Bound by Christmas

Chapter Thirteen: Bad Taste

What is it about heartbreak that makes people do irrational and immature things?

Bumping my head on my desk, I groaned out loud. What drove me to meet with Sebastián, and to drag Felix and Sara along? Was it so important to get my questions answered? If I was really done with Sebastián, why did it matter if I had answers?

Thankfully, finals were finished and I was the only one in the office. The faculty members were already enjoying their winter break but —because I was a part of the administrative staff— I had to work. Technically, I wasn't doing much work since I couldn't stop thinking about last night.

"I'm such an idiot," I muttered to myself. "Stupid. Weak. Idiot."

"Well, if you say so." I heard Sara's voice say.

Looking up, I saw Sara standing by the entrance of my office, bundled up in a pink puffer jacket. "Why are you dressed like a marshmallow?" I snorted, trying to hold in my laughter.

"Oh, shut up," she grunted, as she removed her coat and took the chair by my desk. "I'm not built for this weather. I'm pretty sure I am at risk of freezing to death."

"I don't think anyone has ever frozen to death in forty degrees Fahrenheit."

"I wouldn't be surprised to be the first," she shrugged. "Anyway, how are you feeling? Last night was pretty intense."

"Agh!" I groaned. "I don't want to talk about it. I just made a fool of myself."

"Well, it wasn't your brightest moment, but you didn't make a fool of yourself. You just threw a little tantrum and ran out of there like a bat out of hell."

"Uh huh, I'm not too sure that Sebastián isn't some sort of incubus, sent from hell to torment me. I could swear he's been visiting me in my dreams. I tossed and turned all night long, seeing his face every time I closed my eyes."

"Wow," Sara breathed. "He's better than I thought. I haven't gotten the hang of visiting my subs in their dreams yet."

"Oh ha ha, very funny."

As Sara burst into laughter, a knocking sound came from outside my office.

"It's open," I yelled and Felix walked in, holding a pizza box.

Sara scowled at him. "Hey, what took you so long? I've been here for at least five minutes."

"I had to pick up our lunch," he defended.

"Excuse me." I tapped my fingers on my desk, gaining their attention. "Did you two forget to add me to this group chat? Since when do we have a daily lunch date?"

"I figured Sebastián would send him to deliver food again," Sara shrugged.

"Well, I don't want anything from you," I huffed at Felix.

"Are you still mad at me?" he pouted, placing the pizza on my desk and staring at me with puppy-dog eyes. "I already deleted the app and promised not to report to Sebastián about your activity."

I opened the box and grabbed a slice of cheesy goodness, taking a bite. "Why are you even here?" I asked with a mouth full of pizza.

"Aside from delivering your lunch, Sebastián wanted me to remind you about his appointment with Roxanne Deneuve. He was hoping you would join him," Felix stated.

I swallowed my pizza and shook my head. "Nope! I'm good."

"What?" Sara gasped in shock. "Sebastián made an appointment with Roxanne Deneuve and you don't want to go? Do you know who she is?"

"Yeah, some BDSM relationship consultant," I shrugged. "But since Sebastián and I are not in a relationship, I don't see a reason to go."

"Jenna, Roxanne is not just some random consultant," Sara sighed. "She's one of the most well-known switches in the BDSM sphere. I signed up for her online training program a couple of years ago. She taught me everything I know about the art of seduction and how to be a good Domme."

"You learned the art of seduction from an online video?" I raised an eyebrow in mock disbelief.

Sara's eyes shined with challenge as she gave me a smirk and stood up. Then, she turned toward Felix and stepped closer to him. She gazed into his eyes, glanced at his lips, and focused back to his eyes. Slowly, she turned away and faced me with a smile as Felix stumbled backwards with a whimper.

"Okay, you've proved your point," I reluctantly admitted. "Now, help poor Felix regain his senses."

As Sara turned back to Felix, my phone buzzed with a message on my desk. Reaching for it, I read the text.

Sebastián: I hope to see you tonight at the consultation. My appointment is at seven. If you won't do it for me, please do it for yourself. I would hate for our experience to leave a bad taste in your mouth. You deserve to know what a healthy BDSM relationship looks like.

Who was this woman, Roxanne Deneuve? Why was everyone insisting that I meet with her?