Page 65 of Rescuing Ally: Part 1

“Bringing her might backfire,” Gabe muses. “It’d be hell trying to concentrate, knowing she’s there. Watching. Making me want to bend her over the nearest surface…”

“Exactly,” Hank mutters. “And Ethan’s already suspicious. We show up looking like we’ve been on a three-day bender? He’s gonna ream our asses.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time.” Gabe’s grin is audible.

“No, but this time it’s different.She’sdifferent.”

Another stretch of silence.

“Yeah…” Hank sighs. “So what the fuck do we do? I’m not looking to walk away from this.”

“Not ever,” Gabe adds quietly.

They both go quiet for a beat. I press my lips together, my pulse skipping.

“She’s surprising,” Hank finally says. “In the best possible way.”

“Agreed.” Gabe’s voice softens. “Never expected her to fall into this so naturally.”

“She thrives on it,” Hank says firmly. “Structure. Control.”

“Yeah,” Gabe responds as a chair scrapes against the floor. “Absolutely.”

“Speaking of…” Hank’s voice lowers. “She’s using Sir quite a bit.”

A pause.

Then Gabe hums. “Yeah…”

“Yeah.” Hank releases a long breath.

“You like it, don’t you?” Gabe asks.

“More than I should.” Hank’s admission seems to cost him something. “You like it too. I see the way you look at her. I know what’s going through that head of yours.”

“I’m afraid I’ll demand too much,” Gabe says. “Go too far.”

I shiver, pressing back against the wall, my breath catching in my throat.

“You want to push her?” Hank muses, voice thoughtful. “See how deep this goes?”

“We’d be idiots not to explore it, but how far?” Gabe asks with a slow sip of coffee. “My kind of far, or your kind?”

Silence.

“Both,” Hank speaks again, quieter this time. “I want to know what she needs, what she wants, what makes her feel safe. I want to give her everything.”

“Did you see how she reacted when?—”

“Yeah, but remember what she said about triggers? I’m worried about you tying her up or holding her down. We steer away from that for now.”

“Agreed, but we should ask her how often she gets triggered. Noticed how it hasn’t happened since the first night.”

My breath stutters. The conversation shifts into something more—something that makes my heart race, not from desire but from the startling realization that they’re not just interested in my body—they’re invested in me.

“You think she’s ready for me?” Gabe asks. “It’s only been?—”

“Two days, yeah, I know,” Hank interrupts. “She expressed interest. I know you feel it. I say let her steer that course. If she asks, go for it. If not, you wait.”

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