Page 108 of High Reward

Lili

IknockonVictor’sdoor and wait for him to tell me to come in. The expression on his face is tense, but he softens when he sees that it’s me.

“Grace said you wanted to see me?”

He nods and moves to the wet bar along one wall and pours a splash of scotch into two glasses. Handing me one, he sits on the couch. I join him, eager to hear what’s on his mind, but trying not to push.

“I’m going to do a scene with Grace tonight.”

“Oh wonderful. What do you have planned?” I ask, curious as to why he’s sharing this with me.

“I’m going to give her wings.”

My nose wrinkles as I frown in confusion. “Is that some kind of sex position I don’t know about?”

He huffs out a laugh and shakes his head. “No, Spitfire, though I’m sure we could find a position to fit the bill. I’m going to make some art out of her with needles and feathers.

My eyes light up. “Oh. That sounds beautiful. What do you need from me.”

He drinks the scotch and sets the empty glass aside. “I need an assistant to hand me things and keep Grace focused. Do you mind being that person? It’s going to be the focus of the evening, and there may not be time for all of us to play together.”

I grin as I take a small sip of my own scotch, and he raises an eyebrow. “What’s that Cheshire cat grin for?”

I purse my lips and laugh. “Vic, you’re so sweet. Don’t worry,” I tease, “Your secret is safe with me.”

My expression softens and lock eyes with him. “In seriousness, it’s sweet of you to be thinking of me that way. Trying to include me. I appreciate it. And if you really need an assistant, I would love to help you. But not if you’re just trying to find a way to include me.”

Victor frowns. “Why wouldn’t I include you, Lili? I love you. Grace loves you. We want to make space for you, just like I hope you make space for us.”

I set my glass aside and pick up his hands. “I love you both. More than I thought possible. But just because the three of us love each other doesn’t mean we won’t need time to connect as couples too. If that’s what this is for you and Grace, I want to respect that.”

His face relaxes a little, and he squeezes my hands as he stands. “It could be, but I’m choosing to include you. This is for Grace. I want to do something to make her feel powerful.”

“And sticking her full of needles is what you came up with?” I ask with a laugh.

He reaches into his desk drawer and pulls out two boxes. “When you put it like that, it sounds insane. But yes, that’s exactly what I came up with. Are you going to mock me, or are you going to help me?”

“Lucky for you, I’m capable of both.”

He motions for me to join him at his desk and opens the first box. Rows of individually wrapped needles lay inside. “Why is that so sexy?” I ask, staring at the neatly arranged rows of sharp metal.

He chuckles and puts a hand at the small of my back. “I’m not sure, but I agree.”

“What’s in the second box?”

Victor opens it and shoves it my way. I gasp when I look inside. Some of the most gorgeous purple, black, and gray feathers lay inside.

“I don’t know exactly how this works, but fuck that’s pretty, Victor. I can’t wait to see how you do it.”

He walks me through the kind of help he’ll need tonight, and I listen intently.

“Can I feel one?”

“A needle?” he asks, reaching for the box.

“Yes. I want to know what Grace is going to feel, and we’ve already established that I like pain.”

His eyes darken, and he leans in to kiss me. “Yes, we have, Spitfire. Yes, we have. Take off your top.”