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)
“Ever.” Keane was serious again, sliding into his dark and broody top role like it was a second skin. Which it kind of was. When he was emotional, top space was a hideout for him. Or perhaps it was a place where he could be honest without being vulnerable. “We’ve never had a sub like you. We’ve played, but it never felt like last night did.”
She flushed, her eyes meeting Keane’s. “It was special for me, too, but I worry it was special because it was finite.”
He had her. He didn’t have to tell her that closure for him was getting her in between him and Keane for a very long time. Maybe forever. What he honestly wanted was a shot.
He wanted to take this time to figure out if it could work.
“So why don’t we view this time together as one long scene? If you want to use us as a wall against your ex, then we should play the part.”
Olivia stared at him as though trying to figure out exactly how to work him. “This feels like a negotiation. Like you want to get something out of it, too. Are you offering to provide a service in exchange for my submission in bed?”
“Yes,” Keane said flatly.
Garrett looked his friend’s way with a frown. “I was going to pretty it up a bit.”
Keane shrugged. “Look, I’ll take care of the guy if that’s what you want, but Garrett’s right. I’d like to get to know you so you’re not a fantasy woman anymore. So I won’t spend the rest of my life comparing everyone I meet to you. So yeah, I want something out of it.”
“You want to fuck me out of your system, Keane?” Olivia asked.
“I want to know if it can work,” Keane replied in a low voice. “And if it can’t, then I can move on.”
Her expression softened. “It’s not going to work. I’m not trying to be mean, but I don’t think I’m good at relationships. I always seem to only want the ones I can’t have.”
“I think we should put an end date on it.” Garrett knew a shaky client when he saw one. If he pushed too hard, he could lose her. “How long will your ex be here?”
“A few days. Maybe a week,” she replied, her eyes wary. “My parents will be back next week. If we’re sleeping together, there will be questions.”
He fully intended to be sleeping with her. Let them ask all the questions. He was good with parents. “One week. You’re our submissive for one week, and we’ll do anything you want us to when it comes to your ex.”
“And if I want you to murder him?” she asked with clear sarcasm.
Keane’s head shook. “You ask me. Don’t talk about it around him.”
“Because he’s a delicate flower?”
“Because he’s my lawyer,” Keane admitted. “If I get caught, I’m going to need him. You don’t talk about potential crimes around your lawyer.”
He had trained Keane well. What he never told Keane was that he was the reason he went into law. He was the reason Garrett had studied his ass off, worked two jobs, and applied for every scholarship he could. So what happened to Keane when they were teens would never happen again. “I don’t think she’s going to ask for his head. Just his ego and his self-confidence.”
“That could be harder to deal with than you think,” Olivia admitted. “He’s arrogant and thinks he’s god’s gift to women. I would like to know what happened to the woman he left with. He met her here and hired her on as his assistant. Naturally he needed more assistance than most require.”
“Did you know her?” Garrett was happy this dude had obviously dug himself a deep hole.
“Everyone knows everyone else here. After the first few weeks she started working out of the Dallas office. I suppose that was so I wouldn’t catch on so quickly,” she admitted with a sigh. “I didn’t figure it out until it was staring me in the face. And he’s still back asking for another chance. So he thinks I’m a desperate woman.”
“We’ll show him you’re not,” Garrett offered. “We can handle that. I think you should understand we’re very attentive with our subs. And affectionate. This whole town will know Olivia Barnes-Fleetwood is a queen and her men treat her like it. So do we have a deal?”
He thought he had her. It was right there in her eyes. She wanted to say yes.
That was when the knock on the door came, and he saw her relief. Saved by the bell. Or the knock.
Olivia walked off to open the door, and Keane looked at him with a frown.
“Almost had her,” Keane said with resignation.
But Garrett wasn’t willing to give up.
The chase had only just begun.
* * * *