Vanilla by J.A. Bailey Page B

stayed with me for a little
while, introducing me to her friends and a couple of the people she played
puppet to in the past. Around midnight, however, I could tell she was getting
antsy to go off and hang out with some new partners and I set her free. She
told me that if I wanted to go I could, she could find a way home.  I
decided to hang around for a little bit longer, while I wasn’t talking with
anyone, nor had interest, the music and performers were entertaining and I
still had a drink to finish.
    I milled about the crowds
for a little while, watching a guy on stilts juggle flaming bowling pins, a
girl with a light up hoop spin tricks that were impressive, and several other
acts. I turned to head back to the side of the room and that’s when it
happened. My gaze immediately locked on a guy across the room. His dark hair
was cut and combed expertly, almost as if he went to salon just for this
occasion. It took him a moment, but he too found my eyes. He took a sip of his
drink and after what looked to be a full body scan beckoned me over with a
flick of his head.
    With an obviously toned body
and interesting features, he was gorgeous. I would’ve been stupid had I not
gone.
    Weaving in and out of the
crowd, I finally reached my destination; the tension, whether good or bad I
didn’t know, hung heavy in the air between us. He broke it by leaning down and
saying, “Hi, my name is Derek. May I have the pleasure of knowing yours?”
    I didn’t get quite as close
but his formal turn of phrase interested me. “Addy,” I spoke loudly over the
music and crowd.
    “Is that short for
something?”
    “Adeline.”
    “I much prefer Adeline, if
you don’t mind.”
    I liked the way my name
rolled off his tongue. “I don’t mind it at all. Most people call me Addy
because Adeline is such a mouthful.”
    “Well, I like mouthfuls.” He
emphasized the point by looking down at my chest, which made my face hot. “How
are you enjoying yourself?”
    “I’m enjoying myself quite a
bit.” He obviously heard the surprise in my voice. “This is my first time at
one of these events,” I explained, “and I actually came because my friends
insisted I get out and mingle with new people.”
    “Well, to say the least, I’m
rather glad you did come out.”
    I studied him for a moment, inhaling the
fresh scent of his cologne. Flutters of anticipation beat in my stomach. “I am too, to be honest.”
    The friendly banter
continued for some time; he even went up to the bar and grabbed me another
coconut rum drink. He took me further to the side of the room, to where the
leather couches were, and we sat down.
    “So, may I ask you what
you’re into?”
    “Well, I like to read, and
go and see movies—”
    “I don’t mean like that, I
meant fetishes.”
    “Oh, uh...honestly, I’m not
too sure myself. It’s not something that’s ever come up with my partners
before. I believe my friend called me ‘vanilla’?” My cheeks warmed as he smiled
knowingly.
    “I see. Anything you’ve ever
thought about?”
    “Not really. I can say I do
like to be stimulated and touched. The nape of my neck is probably the most
sensitive part of my body save for the obvious parts.”
    His grin expanded. “That is
potentially very dangerous information you just freely gave up, Adeline.”
    I didn’t know what to say,
so I just sat there in silence looking at him, my face heating with every
moment.
    Finally, he leaned in toward
me. “I want to take you out, I believe. Perhaps to dinner and a show of your
choosing?”
    I smiled, excitement
streaming through me. “I believe I would like that. But, I couldn’t choose the
show, if you’re going to show me hospitality, you can be the one to choose. I
will say, I like comedies and musicals, you can go from there.”
    We exchanged numbers and
parted ways for the night around three in the morning. The following day we
figured out plans for dinner and show for that weekend. When the weekend came,
he