Page 85 of Obey

Her pale, freckled cheeks deepen with a blush. “It’s not what I’d usually wear, but I couldn’t resist it when I saw it.” She shimmies her shoulders, making the couple dozen chains tinkle against each other. Pretty sure I saw a nipple, but considering what I’m about to see downstairs, I’m trying to act normal.

What ‘normal’ is when you’re looking at your new friend’s breast is anyone’s guess, but I at least try not to make eye contact with it.

“You’re adorable.” Addison pulls me into a one armed hug, and I guess I wasn’t as subtle as I’d intended to be. “It gets easier. It’s so weird at first, seeing people’s body bits on display, but it’s all good. You get used to it. Soon you won’t even blink when you see meat whistles on display downstairs.”

I can’t imagine that at all. Even when she says the words ‘meat whistle’ my body shrivels. The idea I’m going to see multiple peens downstairs is overwhelming, but also exciting.

This myriad of emotions swirling inside my chest is becoming familiar, but I’m looking forward to being able to step downstairs without the noose of anxiety gripping me in its hold.

“You can leave at any time.” Jagger wraps the red wrist band around my arm. “Just say the word, okay? If it’s too much we’ll leave and come back when it’s quieter. I don’t want to push you too hard, too fast.”

It’s cute he thinks he’s pushing me. I’m pushing myself. My curiosity at what goes on downstairs burns like the sunlight in my bones.

Mackenzie leans over my shoulder from behind. “If you want to watch someone you know, Austin is always game to demonstrate. He’s not one of the house doms, but he’ll never pass up an opportunity to play with me in the dungeon.” She gives me a squish. “Might be easier than watching strangers, might not. You may find yourself weirded out even more at the sight of my girl parts.”

“Thor’s working, but if you want to watch your friends, I can convince him to take an early break.” Addison winks at me.

I’d kill for even a fraction of their confidence.

They sandwich me together in a girl hug and their warmth heats my fraying nerves. “We’ve got you.” One of them mumbles into my hair.

“And if you never get comfortable enough to play downstairs, that’s okay too. You know that, right?” Kenzie is the sweetest person I’ve ever met. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

Rationally, I know that. I’m more afraid of my lifetime of conditioning to think those acts are deviant showing on my face. Hopefully it’s dark, so if I do get resting-judgy-face, no one will see it. I’ll ease myself in slowly, we’ll pick a quiet part of the club and start with, I dunno, like, the mild petting section or something.

We head downstairs, in the main area, a woman Jagger calls Phoenix is doing a demonstration of what seems to be butt stuff. She’s got a table full of things that seem to be, uh, insert-able, and there’s a naked man bent over a bench in front of her. There’s a, oh my, it’s a hook, a giant metal hook attached to a rope that’s mounted on the ceiling.

Doesn’t that hurt?

Wow. There’s no easing in to the dungeon, they meet you right as you come in with a bare butt and a giant hook.

Baptism by fire, or what?

Someone’s hand slips into mine as I’m tugged away from the group of people watching the bare butt on the end of the giant fishing line. “Let’s start a little less intensely than Phoenix’s demonstration, sweets.”

“Kenzie, you are so sweet.”

She winks at me. “Just a bitch at heart, boo.”

I don’t believe her for a second, and from the way she’s grinning at me, she doesn’t either. Her heart is pure gold, I’ve known her for a few short weeks, and even I know that. She’s precious.

“She is. Wait till you try to steal her French fries. She’d cut a bitch.” Addison bumps me with her hip.

“She’s not wrong.” Kenzie wags a finger at me. “Don’t ever take my fries.”

Holding my hands up, I shake my head. “I’d never come between a woman and her fries.”

They each link an arm in mine and guide me away from the commotion. I assume the boys are picking up the rear. We get to a corridor, the one Jagger and I were in when we got snowed in.

My friends turn to face me. Addison claps her hands. “What’s it going to be? You wanna watch your friends fucking, or you wanna go with strangers?” She’s nothing if not direct.

Jagger’s hand finds its way to my lower back, the familiar warmth radiating through my dress. I turn to face him, and he takes my breath away. He’s so handsome.

“What do you think, Jagger?” I’m practically bouncing on the balls of my feet with nervous energy coursing through my body.

He grazes my cheek with his fingertips. “This isn’t something I can answer for you, baby girl. It’s a decision you need to make for yourself.”

I glance behind him to Austin, stoic and silent, his eyes fixed firmly on Mackenzie.

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