Page 112 of Bound By Words

And I knew he did without a doubt.

Talia and Nathan kept the car ride lively, teasing each other as I clung to his hand, my mind racing with scenarios of how the night might play out.

“You’re doing great.” I snapped out of my daze at the gentle comment from Emory, who was seated behind me in the back of the small luxury SUV. He’d been quiet, only joining the conversation when dragged in, and I could appreciate his thoughtful presence. He seemed to take everything in despite his silence.

“Thanks,” I whispered over my shoulder as Nathan squeezed my hand, still talking to Talia seated behind him.

“Just keep an open mind going in. It’s not as scary as it seems, and this one won’t be too crude. Our host is more into control and less into dark kinks.”

He said that now, but I was still picturing red rooms and dungeons with chains hanging from the walls, even though I knew that wasn’t likely as the car turned onto a long, tree-lined driveway. A metal gate loomed ahead, and I took a deep breath as we passed through it and pulled up in front of a large, two-story brick house moments later.

“You still with me, sunshine?” Nathan whispered as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close enough to kiss the top of my head. Despite my hot girl armor, I felt a little exposed, so I appreciated his reassurance more than I could articulate. “We can go home if you’ve changed your mind.”

He wrapped a curl around his finger and leaned forward so he could look me in the eye. “We can take this plug out, and I’ll let you act out your little fantasy.” I felt my face heat up when the back seat occupants were silent, Talia likely listening to Nathan’s low, suggestive words. His lips hovered over my ear, his voice deep and seductive as he whispered. “I’ll admit, the thought of you fucking me is making it hard to keep myself under control. Every time I shift, I know the plug in my ass is there because you wanted it. Everyone at that party will know I’m fucking hard for you. They might think you’re mine, but I’m yours. Every part of me. I’m fucking yours, sunshine.”

Blowing out a heavy breath, I turned my face, my lips grazing his before leaning toward his ear. My fingers grazed the material of his shirt, his heartbeat strong underneath. “I hope the thought of me inside you makes you ache.”

A rumbling growl built in his chest as he grasped my ponytail, tilting my head backward. Knowing that Talia and Emory were being held captive to witness this exchange made things more exciting. “You’re already inside me. My heart beats for you, and I trust you, sunshine. I’ll follow your lead tonight. You’re in charge.”

Nodding, I breathed out as the car stopped, Talia impatiently shifting in her seat as Nathan reached for the door handle, looking back over his shoulder at me. “You ready?”

“Yup. Let’s do this,” I nodded, swallowing hard as my heart pounded.

From the outside, the stately brick mansion in front of me reminded me of some of the older homes in Evanston, but with more of a sprawling colonial façade than the Victorian mansions back home. It screamed wealth and power, and I wondered who this Daddy Dom was. He had done very well for himself.

Nathan’s hand slipped into mine as we approached the front door. A few other cars were parked in the long circular drive, but the front porch was quiet as Emory approached, walking ahead to ring the doorbell. The ridiculously dramatic part of my brain envisioned either a stuffy old butler answering the door or a scantily dressed woman. When the door swung inward, it was neither.

While Nathan was tall—towering over most men—this guy was bigger, both in stature and build, his muscles bulging in his tailored suit. I’d been around enough executives to know what he was wearing wasn’t off the rack, tailored to accentuate his biceps and thick thighs.

Glancing to my right, Talia was biting her lip, but as soon as she noticed my gaze, she wiggled her eyebrows, winking before she unsubtly fanned her face. Our host was hot. And he fit the stereotypical mold of what I’d imagine a ‘Daddy’ to look like. His salt and pepper hair was styled a little shorter than Nathan’s, with the sides and back trimmed closely, showing off a small tattoo on the side of his neck that led into his shirt collar. A few other hints of tattoos peeked out the bottom of the cuffs at his wrists. While he looked polished and professional, it was with an edge.

“Gage, glad you could make it.” His deep voice was warmer than I expected as he reached forward to shake Emory’s hand, tugging him along a step. Emory may have had the imposing Dom stare down, but even this guy made him smile.

“Grayson, glad you invited us. Talia’s been talking about it all week,” he smiled as he looked back to where Talia had schooled her features into a more submissive expression.

“Missi has been excited about finally getting to show off this house. I think the nesting has started,” Grayson laughed, stepping back and gesturing for us to enter.

Emory led us inside, and Talia stepped behind him, holding his outstretched hand with her gaze focused on his back.

Grayson turned his attention to us, smiling widely as he extended his hand toward Nathan. “Nathan Harrison, good to finally meet you.”

Nathan tilted his head to the side, frowning as Grayson shook his hand firmly. “I’m sorry, do we know each other?”

“No, we don’t,” Grayson smiled, a dark eyebrow arching. “But I need to thank you regardless.”

“I’m not following.” Nathan sounded a little suspicious, and I squeezed his hand. Emory and Talia waited for us inside the large entryway, watching Grayson and Nathan with matching frowns. They had no idea what this little exchange was either.

“Come in, and I’ll introduce you to my fiancée. I guess in a roundabout way you’re the reason we’re together. Sorry for all the cloak and dagger. I promise Mr. Gage didn’t know who she was before my invitation. But I hope you’ll all stay for the party anyway. Missi has been exhausted lately, so I doubt she’ll stay up for the fun.”

Grayson beckoned us inside, closing the door behind us. As we walked into a large living room, quite a few people were already mingling with drinks in their hands, but I couldn’t shake the uneasiness that’d taken root with our strange introduction.

“Do you know what’s going on?” I asked Nathan quietly as we followed Emory and Talia toward a table set off to the side of the entryway.

“Not a fucking clue,” he shook his head.

There was a release form for us to sign that our attendance was consensual and that we granted permission for our likenesses to be captured on film and uploaded to a confidential server. Only the people in attendance tonight would have access to the video footage, but the thought made me pause. Anyone caught distributing footage would violate the non-disclosure agreement and be subject to legal action. It also asked that people not try to film with their phones or personal cameras because they would be escorted off the premises if caught.

“People are filming this?”

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