Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“Thanks, but my tab is better,” Ash replied. He turned to Penelope next, and she requested a glass of wine.
Tate and Kingsley got up at the same time, and Tate gave us a heads-up that the pizza would be here soon.
I had a choice now. Immediately excuse myself to go to the bathroom and spare myself awkwardness, push through the moment of awkwardness and make conversation with Penelope, or check my phone.
“I’d apologize for him, but for some reason, Ash’s bull-in-a-china-shop approach has always worked with people.”
I glanced at Penelope. Maybe I didn’t have to make the choice after all.
I mustered a smile. “It’s like he doesn’t allow for anyone to feel uncomfortable.”
“Yeah, that’s him.” She sighed and smirked ruefully. “I don’t possess that gift.”
I took a swig from my cider, and my stomach fluttered as she shifted closer on the sofa.
Evidently, it didn’t take more than that for the whole world to disappear. I stopped hearing the murmur of conversation going on around us; I stopped hearing the country boys on their guitars.
“May I speak bluntly?” she asked.
Fuck. Helvetes jävla skit. This was it.
“Of course.” I swallowed. She was gonna ask me not to make a move or something. Or let me know she’d heard through the grapevine that I was interested, and she was letting me down gently.
It didn’t feel gentle whatsoever.
“I would love to buy you a drink tomorrow at the event,” she said, causing the noise of screeching tires to blare in my brain. She wanted to do what? “If you’re interested in exploring a kink or getting together to see if we could play, I’m definitely game.”
As wonderful as that sounded, I knew a but was coming.
“That’s unfortunately it for me, though,” she went on. A fancy kind of but, in other words. “I’m not in a good place in life, and you deserve someone who’s not so damn jaded.”
My heart sank; I couldn’t help it. But it wasn’t just self-pity. I felt for her. I could practically sense that she was too emotionally exhausted for games and beating around the bush. So…what, she was gonna stick to casual…? We’d all been there. It wasn’t that long ago I’d broken up with my ex, and she’d been a fucking bitch toward the end. Manipulative and catty. I couldn’t stand it.
We healed eventually, though, didn’t we?
So would Penelope.
“Okay,” I said. “I understand.” It did sting, but I refused to give up. “If you were serious about the drink, I’m in. I would love to get to know you, at least.”
Small as it was, her smile looked more genuine now. “Getting to know each other sounds good.”
Two pizza slices and three drinks later, we had a whole new atmosphere in the pool area. The guitars had been replaced by Shay’s Bluetooth speaker, Lucian and KC had taken their boys to bed, Colt had returned to his two, and Greer had wheeled out a cart with drinks and snacks.
I could also sense the difference in the Tops’ behavior when they were faced with subs who weren’t Littles. It was Shay, Lane, Archie, Tate, and me left on the subbie side. Throw in Penelope, Ash, River, Reese, Greer, Kingsley, and Ty…? Things just turned more…wolfish. A layer of “fun-loving Daddy” was peeled off to reveal primal cores.
The current hot topic was whether the brats were up to something, if they’d planned a prank or whatever, which all the Tops were convinced of. Being the brilliant girl that I was—one with a task—I discreetly recorded the conversation on my phone.
“Bullshit,” Reese laughed. “You were gonna reveal somethin’ on the cruise, and then you changed your plans.”
“I swear we didn’t!” Shay insisted. “Macklin talked about pranking Ash, but he decided to do that another time.”
“I knew it!” Ash exclaimed. “That fuckin’ brat, I swear. I’mma talk to Walker after the weekend. This can’t go unpunished.”
“This can’t go unpunished,” Lane mocked. “Sir, do you hear yourself? You’re all obsessed with this so-called prank.”
I took a sip of my cider to withhold my laughter.
This was fucking gold.
Tate and I exchanged a brief look, and we shared the same tiny smirk. I bet he was recording too.
Ash slid his stare to Ty. “What are your boundaries on outsiders putting your boy in his place?”
Ty smiled. “Clear-cut. If he dishes it out, he can take it back, but any escalation goes through me.”
Lane scowled at Ty.
Ash was pleased. “Good to know.”
Tate turned curious. “Are you two open?”
Both Ty and Lane shook their heads.
“Maybe down the line with a long list of boundaries, but we’re happy with what we share with Macklin and Walker,” Ty elaborated. “The only play I’m lookin’ forward to one day is Lane going nuts with Shay, Macklin, and you.”
“Fuck yeah.” Reese was clearly on board, and it sounded like it was something they’d discussed before.