Page 63 of Tamed (The Courtside King Duology 1)

“Really. What kind?”

“Shibari. Rope bondage.”

Max’s brows hiked. “No shit?”

Kai chuckled, nodding. “No shit.”

Scott turned back with another soda in his hand.

“Still drinking Coke?” Kai asked. “You’ve become quite the party animal in your old age.”

Scott laughed and gave a shrug. “Gotta feeling I’m gonna be driving sooner than—” He stopped, his gaze locking on Breck and company’s table. Brows furrowed, he scanned the vicinity, then the dance floor and bar, then finally, the different routes to get to the bathrooms. “I’ll be right back.”

Kai watched him disappear toward said restrooms, remerging again a heartbeat later. He looked uneasy. Kai frowned. What was he doing? Scott made his way to Breck’s table—not that Breck was there. He was still out dancing.

Hmm. But Tad wasn’t at the table, either.

And there was Kai’s answer. Scott had lost sight of Tad and was trying to find him. Should’ve known. He’d been stealing constant glances at the guy all night. Kai sipped his gin as Scott spoke to Tad’s buddies.

“Excuse me?”

Kai turned to an attractive brunette.

Peering up at him, she smiled. “Hi.”

He offered a smile in return and inclined his head. “Hello.”

“I was wondering if maybe you’d like to dance.”

He considered it, had nothing against women. And she was beautiful. Dancing with her might even help his cause. Ultimately, though, he just wasn’t feeling it. Only seemed interested in Breck tonight. A fact he wasn’t exactly thrilled with, but it was what it was.

“Thanks. Maybe in a bit.”

She made an adorable little pout, then turned on her heel and headed back into the crowd.

Kai glanced at Breck’s table. Scott was gone. In fact, he didn’t see him anywhere. Maybe he’d found his Tad. Maybe the two of them had ditched the charades and were out on the dance floor.

He scanned the sea of bodies, hoping he was right. Scott smiled a lot when Tad was around. And Scott was awesome. Deserved to be happy. Especially since he’d been single for so long. As long as Kai had known him. Which was what now, at least five years?

He drifted in thought, recalling the day they’d met. At the fitness facility. Scott had taken his class. Way back before Kai had decided to open a dojang. It hadn’t taken long for them to become fast friends. Not long after, Scott introduced him to Dom District. Scott didn’t go there often. Just pulled some shifts from time to time.

Out of nowhere, an image of Breck slid into his brain. One of him roaming the District’s halls all decked out in leather. Not too much, though. Just some combat boots and a pair of skimpy shorts. Perhaps a harness and collar, too. And some bondage cuffs.

Kai’s eyes hooded at the visual, then absently started seeking, searching the dance floor until they found their mark.

Breck.

Kai watched him moving against that girl, his body pure sex. His heart thumped faster, and as his buzz kept growing steadily stronger, he didn’t even bother denying the way he felt. He wanted Breck pressed against him, not that girl. He thought back to months ago, when Breck had sparred with him during class. He’d loved having Breck so physically close. Loved touching him. Smelling him. Watching his gorgeous skin flush from exertion…

His cell phone vibrated in his pocket, yanking him from his reverie.

He reached for it, only to notice Max doing the same. Kai thumbed opened his texts. A group message from Scott? Admittedly surprised, he pulled it up.

Sorry, guys.

Had to bail.

Someone needs my fucking foot up their ass.

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