Page 67 of Body and Soul

Boone stroked his beard, considering. “What cut of the four million do I get?”

“Fifty percent,” I said firmly.

“Sixty.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “I’m not going to negotiate with you.”

“Yes, you are,” he said with a big grin. “You wouldn’t even be coming to me if you weren’t desperate. You hate my fucking guts. What dirt does this mysterious third party have on you, Professor? Must be juicy if you’re willing to sell out a brother, eh?”

“Fifty-five. Take it or leave it,” I snarled, grinding my teeth.

He’d take it. Fifty-five percent was still more than two million, and Boone was already practically foaming at the mouth at the mention of cash. It was every mercenary’s one true love.

Boone pretended to consider the offer for a second time before snorting and shrugging. “Fine. It’s a deal. But if the others catchwind of this, I’m going to disavow the whole thing. No amount of money is worth crossing you Laskins for.”

I finished ironing thelast of Shepherd’s ties and hung it neatly on the hanger. The mindless, repetitive task lulled me into a trance-like state. My thoughts drifted to Shepherd and I couldn't help but sigh as I imagined what amendments he might be willing to put in the contract this time around.

For the third time that morning, I fantasized about kneeling before Shepherd, his thick cock heavy on my tongue as I sucked him deep into my throat.

Sighing wistfully, I finished putting away the ties and moved to the kitchen to wash the dishes. As the warm, sudsy water caressed my hands, I continued dreaming of worshipping Shepherd's cock with my mouth and tongue. I imagined his fingers gripping my hair, the way he’d thrust into my face, using me as his personal fuck toy. Then I sighed and scowled down at my stiff cock. Stupid, needy thing.

Desperate to distract myself, I fished a butterscotch hard candy from my pocket and popped it into my mouth. I sucked on it intently, swirling my tongue around the smooth surface asit clacked against my teeth and lip ring. The sweet flavor flooded my tongue, but did little to soothe me. I didn’t wantsweet. I wanted Shepherd and no amount of hard candy in the world was going to satisfy that craving. I finished the dishes and drained the sink, still sucking restlessly on the butterscotch candy.

Chores done, I called Gavin. He answered on the second ring. “Eli! To what do I owe the pleasure?”

I smiled. “Hey, feel like a shopping trip? Shepherd says I need new clothes.”

“Absolutely! I’ll be there in twenty. Meet you out front?”

“Sure. See you soon.”

I slipped my phone back in my pocket, glancing around the spotless, silent kitchen. Eager to escape the cold sterility of the house, I quickly finished tidying up, already looking forward to Gavin’s company.

Twenty minutes later, I slid into the soft leather of Gavin’s passenger seat. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Happy to help,” he said with a warm smile. “I was bored anyway.”

Gavin pulled onto the road as I unwrapped a butterscotch candy, its sharp taste filling my mouth. “So, how’d you start working for Shepherd?” I asked.

Gavin’s fingers flexed on the wheel. “Funny story—I was one of his grad students in psych. He was my advisor, brilliant guy.”

I pictured a younger Gavin, engrossed in his studies, hanging on Shepherd’s every word.

“We talked about dominance and submission dynamics in psychology. Shepherd was fascinated by BDSM's mental aspects. Soon after, he started training me as a dom.”

My eyebrows shot up. I pictured Shepherd teaching Gavin to wield control and read a submissive’s needs. The image made me squirm, unease creeping up my spine. Had they beenintimate during training? The thought shouldn’t have bothered me, but it did.

I cracked the butterscotch candy between my molars and swallowed the shards. “So you two were close?”

Gavin glanced at me, his gray eyes unreadable. “We were—still are, in a way. Shepherd saw my potential and taught me control. He made me the dom I am today.”

I nodded, rolling another candy between my fingers. The silence stretched between us, broken only by the clacking of the hard candy. “Do you have your own submissive now?”

Gavin's lips quirked into a wry smile. “No, traditional D/s dynamics don't appeal to me. I play with whoever strikes my fancy, but I prefer not to be tied down.”

“Oh,” I said, surprised by his honesty. “So you and Shepherd. Have you two ever...” I trailed off, unsure how to phrase it.

Gavin raised an eyebrow. “Have we ever what? Fucked?”

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