Disclaimer: This is the beginning of Faro's journey into depravity at the hands of her first Dom. Just assume she has read a lot on her own and knows that she wants to give it all a try, just hasn't found the right partner... until now.
* * *
Faro was sitting on her favorite window seat at the back of her favorite bookstore. The seclusion from the rest of the store and the warmth of the sunlight from the large window that faced the river made this the perfect spot for reading and journaling in relative peace. With the works of Anne Rice caddy-corner to her seat, she'd often stop journaling to read one of these books. As she'd been coming to this store since she was a tween (more a library for her by now), she'd read all her works by this point and loved that this side of town mostly ignored this genre.
As she journaled her thoughts, today focusing on kinks, she caught sight of someone out of the corner of her eye. '
Oh!
', she thought to herself as she turned her head and saw what book they held. '
Pandora by Anne Rice... Such an underappreciated piece.
'
About to blurt out her unsolicited approval of their choice, she stopped. Faro bit her lip as she considered the man before her. He was around 5'11", had shoulder-length dark brown curly hair, and a short well-manicured beard. He was wearing slacks, nice boots, and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.
'
Well shit.'
she mused,
' Straight from one of my smutty novels.
' Faro smiled to herself before turning back to her journal. A few moments later, movement caught her attention. The visitor returned 'Pandora' to the shelf, retrieved 'Interview with a Vampire', read the synopsis on the back, then returned the book to the shelf. He continued the process over and over, pulling each book, reading the synopsis, then putting it back. Faro tried to focus on her writing, but the constant movement and occasional sigh were distracting. She looked up again, frustrated this time, to see that He had once again pulled 'Pandora' from the shelf. His brow was knitted together in concentration. '
I wonder if he's struggling to make a decision?
' she thought to herself. The interloper then let out a rather loud and, what Faro considered to be, dramatic sigh. Faro decided to help both him and herself by providing a recommendation.
"' Pandora' is one of my favorites by Rice." Faro offered with a smile.
Absently and without even looking at her, He replied, "I've heard it was boring."
Faro was more than a little surprised.
'How incredibly and unnecessarily rude.'
she thought to herself. Before her brain could temper her tongue, her mouth decided its reply.
"If you can't see the beauty in that book, then you have no soul for the dark and untamed and should stick to less complex works, such as Clifford the Big Red Dog." she spat, narrowing her eyes and glaring at the stranger.
Luke looked up, fully taking in the source of the retort. The first thing He noticed was her eyes. Long lashes framed big brown eyes and full red lips were pressed together in a defiant glare. Bronze skin seemed to almost shimmer in the sunlight coming through the window. A curly dark brown mess of spiral curls framed her face. Luke was taken aback, not expecting to be so dazzled by his critic.
'
She is absolutely radiant.
' He thought to himself.
He then considered His words and how He honestly had no justified reason to criticize a book He'd never read himself and how He'd likely disturbed her solitude back here with his pulling and returning books to the shelves. '
Two seconds into a conversation and I've managed to sound like a pretentious ass. That has to be a record.
' He thought as He considered her. He opted for a truce.
"Perhaps you are right. I should read a book before judging it." He responded hoping she would forgive his rudeness."
Faro rolled her eyes, shrugged, and returned her attention to her journal. She'd barely gotten another few sentences out when she heard, "Could you point out another that I might enjoy?"
She took a breath and closed her eyes trying to stave off her irritation. While eyeing the shelf, she stood and took a couple of steps toward the stranger. She selected "Violin" one of Rice's best, in her opinion.
"This..." she began as she turned towards Him, "is one of the best..." but she couldn't finish her thought as their eyes met again. '
Whoa.'
she thought.
He was closer than she expected. There were vivid green specs in His light hazel eyes. His soft curls framed a handsome face. His gaze was so intense, she instinctively lowered her gaze. She just stared at the floor without anything of substance running through her mind. She couldn't remember what she was going to say.
"What were you saying?" He asked her quietly.
Faro looked back up at Him with her mouth parted, but still unable to form a coherent sentence. She just looked at Him. '
What is wrong with me?
' she thought.
She wasn't the only one awestruck. Luke looked down at Faro. He was intrigued by the flutter in His chest and the tightening of His stomach. She looked even more beautiful up close. The spiral curls of her bangs made Him want to wrap a finger into it. She smelled of citrus and spice. He wanted to caress her cheek, just to see if it was as smooth as it appeared to be. His eyes fell on her lips next, and His mouth opened a bit as He studied them. '
So alluring.
' He thought as He caught himself leaning forward a bit. She smelled like oranges with just a hint of vanilla. '
What am I doing?
' He asked himself. She bit her lower lip. They looked so soft He almost kissed her.
"Perfect." He whispered aloud to himself.
Faro felt her cheeks grow hot and she turned away quickly.
Luke took a half step back, realizing He was completely out of His mind and needed to regain control of His thoughts and actions.
"I'm so sorry. I... there's no reason to turn away." He said as He took the book from her hands. "I apologize for being so forward. Will you tell me why Rice is such a favorite of yours?" He asked while moving towards the window seat. He sat down and looked at her expectantly.
Faro stepped over and sat next to Him and let out a big breath. "Um, well..." she started, unable to think. '
Have I forgotten how to people?'
she asked herself.
"Is it her phrasing?" He asked curiously as He opened Violin to the first page.
"Yes, and the storytelling. She creates a pocket universe in her books. You can almost smell the scents she describes and hear the whispers in the streets. She creates an escape." Faro responded, looking at her shoes.
He sat quietly, reading the first couple of pages. "I see what you mean. She does write in an elevated, but common kind of way. Makes you feel like you're reading a transcribed conversation as opposed to fiction."
"Exactly! That's exactly it." Faro smiled as she looked at the page He was reading.
"Would it be strange if I read next to you? I want to finish a couple of chapters." He asked.
"Oh, um, sure?" She responded as she picked up her journal and leaned back against the sill. She glanced at Him as He did the same seemingly captivated by the book.
They sat in physical silence, though Faro's mind was anything but. She was watching His every movement. She watched His bicep muscles flex as He turned each page. She watched as He smiled or furrowed His brow. He was... incredibly sexy and her imagination was running WILD. She watched Him for twenty minutes, musing over all manner of sexually explicit interactions before He finally looked up and noticed her gawking at Him.
Her eyes widened and she looked down very suddenly and covered her face. '
I am going to die of embarrassment right here.
' She thought to herself. '
If this was a fantasy novel and He was a werewolf, He'd smell exactly what I was thinking... I need to get laid.'
she sighed at herself.
Before Luke could truly consider His actions, He reached over and pulled her hand from her face. "Don't hide from me." He muttered. He couldn't believe those words just dropped out of His mouth like a brick off the top of Big Ben.
But, to His surprise, she responded, "Ok." and now it was His turn to stare. Her natural submission had His heart pounding in His chest. He looked deep into her chocolate eyes as He slowly dragged the fingertips of His right hand over the soft flesh of her neck and jaw, then gently caressed her cheek.
She bit her lip again. Her eyes fluttered shut. '
I am hopeless. My imagination is out of control. This is not a book, Faro. Get a grip!'
She thought to herself. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
'
He leaned in slowly, tilting His head. "Your name?" He asked.
"Faro." She replied in a breathy voice.
He smiled as He looked down at her lips. "May I kiss you, Faro?" He asked quietly.
"Yes, please." was her simple reply.
She felt her heart flutter as His lips met hers. She became dizzy as she gently pushed into His kiss with a soft sigh. Her journal slipped to the floor as He pulled her close, deepening the kiss. His tongue explored hers for a few more glorious seconds before He dragged His teeth across her lower lip as He pulled back and looked at her.
"Perfection." He whispered again as He let her go, and she just looked at Him. Completely shocked by her actions, but also... not so shocked. '
This is what happens when you read too much smut.
' She scolded herself.
"I can't believe myself." She said quietly. "I don't even know your name."
