Page 17 of Bind Me, Sir

Mr. Graystone’s head jerked toward me, and I damn near fainted at the flare of heat in his eyes—and it wasn’t the leftover anger type.

The moisture pooling in my panties grew uncomfortable, but I forced myself forward, unable to speak a greeting. Both men stood as I neared, but it was Mr. Graystone who took my hand, the brush of his lips over my knuckles shooting lightning bolts of need straight to my nipples and between my thighs.

I swallowed and managed a hello of sorts. Focus on the floor, I moved around the oval table for my usual chair beside Lily’s empty one.

“Coffee,” Mrs. Hummel said, placing a mug before me.

I nodded dumbly and watched as she poured, my face hot as hell from the two men’s stares. A quick glance up revealed what I expected—they both watched me—and I flitted my focus back to the steam rising from my mug. My hand shook as I reached for the cream and sugar set in the middle of the table.

In silence, I loaded my coffee, stirred with a clink against the china, and took the first sip.

“Lily told me your sister agreed to go to detox.”

I nodded and met Adam’s steady gaze. Trusting Lily meant I trusted Adam as well, so I had no issue that she shared the private information. Having learned from Lily who Mr. Graystone was to Adam, I didn’t even mind he knew what I preferred most would not.

“She did,” I murmured. “They left right after the intervention on Wednesday.”

“You must be relieved,” Mr. Graystone said, his accent washing over me.

I forced myself to look at him, my heartbeat kicking up another notch. He peered at me with the same intent stare as Adam—a dominant, I’d since come to learn thanks to Lily and the free eReader app she’d insisted I download onto my phone. Rather than feel intimidated, however, I found myself relaxing the slightest bit at the kindness in his eyes.

“I am, yes,” I replied, my lips smiling once more. “It has been quite a struggle the past five years.”

“I can imagine.” The deep rumble of his voice hardened my nipples again, and thanking God I wore a thicker bra, I turned my focus on the plate of Danishes in the middle of the table.

“Help yourself,” Adam said at the same time his cell dinged. He lifted it off the table from beside his own crumb-filled plate, a smirk tilting his lips as he read the message. “It would seem as though my wife has need of me.” He stood and tucked his cell into his back pocket. “I’ll be at the church,” he told us with a wink. “Enjoy your breakfast.”

He spun on his heel and disappeared seconds later out the door, his stride taking him quickly through the gardens beyond the windows beside us.

My heart fluttered, and I fought for calm.

Lily had called Adam to the church, and the thought of what she intended, what she needed him for shifted me on my seat.

Mr. Graystone chuckled, drawing my attention to his perfectly sculpted face. “Lucky bastard,” he murmured.

My face and chest flushed in the span of two seconds as he grinned at me, double dimples—damn him—on full display.

“Does it make you uncomfortable discussing their lifestyle?” he asked, nearly unhinging my jaw.

“N-no, I suppose not.”

“Do you know anything about it?”

“N-not really, no,” I stuttered once more.

“Do you want to?” he asked, leaning his elbows on the table as his arms folded, all trace of smile dissolving from his lips.

I snapped my jaw shut and bit my tongue to keep from sputtering yes and no at the same time.

“The last time this discussion came up, you seemed … intrigued,” he said, his stare holding me captive.

“Embarrassed is more like it,” I managed the truth, my voice shaky.

He continued to study me until I shifted on my seat and glanced away. “I owe you an apology,” he said, sitting back in his chair once more.

“For?”

“How I treated you over the photo incident.”

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