Total pages in book: 220
Estimated words: 212755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1064(@200wpm)___ 851(@250wpm)___ 709(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 212755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1064(@200wpm)___ 851(@250wpm)___ 709(@300wpm)
Kenton’s enthusiastic nod made him look like a bobblehead doll. “Yes, now.”
When he realized that meant he’d be leaving me alone, he winced and started wringing his hands. “If that’s…I mean…”
“Go. Have fun.” I reached out for a hug when he squealed excitedly. “Go show him what a cute pup you are.”
“I’m the cutest.” Kenton bounced on his toes, vibrating with excitement. “Okay, you’re not mad. I told Eli I was happy for him. Bane said he’d feed me. I’m good, right?”
“Your gear?” Bishop’s very logical question set off another round of nodding.
“Yes, I’m going to my place and grab my stuff, then I’m going to Bane’s house.” Some of the excitement was fading back into nerves, but he took a deep breath. “He said I was sexy and would be a cute pup. He wasn’t shocked. It’ll be fine.”
I was hoping he’d remember to ask why Bane wasn’t surprised or at least more confused.
At the very least, Bane wasn’t as vanilla as Kenton had assumed.
“You’re going to be great and he’s fabulous.” I was proud of myself for not sounding as jealous as I felt, but I knew Kenton hadn’t heard it as he bounced out a quick goodbye and nearly skipped through the crowd as he headed out.
When he finally bounded through the door, I sighed and looked up at Bishop. “How would you feel about having a fourth for dinner? I’m not planning on staying late.”
I had a sleepover planned.
He grinned, waving his hand toward their table. “I’m a more the merrier kind of guy. Come on over.”
Oh, if only he’d meant that the way it’d sounded…but the good guys were always subs.
Chapter 3
Cohen
I knew everyone…but I didn’t really know them…especially the big guy in the back corner who’d been smiling all night.
Even when he’d talked to Eli.
“Is he a new model?” The way Preston snorted said I might’ve interrupted something he’d been saying…but he answered my question anyway, so it couldn’t have been that important.
“No.” As his boyfriend giggled, Preston continued dryly. “He’s a friend of one of them, though.”
“He’s Bishop.” Casey grinned ear to ear, so I must not have hidden my interest in the sexy man very well. “He’s a pup, and he’s come to a few of the shoots lately. All the models giggle over him even though he’s a sub too, and Emerson—”
The way Preston cleared his throat had Casey blushing, defending himself to his Dom. “It’s not a secret. He tells everyone. Honest.”
Ah.
Glancing between them, I raised one eyebrow. “Everyone here talks about their kinks like they’re a food allergy, announcing them right up front. Is that not how it’s usually done?”
Every once in a while I wished I’d taken a more active role in Leashes & Lace, but then Preston and Eli would do something like get in a screaming match over packing logos and I remembered why I’d always been a silent investor.
They were all insane.
Okay, so the logo battle had been back when the company was first starting to take off, but the memory was still fresh even though they’d, thankfully, both grown up a lot.
They both shrugged, leaving me more confused than I’d started, but Preston spoke up. “How much do you know about the lifestyle outside of the L and L stuff?”
Nothing.
“Very little.” I seemed to be entirely too honest for most of that community to handle. “I understand that I spank well and I’ve been told I’m a conscientious Dom, but that’s the end of my experience.”
I’d read up on the safety and caretaking aspects of the lifestyle, but most people I’d met in it were…high maintenance.
Casey blinked, clearly not sure how to respond, but Preston laughed and shook his head. “And that answer is exactly why you don’t have more experience.”
Bullshit.
I was just a bit boring for most of the guys in the lifestyle to really appreciate.
And the fact that I was avoiding anyone who worked at Leashes & Lace didn’t help.
“I’m waiting for you to answer my question.” I’d answered his, so now it was his turn.
Casey smiled again and decided to be helpful. “The guys here and the ones who hang around are a bit more open than most people. They’re very confident that anyone in their circle of work and friends will understand them, so they’re very up-front. Most people outside of Leashes & Lace, even lifestyle couples, well, they’re more careful.”
Ah.
“How many subs have you dated?” Preston leaned back in his chair, analyzing me like I was a fascinating spreadsheet. “You haven’t talked about anyone lately.”
“Three?” If I counted the one sub who’d screamed at me for taking him to a steakhouse when he was a vegetarian.
How I was supposed to have guessed that based on his online profile I had no idea. He’d spent more time describing his kinks than what his hobbies or food preferences were. At the time, I’d appreciated how he’d laid out what he wanted in a partner, but that had been a mistake.