Balance

control anything, so it’s the Dom’s job to make sure everything—” Cooper stopped Nando’s rant with a searing kiss, and with it, any chance of coherent thought went out the window. This couldn’t happen. Nando couldn’t lose his head again, yet it felt so right.
    “All I can say is that I’m eternally grateful for the fact you screwed up as a Dom,” Cooper said when he ended the kiss. He wanted to dive right in again, but Nando pushed him away and reluctantly got up from the floor.

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    “I’ll find you someone else next time you come to the club,” Nando said as he turned his back on Cooper to tuck himself into his leather trousers again.
    Cooper didn’t give up easily, though. He got up and, unperturbed by his total nudity, approached Nando again.
    “What did I do wrong? You said we would talk about the session afterward. At least give me the courtesy to tell me what I did wrong?”
    Nando didn’t turn around. He couldn’t look Cooper in the eye. “You did nothing wrong. I was the one who made the mistake.”
    “Wasn’t it your job to make it good for your sub? Isn’t that what you told me?” Cooper moved closer to Nando, until his front was almost in contact with Nando’s back. “I’m not a one-night stand sort of guy, Nando. I’ve had three long-term relationships in my life. The shortest lasted six years. I loved those men dearly, and I don’t feel that a short fling can be better than any of those relationships, so why bother? I’ve been on my own for a while now, though, so I thought I’d try to fulfill some of my fantasies, since no matter how great my lovers were, they never managed to make them come true.” Cooper sighed. “You, on the other hand… hell, I met you this morning, and all you know about me is that I’m a bland paper pusher.”
    “You weren’t bland when you sat in the lobby, unashamedly telling me exactly what you wanted.” Nando cringed at hearing himself say the words and was infinitely grateful that Cooper couldn’t see the pained expression on his face. His mind told him to cut his losses and walk out, but something was holding him back, and for the split Balance | Zahra Owens
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    second that he allowed himself to feel it, he knew. He was curious. Curious about what else this guy could come up with. Curious about his kisses and his tender touches.
    Aching to feel them again.
    As if Cooper knew about what Nando was feeling, he tenderly put his hands on Nando’s hips, and Nando couldn’t pull away.
    “I don’t do relationships, Coop,” he whispered. “Not the kind you need.”
    “You don’t know what I need,” Cooper replied, equally quietly. “I didn’t come here to find a relationship.”
    “But you just told me that’s all you value.” Cooper nodded, and Nando could feel the motion against his neck.
    “I won’t push you anymore, Nando. I just want a chance. I’d like to see you again. Here at the club, or somewhere in the city, or even at your shop. You choose the time and place.”
    Nando swallowed hard. “I need time.”

    “OKAY,” Cooper conceded. He stepped back and only then realized that he was still naked. Although he felt like Nando was running away, he couldn’t tell himself he hadn’t given it his best shot. He knew he was probably moving too quickly for Nando’s liking, but he’d been here before. He knew when it felt right, and this, for some elusive reason, felt right.

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    Cooper walked to the chair he’d hung his clothes on and started getting dressed. Since there were no sounds in the room other than what the two of them were making, it wasn’t hard for Cooper to figure out what Nando was doing even without him being in his field of vision. He’d expected Nando to leave, but he didn’t. He loitered, pacing back and forth behind Cooper’s back and sighing, although Cooper could also hear he was trying to be as inconspicuous as possible—
    and not succeeding very well. It was killing Cooper to have to hold back, but he figured he’d gotten his message across earlier; now the ball was in Nando’s court.
    By the time Cooper was fully dressed, Nando had left, and the tension in the room dissipated.

    FOR one long week, Cooper held back from going to see Nando, but he couldn’t stop thinking about the man. He knew he wouldn’t be able to get him out of his mind without seeing him again. He hoped Nando had taken the week to put things in perspective as