Page 4 of For the Night

Then let’s get this show on the road.

Shay took a few steps back, ready to return to River and Reese, when I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

“Hey, Shay?”

He turned back to me.

“If you’re struggling to go back to school, don’t force it,” was my genuine advice. “Before I got my master’s, I took two years off because my mind was fried.”

He grew pensive but nodded a little. “I feel like my time is running out. I’m already gonna be older than most when?—”

I spluttered in surprise. “You’re what, twenty-five, twenty-six? You have all the time in the world, sweetie.”

He grinned ruefully. “You sound like the Tenleys.”

“Well. They’re known to say smart things occasionally.”

He chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

By noon, I’d finished cleaning my cabin. I’d pushed bags of clothes up the stairs to the otherwise empty sleeping loft, and I’d filled a final trash bag with remnants from Ella. A few tops, the last of her knickknacks, her favorite coffee mugs, and whatnot.

According to Lucian and Reese, Ella was evidently coming back to the community after her hasty exit last Christmas when I’d caught her cheating. She’d gone home to Philly the moment I’d told her I wasn’t fucking taking her back or forgiving her, and now she was supposedly a paying member again.

It didn’t matter. She was out of my life.

I spent the next couple hours in Tysons, running errands, visiting another type of sadist at my waxing place, stocking up on brat bribes—not at the waxing place—getting my nails done… Again, I should say. I’d tried to go back to my usual dark-red nails the other week, but I wasn’t happy. So goodbye to those, and hello, pale, semitransparent peach. They were much shorter too. It felt weird but good. I needed to shake things up in my life, and I’d been so set in my latex-and-corset ways that most of my friends had lifted brows and made comments when I’d started showing up in jeans, All Stars, and hoodies. I’d even dyed my hair, despite it was only two shades darker. More auburn than red.

The six-inch heels weren’t going anywhere. I still loved my kinky outfits—plus, they made me feel less fun-sized in a community of giants. But in my everyday life, I was itching to kick back and explore the world of pajama shorts, loose tees, and flip-flops.

Before I headed back to Mclean, I had lunch and texted Walker a request for some new toys. His work with leather, glass, and silicone had turned me into a happy customer.

Minutes later, I wrestled all my shopping bags into the back of the truck, and I sent off a text to Tate too. I wanted to put together a new aftercare kit, and he was a wealth of knowledge. He and Kingsley played hard, so Tate knew how to look after bruises and cuts.

By the time I was at Mclean again, more cars had filled the large carport. I arrived at the same time Colt, Lucas, and Kit did, and they were quick to offer me assistance.

Colt grabbed three of the bags and eyed my shirt. “That looks familiar.”

“It’s called denim, Wyatt Earp,” I replied. “I think it’s catching on.”

Something that wasn’t catching on was his mustache. I just couldn’t get used to it.

Lucas and Kit laughed.

Colt narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re a fuckin’ brat sometimes.”

I puckered my lips at him. He was one to talk. He, Greer, and Reese were three of the biggest brats known to man.

Kit gasped. “Oh! Mistress Penelope, this bag is full of candy!”

I smiled at him and nudged his shoulder with my own. “Go ahead, grab something. It’ll be our secret. But your Daddies decide when you can eat it.”

He was so fucking cute. He got all excited and dug through the bag, ultimately deciding between Pop Rocks and a packet of Nerds.

The Nerds won.

“Thank you so much, Ma’am!” He shook the packet and looked up expectantly at his Owners. “May I eat them now, please?”

Colt and Lucas looked on, amused, and Lucas was first to offer a nod.

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