Playing for Keeps Read Free Page A

composing himself before he replied. “I think we should talk about this before you send me home.” He really needed to understand why role-play was so important to her. He had to make her open up and talk to him.
    “What’s there to talk about?” With hands on her hips she stood looking up at him. “I want to experiment a little, you obviously don’t!”
    Shit! “It’s not that I don’t,” he tried reasoning, “It’s just that I don’t understand why you would want… that?” Why did all the roles she asked him to play have to be abusive? Why did she always cast him as the baddie? They really needed to talk about this.
    “Want what?” Cassie fired back. “You’d think I was asking for something kinky, something dangerous. I’m only after spicing up our love life a little.”
    He could tell she was getting up steam now. Perhaps if he could just get her to sit down and talk about it, she would realize that the roles she picked for him just weren’t him. He didn’t see himself in the role of abuser. He imagined himself playing other roles; roles were he got to play the take charge lover and make mad passionate love to her. Sure didn’t look like it was going to happen tonight though.
    He put his hands up in a sign of surrender and backed slightly away from her. “Look at it from my point of view, Cassie,” he started. “Think about it. If you were really behind with the rent and the landlord came demanding sexual favors, are you going to satisfy him?”
    “Of course not,” she snapped, eyes blazing. “Don’t be stupid!
    It’s a game we’re playing.” She threw her arms up in the air as if she couldn’t believe he would ask something so stupid.
    “Well, why not if the idea turns you on?” he shouted at her.
    “Because,” she took a deep breath before continuing through gritted teeth, as though he was being dense, “I don’t want to play games with my landlord. I don’t fancy him.”
    “Listen to yourself,” he bit out. “If you did fancy him, would you oblige?” Christ, he hoped not!
    “Now you’re being silly! It’s not like that, you’re just trying to twist my words,” she accused, and he felt guilty when he saw her eyes fill with tears.
    He couldn’t bear the thought that he had reduced her to tears. He softened his tone, trying to reason with her, trying to get her to understand his point of view.
    “No. I’m not trying to twist your words.” Matt shook his head, still trying to fathom her reasoning. “I’m just trying to make you understand why I can’t do this. It feels wrong, Cassie.” He held up his hand to stall her. “The thought of someone, the landlord, anyone demanding sexual favors because you owe them money turns my stomach.” He paced the room, unable to stand still in his agitated state. “I can’t get turned on by that idea, Cassie. Hell, I would want to beat crap out of the bastard; it’s abusive and immoral. I don’t understand how it can turn you on.” He looked at her perplexed.
    Minutes before her face had been flushed a becoming pale pink with arousal. Now it was stained a darker tone with anger. Her arms were folded across her chest, hiding the nipples that only moments before had been begging to be kissed, and she was glaring at him.
    “It’s only role-play, nothing else. Why can’t you see that?” She was pouting again.
    “I can see that!” he retorted sharply. “It’s the kind of role-play you want to try that bothers me!”
    “You just don’t want to play, that’s what you are really saying. You are quite happy with a vanilla sex life!” She spat the words, clearly disgusted with him. “I’m not discussing this anymore tonight. I’m tired, I’ve had enough and I’m no longer in the mood.” Ouch, that hurt. “I’m going to bed.” She looked him straight in the eye and finished, “Alone.”
    God, give me patience. Surely she wasn’t going to send him home just because he wouldn’t play along with her games. She was