Page 165 of High Reward

The first stripe lands and I stop thinking about Phineas entirely.

He works me over slowly, checking each mark with his thumb between strokes. I count out loud because he tells me to, and because hearing my own voice stay steady through it is its own kind of proof.

“Color.”

“Green.” My voice cracks on it. “Green, damn it, don’t you dare stop.”

“Bossy tonight.” He sounds almost amused, and the next one lands harder for it. By the time he sets the cane down I’m shaking, and every nerve I own has gone bright and loud. He takes his time after that, gentler than the marks he just left, and when he finally pushes his cock into me I’m already so far gone that I come almost immediately, Grace’s hand knotted in mine the whole way through.

Afterward, I collapse against his chest, Grace curling into his side, and he wraps an arm around each of us like he’s afraid we’ll disappear if he lets go.

“Thank you,” I whisper against his skin.

“Don’t thank me for that.” His voice rumbles low under my ear. “You asked me for something out loud tonight and didn’t apologize for it once. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting to hear you do that?”

I fall asleep tangled between both of them and don’t dream about Phineas once.

By the time the three of us finally head to the club, the sun’s long gone and I’ve got a smile I can’t quite wipe off my face.

The club is alight with cheerful energy as club submissives move about setting things up. Tyson has a catering staff working tonight. It’s a pre-wedding celebration for Skylar and Matteo despite the fact that many of us will be traveling to New York for the wedding itself.

After the bookstore opening and seeing Kara hold Grace at gunpoint, I couldn’t bring myself to leave. So I’m back in Las Vegas, but I’m not sure what my next move will be. Victor wants me to stay at his house, but I’ve been staying at a suite in The Pink Sapphire thanks to the generosity of Hunter Novak.

Victor visits me when he’s at work, and Grace and I have spent the night together twice. It’s almost like dating them separately, but they aren’t making me feel odd about it.

Last night, though, I stayed at Victor’s house… Victor and Grace’s house… she’s fully moved in now. My face heats as I remember the orgasms and the sensation of being with both of them again.

Grace blossoms when Victor and I top her together, and I come completely undone when Victor puts his energy into hurting me while Grace watches. Is it a fucked up dynamic?

No one here seems to think so, and I’ve decided that’s all that matters.

“What are you thinking about, Spitfire?” Victor asks from behind me.

I turn and face him with a smile.

“Your nails on my thighs last night,” I admit with ease.

He grins and pulls me close for a kiss. “Was it good enough to convince you to leave the suite at the Sapphire?”

I let out a happy laugh. “Oh Vic. You really don’t like that I’m not at the house with you do you?”

“I hate it. Grace does too. You belong with us Liliana. And you know it.”

“Maybe,” I tease. But it’s hard to keep a straight face.

“I’m just not ready yet, Vic. Give me time.”

He nods and brushes hair behind my ear. “You have as much as you need. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to complain about it from time to time.”

“That’s acceptable.”

I tuck the words away to hold onto later and let myself get lost in the noise of the party for a while. Champagne, familiar faces, Grace’s laugh carrying across the room every few minutes.

As we’re talking, Tyson approaches with a worried look on his face.

“What is it?” Victor asks, suddenly in no-nonsense mode.

“It’s Griffin Price. Our suspicions that he’s in New Orleans is correct.”