AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dinner? Why dinner?” My voice rises in pitch. “We’re not dating. You don't have to feed me. I know how this works; you don’t have to pretend.”
“I'm not.” Theo's voice hardens. “I've never done this before. I’ve never slept with someone without knowing them a little bit. I'm not about to start now. We eat a meal together before we scene. This is not negotiable for me.”
I look at Shane, wondering if he's going to suggest another compromise, but he gazes back at me impassively.
I'm torn. A voice of self-preservation urges me to get up and walk out the door. But curiosity compels me to stay. Curiosity and inconvenient lust. When Theo's voice hardens, it's delicious. My nipples pebble in arousal, and need clamps me tight.
“Fine.” I sound sullen. “But nothing public. This isn't a date. We can eat in my room.”
Theo flashes me an amused smile. “Such enthusiasm,” he teases. “You’re good for my ego, Ms. Byard.” His grin widens. “And you want to eat in your room. That should be interesting.”
Oh. I picture both men in my hotel room, filling the space with their presence, and my stomach does a flip. I might have made a strategic blunder.
Shane leans back. “Now that we’re done with the negotiations, we can move onto more pleasurable things.” He raises an eyebrow. “Do you want to try something?”
“Now? Here?”
He doesn’t take those dark eyes off me. “Your choice. Here, or we can head to one of the rooms downstairs.”
There are people downstairs. I will be noticed. “Is this one of my three sessions?”
“No. It’s an ice-breaker.” He shrugs off his jacket and takes off his tie, winding the silk fabric over his hand. His expression changes. A Dominant stares back at me. “Come here, Ms. Byard.”
I dressed conservatively for this meeting, but I made one concession to fashion. My heels are four inches high, and as I totter over to Shane on shaky feet, I realize I’m woefully out of practice walking in them.
Theo watches from his position on the couch across from us.
Shane pats his lap. “Sit down,” he says. “Face away from me. I want you to keep your eyes on Theo.”
It’s not an order; it’s an invitation, a tempting one. This is an envelope I want to open. I perch on his thighs, my back straight and my head held high. “Good girl,” he murmurs. “Hands behind your back, please.”
I obey, and he binds my wrists together with his tie. The tie that was around his neck only moments ago. An involuntary shiver runs through me. Theo notices. “Do you have a safe word?” he asks.
I’m nervous, but it’s a good nervous. “I use the traffic light system. Red, yellow, green.”
“Can I trust you to use it?”
Shane hasn’t bound me tightly, so I can get out if I want. But I don’t want to. “Yes.”
“Good.” Theo nods to Shane. “Carry on.”
Shane moves his hand up to the back of my neck. “He’s a good guy, isn’t he?” he muses, his thumb stroking my skin. Everywhere he touches, I tingle. Bubbles of desire jet around my bloodstream. “So considerate. You should thank him, Ms. Byard.”
“Thank you, Mr. Keppel,” I say dutifully.
“Call me Theo.” His blue eyes linger over me like a touch. I’m fully clothed, but he likes what he sees. A thick bulge strains against his trousers, and he makes no attempt to hide it.
“No, no,” Shane chides. “Words are cheap. Show him, Ms. Byard. Give him your panties.”
“But my hands are tied,” I say stupidly.
Shane laughs softly. “That’s quite a conundrum.”
A familiar excitement spirals through me. I think he expects me to wriggle free, but I don’t think I can manage it. I stand up and tug at my skirt between my fingers, but the hem eludes me. I try to undo the button, but I can’t pop it out with one hand.
Theo leans back in his seat, a smile touching his lips.
Oh.I see what Shane wants me to do.
