Toma let the handle go.
By the time the door handle turned, we were exactly as she'd left us.
Still, Nyomi stepped through with her brows creased. She looked at the handle, then back at us. "What was up with the door? I couldn't get it open for a second."
Reo shrugged. "Must be jammed. The island humidity makes the frames swell at times. I’ll make sure maintenance takes a look at it."
"Hmm." She scanned the room.
I witnessed the moment she went from playful Tiger to journalist mode. Those sharp, beautiful eyes swept across each face. She lingered on Toma's too-casual posture. On Hiro's sudden interest in his cane. On the way neither twin quite met her gaze.
Then she looked at me.
I gave her nothing. A slight smile. Warm eyes. The leash resting comfortably in my open palm.
She didn't buy it. I could see the gears turning behind her expression, the calculations running in real time. I was quickly learning that Nyomi could smell bullshit from three rooms away.
Then she looked down at the slave.
Although he was back in that pathetic doggy position, his whole body vibrated with fine, continuous shudders—the kind that came from adrenaline and oxygen deprivation and a terror so fresh it hadn't finished settling into his bones. His eyes were fixed on the floor. His hands were clasped tight in his lap to hide their shaking.
She looked back up at me and frowned. She knew something had happened. She knew my men were covering. But she was too classy to call it out in front of everyone.
Hmmm.
She strolled over and reached for the leash.
I handed it back to her.
Our fingers touched again.
This time, she whispered, “Naughty Dragon.”
And because she had my heart, soul, and body clenched within her little fists, my cock reacted, jerking in my pants and growing hard with each second.
I kept my voice low. “Punish me later, Tora.”
She blinked.
A wicked smirk spread across my face.
“Don’t worry. I will.” She stepped back and cleared her throat. "I hope you all enjoy this party."
Hiro gave her a bow. “We will.”
The Claws bowed too.
"We all worked very hard to give you a good time, so be extra nice to the staff."
The twins bobbed their heads.
“We’ll be good.” One twin pulled the trigger on his machine gun.
Bubbles spilled out at her.
Nyomi widened her eyes, laughed, and batted a few bubbles away. “Oh my God. Judging the contest is going to be so hard.”
Hiro quirked his brows. “Who else is judging?”
