Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 127712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Again, that tingle between my legs stirs.
These two. Yes. I’m on board for that part of this dark trip.
I did earn it. Not that I’m complaining about my week of submission. It was… fun. In a weird way. A game, for sure. But I knew that going in. And I’m playing too. My own game. Even if I didn’t quite realize what it was until this moment.
I want their secrets.
That’s my game.
Secrets.
So I’m not just a game piece on the playing board anymore.
I’m a player.
I’m not playing at their level, of course, but it’s my first time. So I’m not upset about this. I don’t expect to win, but I do think I’ll get far enough to be satisfied with my loss in the end.
“Does this excite you, Nova?”
I kind of forgot where we were in our conversation, so I roll it back and realize his question is about Locke.
I look him in the eyes. “Yes. It does. I can’t wait. I did earn it. And I want these rewards.”
Mercer laughs out loud. And he smiles too, the corners of his mouth lifting up. This makes his eyes twinkle. He leans over and kisses me.
It’s his usual kiss. And by that, I mean all of the passion, and lust, and yearnings are part of this kiss. His hands cup my face, like he’s possessing me. And I lean in to it just as the car comes to a stop.
The car door opens on his side, but we do not stop kissing. He takes his time with me, giving me this small sneak peek at my upcoming reward.
When we break away, we’re both breathless and he’s looking me in the eyes. “I have some business to do,” he explains. “So you will be taken to our room and I will join you later. Do you understand?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“Good.” He whispers this word into my mouth. Our parting kiss. Then he gets out, offers me his hand, and helps me join him in front of the hotel.
He leans in to the bellhop’s ear and whispers something. And then I am led up to a room. Alone.
I don’t know where he goes, or what comes next.
Well, I do know one thing that comes next.
Orgasms. Plural. Because there is no way I have put up with all this to only get one.
I chuckle to myself as the bellhop leaves my room and closes the double doors behind him.
It’s a massive suite. The penthouse, maybe. Though I don’t think this is a hotel. I think it’s an Institute club. Like the one in Boston.
I walk into the main room and just stand there, enjoying the view outside. It’s late afternoon and the sun is playing hide-and-seek between the tops of tall buildings. I have no idea which part of New York we’re in. I didn’t even notice a street sign on the way here because I was completely captivated by Mercer’s sudden rule change.
My stomach rumbles, then twists. I’m very hungry. I was too nervous to eat breakfast and those small bites of strawberry were not enough to quell my sudden feeling of starvation. I couldn’t sleep last night, either. I felt sick, actually. The build-up to this day has been quite stressful.
There’s a part of me that thinks this is all crazy. The whole thing from top to bottom.
The Institute, the recruitment, the island, the job.
And, most of all, the men.
Dark men. All three of them. Though Olsen, he’s different. Still hot, still desirable—but different.
My stomach twists again. I’m worked up. The deprivation, and now the anticipation—it’s got me giddy.
When I turn, I see it, and I stop breathing.
There is a suit coat on the floor in front of one of the couches.
On top of the suit coat is an envelope.
I walk over to it, pick the envelope up, and open the unsealed flap to find a thick, white card. Printed—not handwritten, but printed on it, in engraved letters and everything—is a command.
Three of them, actually. I read them in Mercer’s voice.
Turn around, find the camera on the table, and turn it on. I’m watching you.
Take off your clothes.
Assume your position and wait for me.
A sudden rush of breath escapes me. Then another rush, this time adrenaline.
He’s taken things up a level tonight, that’s for sure.
But he said this is all a test. The whole night.
Which means he will be in full dominant mode and I will be submissive.
If I want to pass the test, that is.
Do I want to pass?
I’m not convinced I do.
But I would like to play the game. For this one night, at least. What comes next, I’m not sure. This might be enough to satisfy me. It might be enough to ease that craving for darkness that’s always been inside me.
And if that happens, I will have lots of challenges when we get back to the island. But Mercer has said, on several occasions, that I am under contract and he wouldn’t be able to fire me even if he wanted to.