Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“I’m good with your father,” Keane assured her. He hadn’t had a long talk with Jack Barnes yet, but he knew it was coming and he wasn’t afraid of it. “I don’t know how good I’ll be at being anyone’s son, but I think he’ll be patient with me. The man is scared of you.”
It was obvious that Jack Barnes had married a strong woman and then raised one.
She smiled and locked the door. “He knows what’s good for him. I think you’ll find the women of my mother’s line are fierce.”
Keane felt a deep thrum of anticipation in his body. It was like a wave that swept every other emotion out to sea. Every single one except love and desire.
And maybe for the first time in years, hope.
But damn, lust was in there. Lust for Olivia and her outrageous curves and softness. Lust for Garrett, with his masculine beauty and hard lines.
His subs.
Garrett should look exhausted, but there was a restless energy to him that Keane hoped was anticipation.
That kiss. Finally, that kiss. Opening a door he thought he’d closed and locked out of fear, but Olivia held the key.
“I’m hiring a criminal defense attorney,” Olivia announced. “Just on retainer in case we need her, but I’ve got a call in and I want her aware of what’s happening.”
They were his, and that meant he had to take care of them. In order to take care of them, he couldn’t give up on himself. And he couldn’t be stubborn. She was looking at him like the glorious brat she was, like she was ready to fight him.
He was done fighting the good things in his life. He might have spent the first thirty years of his life scared and betrayed time and time again, but no more. He’d found his team. The one he wanted to do life with, to spend all his years with. “All right. You tell me where you need me and I’ll be honest about everything.”
Garrett let out a sigh of relief. “Thank the universe. I thought you were going to be a stubborn asshole again.”
He needed to start setting them up for success by letting Garrett know he was racking up the punishments. “That’s ten. Don’t insult your Dom.”
Garrett went silent.
“Just like that?” Olivia looked a little wary.
He nodded and moved into her space. “Just like that. It was pointed out to me earlier that my subs are smart and beyond capable, and I should listen to them outside of play like they listen to me inside it.”
“More than inside play,” Olivia insisted. “Master, you always give good advice. You are always there for us. I know it hasn’t been long, but I feel safe with you and Garrett. This is a sore spot for you. We all have them. Let us do our jobs and play to our strengths and you’ll find everything works out.”
He leaned over and kissed her nose. “Smart sub.” He let his forehead rest against hers. “Now I need some advice from you. I’ve never told a man I love him before. I’ve never taken a man I loved. Obviously, it’s not my first time…”
Her hands came up to cup his cheeks, and her eyes shone in the low light. “That was not consensual. This is your first time. It’s your first time with the only man you’ll ever love.”
“Fuck.” Garrett had a hand over his heart. Like it hurt.
Maybe they were going too fast. “Garrett, you control this. Nothing has to happen that you don’t want. We can stay the way we are. I just don’t want you to go. If you need me to, I’ll lock this feeling away. It never has to come out. I can love you other ways.”
Garrett’s eyes came up, softer than before. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to feel your hand on my backside? I’m a switch, Master. A true switch, and I haven’t ever…aside from training…”
He’d never gotten what he needed. All those years. All the stress Keane could have taken from him. Regret washed over him, but this wasn’t the place for it. This was the place to make things right.
Training had likely shown Garrett what he truly needed, and he’d kept that quiet for years and years. “How long have you known? Since we met Aidan and Lexi and Lucas?”
“Since I had a session with Master Julian,” Garrett admitted quietly.
Keane damn near felt his heart stop. “What?”
“Oh, this is going to get you what you want,” Olivia said under her breath.
What Garrett seemed to want was a pink ass, and Keane was happy to give it to him. But not until he knew everything. Which he thought he had. He thought they told each other everything, but now he realized they’d kept certain things behind a curtain so they didn’t risk the friendship. So they didn’t risk humiliation and rejection.