kinky guy like you."

We exchanged a few more perverted pleasantries and I hung up.

Red nails and all.

THE STUNNED EXPRESSION ON THE team captains' faces as I approached the basketball house to see Scarlett made them look slightly like owls.

"The Red Devil?!" Donelle asked. "What does she want with you?"

I shrugged. "I told her I'd help out at her store."

Callie shook her head. "If I knew you were hard up for money, I'd have lent you some. No cash is worth putting up with her." I felt partially guilty that I hadn't disclosed my relationship with Scarlett to Callie, who knew mostly everything about what was going on with Keaton. But a girl has to have some secrets, right?

"Is that so?" I heard from around the corner. Scarlett brushed past the team members with cool indifference. "Ready, Thea?"

I nodded. "You bet."

She tossed a duffel bag into her car and I went around to the passenger side. The team still ogled. Reese bounced her basketball on the porch with an ominous thud, thud. They were scared for me, poor things.

"Don't worry, I'll have her back in one piece," Scarlett said with a pretty scowl. I loved the way she could just put anyone in the palm of her hand. I hoped that in time I'd be able to do the same thing.

The girls waved good-bye weakly and we pulled away and headed to the party.

"Not at your store?" I commented as we drove past her business.

Scarlett shook her head. "The community holds play parties every once in a while. It's a social for BDSM types, basically. You should join FetLife. If you want, I can introduce you to a lot of people on there."

I nodded. "I'd like that." The answer surprised me. I never thought I'd want to meet more people that were into this sort of thing, but the more I got to know Scarlett, the more normal I felt. She wanted the same things I wanted. Other people did, too. I wasn't alone and I shouldn't be scared of the things I did and did not want.

"Is, um, Nico going?" I asked. While I felt pretty open about what transpired between us, I couldn't help but still be a little uncomfortable imagining him in class with me after I had seen him get fucked. I'd been so busy with study sessions and tests so I didn't actually have to look him in the eyes. Or crotch.

"Oh, I don't know," she answered. "He said he had some studying to do, but still sounded kind of interested. Didn't talk to him today."

I was stunned. "Isn't he your submissive? Wouldn't he have to go?" I asked, not really knowing how a dynamic of this type worked.

"I have lots of men who submit to me, not just one collared submissive. Nico's great, but I'm pretty much just training him until someone more suited to him comes along."

I rolled down my window and felt the wind on my face. I felt very free here, chatting with Scarlett about things taboo. Since meeting Scarlett, it felt like years had gone by in my maturity, not weeks. "More suited to him?"

She turned the radio down so she wasn't shouting, although she was always comfortable raising her voice. "He's bisexual, and is really into the idea of threesomes with a man and a woman. I have a friend who's moving to the area sometime next year and I think she'll be perfect for him. She has a submissive who's also bi and I think the three of them will get along swimmingly."

"That's . . . nice," I replied, weighing the relationship in my mind against my preconceived notions about what a couple was. Weird, but nice, I decided. Breaking in a handsome young man for your friend, not exactly the kind of favor I've ever done anyone before. "So, what should I expect tonight?" I felt my nerves affect my breathing, which was hot and fast, and my skin, which prickled every time I thought about walking into a BDSM party. What kinds of things would I see? Would I like it or want to run home to my stuffed animals?

"Don't have expectations, just experience. Open the duffel, I want you to see what I picked out."

I reached behind me and grabbed Scarlett's innocent-looking yellow and black gym bag and unzipped it. I pulled out something silver and vinyl. "Oh my goodness."

"Hot, right?" Scarlett asked.

I examined the outfit. It was like a catsuit, but cut short, and had a broad vinyl belt across the middle. It looked like something a Bond girl would wear. She continued. "It's dominant-looking, but also kind of fun and young. Like you."

I chuckled. "Oh yeah, I'm just a barrel of laughs." Nobody had ever called me fun and young. When I was on my old team, I was serious and wise, and on the UConn team, I was just fresh meat. And I couldn't really say if Keaton would call me young and fun either.

Scarlett punched me playfully and I tried not to wince. "No, really. You're brave, honey. Adventurous. Open-minded. You're very fun to be with. Your guy is lucky."

A grin spread across my face and I may have blushed. "Thanks. He's pretty great, too."

"Tell me about him."

I paused and felt my gut clench. Shit, same dilemma as before. I can't just tell Scarlett I'm dating the Heartbreaker of the Century, even though she and I had gained more trust in each other since she last asked. She'd probably lecture me about how he'll use me and how I should just go use some men myself. "He's a musician." It was true, albeit an understatement.

"Ooooh."

I nodded and leaned on my palm, thinking of Keaton. "He's really funny, has gorgeous blue eyes and dark hair, and knows exactly what I need."

Scarlett pulled down a side street and the houses began to get bigger and bigger. Homes turned to mansions. "Oh wow," I remarked as we turned down a street that was lined with old-fashioned lanterns.

"Yup," she said as we pulled into a spot on a long driveway and turned off the car. She whipped off her shirt and bra and I almost covered my eyes out of politeness. Nakedness already?

"Oh stop flinching around boobs," she joked and pulled on a black leather triangle bra with pyramid studs over the nipples. "There are going to be lots of boobs here. And dicks. And butts. Get used to it."