Sara had lived in Seattle before and knew that corporate coffee stores in Seattle are more prevalent than homeless people.  Other shops almost tagged along as afterthoughts to the coffee commerce.  Tourists could wander down any major street and buy a single shot of espresso, start drinking the shot at the door and be able to step into another coffee store before they could finish the first shot.  As often as not, following this pattern, a stoic drinker would find the third or forth coffee store down the block would be owned by the same company that provided the first shot.  Business schools have dubbed this the Starbucks business effect.  Sara had laughed like crazy when she went to see Lewis Black in concert and he predicted the end of the universe when he saw one Starbucks directly across the street from another Starbucks.  He reasoned that when a person steps out of a Starbucks, and thinks, “I need another coffee.” It is time for the end of mankind.

While it hadn’t occurred to Sara and Eddie that they were saving man kind, they did manage to step into a non-Starbucks, non-corporate coffee store.  Even these little one store operations do very well, mostly with the serious citizen of the coffee bean city.  The best coffees were usually found in these stores, but Sara liked independents better for the privacy they provided and the ubiquitous free WiFi internet access they offered to remain competitive.  These little stores were the perfect place for alternative lifestyle people to meet, greet and get the energy for a wild afternoon romp.  

Having carefully scoped out the store patrons, Eddie and Sara snuggled on a sofa backed up to an espresso creama colored wall.  They wanted to keep curious onlookers from peeking over their shoulders and seeing the bondage and discipline chat sites they were surfing.  Eddie and Sara had been intently chatting with a couple on the new Power Exchange web site.  A chat box was open next to a profile that showed a middle age couple, with kind faces and a dark need showing more in their eyes than in the leather collars and chrome accessories they used to decorate their bodies.  The last line in the chat box read, “We would love to help you train her.”  Sara saved the chat to her desk top and closed the window.

Sara took a sip of her coffee and found it empty.  She gave it a shake and offered Eddie a sideways glance that he happened to miss because he was either focused on the profile on the screen or his dick was taking up too much blood from his brain. She sat the cup down with a firm click and didn’t get the response she wanted from Eddie.  He adjusted his pants and said, “Are they what we want?”

Sara was patient with everyone as much as she could be, but Eddie’s inattention was pressing it, “I’m just shopping for you; maybe playmates, maybe a chance to make money.  In any case, the shopping would go more effectively if I weren’t out of coffee.”  Eddie caught the meaning more from her tone and look than from the words and before Sara could blink, he was on his feet, heading toward the counter.  

Eddie stepped up to the barista and said, “Triple Venti Mocha, double whip.”  It always made him smile to order her a double whip.  It was so Sara to have extra whip, she was such an extreme girl and he was becoming extreme about her too.

When Eddie returned with her drink he peeked at the screen, Sara was clicking through other profiles and Eddie had lost track, “What did the couple we just typed to look like?

Sara took her cup, kissed him lightly on the cheek, and took a sip, “Thank you for this you sweet boy.  You asked me what they looked like?  Who cares really?  We just want to play and see if we have some use for them.  This is business not sex.”

Eddie asked, “How would I make money?”

Sara calmly replied, “We always give them what they really want and take some form of benefit for ourselves.  It’s only fair.”  Eddie still looked confused so she continued, “As long as one of them wants the other out of the way, they get insurance and we have them pay when we provide a service.  At least that is one way to do it.”

His face brightened with recognition, “Like Candy and me.  The insurance I mean?”

Sara tried to help more, “That was circumstance.  Sure it was insurance too but this requires planning and a willingness to follow up on the opportunity.”

Eddie leaned in and whispered close to Sara’s ear, “Do we end up, you know, doing things like Nick?”

Sara paused then said in a whisper, “I don’t mind arranging it and you love doing it don’t you?”

Realization, fear, excitement and potential raced across his features as his face displayed every emotion until acceptance gripped him.  In a strangled voice he admitted to himself and Sara, “Oh god, I do.”

Sara moved closer, settling into him, “It’s ok, I accept you.  Just like I said.  Besides, I love the last moment, seeing if it is what they hoped it would be.  I am guilty too.”

Eddie asked, “Do you think it was what Nick expected?”

Sara’s face hardened in disappointment, “He was such a pussy about it in the end, but I think it was pretty much just like he wanted.  Is that enough to know?”

Eddie nodded and his face grew serious, “For the record, please don’t think I want to be dead.  I would rather live in a cage than end up like Nick.  He looked worse than Candy.”

Sara smiled up at him as the computer pinged, “You’ve got mail”.  She clicked on the message and said, “Preference noted baby.  Besides, I want you alive.”

She kissed him and nodded to the screen, “The couple from online wants to meet us at Power Exchange.”