Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 139186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Knight stared at him, for the first time seemingly thrown off his guard. “Um... and why’s that?”
Jake took a big gulp of whiskey that burned down his throat but left a pleasant warmth right after. “Okay. His suitcase once opened by accident, and he had all these floggers, and paddles, whips and chains kind of stuff in there. I really don’t know if I can go there.”
Knight made a sound of almost child-like delight. “No,” he exclaimed as if he were being told a joke. “Is he like that?”
Jake groaned and wouldn’t look Knight’s way. “What if he is? Is that so bad?”
Knight frowned, immediately stilling. “No. I just thought of all that shit scattering all over the floor. He didn’t have all that much luggage on him when he came in, and those were his necessities? Must be really into it, but I hadn’t heard any rumors from the hangarounds.”
Jake was now happy he had the glass, because he wasn’t sure what to do with his hands. “I think about it sometimes. But if I… er… decided to try, then how would I then back out? And if that’s what he wants, and I couldn’t give it to him, he’d hate me for being a cocktease.” His face was getting hot just talking about it.
Knight pondered it for a moment. “Nah. You can’t be a cocktease about something weird. Like... it’s obvious you need to try to see if you like it. And besides, he’s old, so he probably doesn’t have that much of a libido anyway. You could work it.”
“Oh, I assure you he’s got all the sex drive necessary. And he’s not ‘old’. He’s… older.”
Knight laughed out loud. “So defensive. You must really like him. Just experiment. I fucked Elliot with Fane’s ghost inside of him, and it turned out all right. I mean... as long as you don’t hate it, it should be fine to do it every once in a while to make him happy.”
Jake bit his lips, pondering that for a while, somewhat disturbed by the ghost sex. “What if I really like it?”
“How is that even a question? You’re worried you won’t like it, you worry you will. Make a fucking decision.”
“Because it’s not an easy choice to make! Jeez.” Jake downed his drink. “How would I be a patch, an independent member, if everyone knows Vars spanks me, and I wear his collar, huh?”
“Uh, sorry to break it to you, Jake, but A—you’re already wearing a collar, and B—anyone who comes by the clubhouse often enough knows you’re submissive. It would hardly be a surprise if you added paddles into the mix.”
Jake stared at Knight, and he could not blame the violent heat coursing through his body on the alcohol. “What?”
Knight waved it off with a lazy gesture. “Oh come on, do you want me to believe you’re so eager to polish all those boots just because you want a patch? I saw you get hard over it.”
Jake sucked his lips in for a while. “Yeah, but as a prospect—”
“Prospect-shmospect. Being a patch is about doing whatever the fuck you want while being loyal to the club. You can be a patch and still take it up the ass, or get chained up if you like. Why you gotta make it so difficult for yourself?”
Jake slouched. “Joker will make comments…”
“Yeah, he does about everything. Get over yourself and make them right back at him. His infatuation with Blackstar is a good target if you ask me. And did you see Gray taking his bullshit? I didn’t think so.”
“Thanks, Knight. I never thought you were this smart,” Jake teased with a grin that came from the weight he’d been carrying for so long lifting from his chest.
“Watch it, prospect. I’d have poured that whiskey over you if it weren’t so damn good,” Knight said, but his tone remained light-hearted.
Jake considered drinking some more, as the elegant setting begged for lounging with a cocktail, but they heard steps outside, and the door soon opened.
Mr. Magpie walked in first, and only then was Jake hit by understanding. When Jake had first walked through the minimalist interiors sprinkled only with dashes of gold or other colors, he had been surprised that a man who lavished himself with furs and jewels chose stark concrete on walls and neutral grays. But it made sense, because what Mr. Magpie wanted was to be the center of attention, and when he entered, dressed in a kaleidoscope of jewel-like colors and long golden studs on the shoulder pads of his jacket, the soft gray background blurred around him and made him the focus.
His handsome face brightened, and he approached Knight, who rose from the chaise lounge and gave Magpie a bear hug, as if they’d known one another since school. “I’m very happy to see you again, Travis. And I see you brought your sweet blond boy with you,” he said, glancing at Jake.