Author: Roni Loren
“I know, Master.”
Reid grinned, wickedness glinting in his eyes. He rose from his chair and dropped his napkin on his plate. “Jace, why don’t you head to the nightclub area with Brynn and I’ll meet you? I’m going to have them box up dessert to take with us.”
Jace stood and Brynn downed the rest of her drink before getting up to join him, wishing it was some of the wine the vineyard produced instead of iced tea. She’d kill for some liquid courage tonight.
Jace slid a hand onto the small of her back as Reid strode off. “Come on, doll. Let’s go join the reindeer games.”
She bit her lip, but let him nudge her forward. As they passed another table, a man reached out and stopped Jace. “Hey, Jason, I didn’t realize you were going to be here this weekend.”
Jace shook the man’s hand and offered a polite smile to both him and the scantily clad brunette who kneeled on the floor next to his chair. “Hi, Davis. How’s it going?”
Brynn’s insides chilled as the name and familiar voice dinged bells inside her. She ventured another look at the man’s face and then quickly dropped her gaze. Shit. Davis Ackerman, her old boss, and now current city councilman. Just what she needed—yet another person seeing her half naked and collared. She dipped her head down even farther and hoped the man had a bad memory.
“I’m here, so I’d say it’s going excellent,” Davis said. “And I wanted to thank you for getting that order to me so quickly. I’m really happy with everything.”
Jace absently rubbed Brynn’s back, and she sensed he was itching to move on from the conversation. “Glad to hear it.”
“Pretty sub you have there tonight.” Davis’s tone made it sound like he was admiring the night’s dinner specials. “Are you two looking to join up with anyone?”
Ugh. Not in this lifetime. The thought of that man laying a finger on her made her soul shudder. Jace’s palm moved to her hip as he gathered her closer. “Sorry, Davis. I appreciate the offer, but we actually have plans with someone else tonight. I’m sure you’ll be able to find an available couple in the group room, though.”
“Ah, oh, well. Maybe we’ll see you at the festival tomorrow night.”
The men exchanged good-byes, and Jace hustled her away. “Sorry about that, doll. Davis hasn’t gotten any less annoying with age, but I’d be stupid to get on a councilman’s bad side. Plus, he’s a steady customer at the store.”
“You think he recognized me?”
“Nah, he’s so drunk on lust for that chick he’s with. He wouldn’t be able to pick his own wife out of a lineup right now.”
She grimaced. “He’s married?”
Jace sighed. “Unfortunately, being single isn’t one of the requirements for membership at The Ranch.”
A sound of disgust escaped her. Thank God that’s not who her sister was paired up with.
Jace gave her a rueful smile as they exited the restaurant and headed down one of the unnaturally quiet hallways. “I know it’s not right, but it is what it is. At least you don’t have to worry. Both of your men tonight are footloose and fancy-free.”
Her steps stuttered. Both? “What?”
He paused outside a set of double doors and turned to her. “Brynn, before we go in there, I want to make sure you’re okay with this. Reid asked me to join you guys tonight.”
Her eyes widened.
“I know, shocked the shit out of me, too, because you know how he is. And don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely a willing participant, but if you don’t want that or think it’s going to freak you out, tell me now. I know you haven’t told Reid what you’re going through, but I know he wouldn’t want to do anything that’s going to scare you.”
Both of them. Both of them. Her heart hammered in her chest, but the rush of adrenaline didn’t feel like fear. No, this rush was something totally different. After a few moments, she nodded. “I’m okay. I trust you guys.”
“You know what to say if anything goes wrong.”
“Yep.”
“Okay,” he said, giving her a smile that suddenly seemed more than friendly. He pushed through the double doors, and pounding dance music drowned out her question. He bent close to her ear and shouted, “Come on, doll. Into the den of inequity we go.”
She grabbed his hand and followed him through the throng of people on the dance floor. Couples and groups of every possible makeup—some clothed, some not so much—bounced and writhed to the pulsing beat. Hands and bare skin brushed against her as she and Jace were absorbed into the crowd. The scents of sweat and sex enveloped her, and despite her racing worries, her body jumped to attention.
She mentally grabbed on to that physical sensation—that’s what she needed to focus on. She closed her eyes, centering herself, drawing herself down into her senses and into an almost meditative state. Nothing exists outside this moment. This room. All you need is what your body feels.
A hot hand cupped her ass and jolted her from her internal chanting. She turned her head to tell whoever it was to back off, but Reid’s confident smirk greeted her. “Keep moving.”
Once they made it off the dance floor and to the fringes of the room, the music faded to a manageable volume. Jace found the last open couch. “This’ll work.”
Brynn frowned at the small love seat. No way would the three of them fit on that. Hell, was she going to have to kneel on the goddamned floor again? Jace sank onto the dark brown leather, and after setting a paper bag on a nearby cocktail table, Reid moved past her to take the other spot. She huffed. Guess “ladies first” had no application in this world.
She sighed and started to kneel, but Reid’s hand circled her wrist. “Plenty of room for you on my lap, sugar.”
Her heart skipped a tick as he patted his leg in invitation. She used to love being on Reid’s lap. Back when she’d felt like her whole world was balancing on the edge of a dime, his embrace had made her feel cherished, safe. But right now, she doubted his intent had anything to do with safety.
Before she could respond, he dragged her closer and pulled her onto the tops of his muscular thighs. With ease, he shifted her whole body until her ass was in his lap and her legs were draped across Jace’s. “There, that’s better.”
She looked back and forth between the two men and wet her lips. “But, I’m taking up Jace’s space, too.”
Reid ran the backs of his knuckles along the outside of her exposed leg, sending shivers along her skin. “I don’t think he minds.”
Jace’s eyes followed Reid’s movements. “Not at all. The view is mighty fine.”
Reid’s palm slid toward the inside of her thigh, and he parted her tightly closed knees, spreading her until Jace could most definitely see up her skirt. “Don’t be shy, sugar. You were ready to take Jace on as your dom last week, so I know you’re not opposed to letting him have a little fun with us.”
She couldn’t help the swift heat that nestled between her legs. Maybe staying focused on the physical wouldn’t be a problem. She turned to Reid, her brows knitted. “What happened to your no-sharing policy?”
He gave a soft chuckle, even though something akin to pain flashed in his eyes, and kissed the spot below her ear. “Back then I was young and stupid and thought I was in love. Now that it’s just sex, I don’t mind sharing.”
She scoffed. Sure, he’d been in love with her—so in love that he’d been cheating on her the whole time they were together. What a stand-up guy.
Reid frowned and pushed a stray hair away from her face. “But, we’re leaving the past behind while we’re here, right? Let’s not let that taint the experience of ‘getting this whole sex thing over with.’ ”
She opened her mouth to respond, but his finger pressed against her lips.
“Shh, relax and keep an open mind, Brynn. I promise if you do that, this will be way better than a dentist appointment.”
Her retort shriveled in her throat. He was right, as much as it killed her to admit it. This was what she had walked in here to do. Beyond the fact that this would make them look like authentic guests, she needed to do this for herself. If she was going to get past this fear and learn to enjoy sex again, what better way to do it than to hand herself over to the most dominant man she’d ever met?
Despite their issues, she knew Reid wouldn’t physically harm her. And although she and Jace only had friendship between them, she’d never deny that the man was sex on a stick. The idea of both of them… Well, her damp panties certainly indicated that her hormones were a fan.
Her chest rose and fell with deep breaths. This was it. Take the leap, Brynn. Just be in the moment. You’re safe.
She gave a final nod, mentally slamming the door shut on everything but the feel of the two beautiful men against her skin.
Reid removed his finger, his blue eyes glittering in the club’s flashing lights. “Good, girl. Now, I think you’re ready for dessert.”
Jace’s hand curled under her knee and she startled. “Easy, doll. We’re going to take good care of you.”
She swallowed hard. “I know.”
While Reid leaned to the side to grab the bag he had brought with him, a vinyl-clad waitress stopped in front of them. Her heavily lined eyes danced across Brynn’s two companions, her interest obvious. “Do you need anything from the bar… or from an attendant?”
Reid lifted his head, and Jace continued to caress Brynn’s leg. Reid traced a finger along the edge of Brynn’s bustier. “I think we have all we need right now.”
The girl’s bottom lip jutted out a bit, but she nodded and moved on. Brynn sniffed. “I think you guys have a new president for your fan club.”
Reid laughed and pulled a pint-sized container from the paper bag. “We’ll see. You might want to apply for the job once we’re done with you tonight.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Confident, aren’t you?”
“Jace, I think our sub has a bit of a smart mouth.”
Jace shook his head. “Seems so. I think it’s this outfit. It’s making her feisty.”
Reid yanked at the laces holding the front of the bustier together, sending her breasts spilling out the top. She gasped and her hands instinctively flew to cover herself.
Reid frowned. “Drop your hands, Brynn, or we’ll be forced to tie you up.”
Her gaze darted around the crowded room. She had known that public display would be involved in this, but knowing it and experiencing it were two different things. A couple sitting a few yards away openly ogled the scene, and Brynn had the urge to grab the paper bag and put it over her head.
Reid’s fingers grasped her chin, and he turned her face toward him. “Look only at us. You’re here to please me and Jace—no one else gets the privilege of your attention. Now I’m giving you one more chance to drop your hands or I’m pulling out the cuffs.”
Cuffs. The word tried to slip through the hold she had on her fear. Restraints equaled panic. She stared into Reid’s eyes, feeling his grip on her face, letting his unwavering focus draw her back to center. She let her arms fall to her sides, and her nipples instantly tightened from the exposure.
Reid’s gaze traveled over her breasts as if he was seeing the female form for the first time, and she couldn’t help but warm beneath the full glow of his appreciation. He kissed her bare shoulder. “Thank you. A body this gorgeous deserves to be worshipped not hidden.”
“Amen to that,” Jace said, his normally genial face turning serious.
She knew there were far more beautiful women in the room, knew that her belly was a bit too round and her breasts a bit too heavy to call perky. But in that moment, the two men’s hungry perusal made her feel like a goddess upon an altar. The traces of panic started to drain out of her completely.
