Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Huh?
Bishop and I both must’ve looked ridiculous because Kenton giggled as he nodded, overflowing with excitement now that the tension was over. “Yes. He said I’m bouncy and not boring enough to be vanilla.”
What had their dates been like if he’d suspected that Kenton was interesting?
“That’s great.” Right? “Was he being polite and waiting for you to tell him?”
Kenton giggled, blushing. “He said he wasn’t sure if I knew I wasn’t vanilla.”
Okay…I could see that. Kenton’s eternally innocent expression could give off a kind of confused vibe if people didn’t know him very well. Hell, people at work still asked all the time if he knew he’d made a dirty joke.
Yes, he had.
No, he wasn’t doing the innocent act on purpose.
Now drama, that was on purpose.
“Are you going to show him your pup?” Bishop seemed just as excited about it as Kenton, so I thought part of it was just a pup thing.
Kenton’s enthusiastic nod made him look like a bobblehead doll. “Yes, now.”
When he realized that meant he’d be leaving me alone, he winced and started wringing his hands. “If that’s…I mean…”
“Go. Have fun.” I reached out for a hug when he squealed excitedly. “Go show him what a cute pup you are.”
“I’m the cutest.” Kenton bounced on his toes, vibrating with excitement. “Okay, you’re not mad. I told Eli I was happy for him. Bane said he’d feed me. I’m good, right?”
“Your gear?” Bishop’s very logical question set off another round of nodding.
“Yes, I’m going to my place and grab my stuff, then I’m going to Bane’s house.” Some of the excitement was fading back into nerves, but he took a deep breath. “He said I was sexy and would be a cute pup. He wasn’t shocked. It’ll be fine.”
I was hoping he’d remember to ask why Bane wasn’t surprised or at least more confused.
At the very least, Bane wasn’t as vanilla as Kenton had assumed.
“You’re going to be great and he’s fabulous.” I was proud of myself for not sounding as jealous as I felt, but I knew Kenton hadn’t heard it as he bounced out a quick goodbye and nearly skipped through the crowd as he headed out.
When he finally bounded through the door, I sighed and looked up at Bishop. “How would you feel about having a fourth for dinner? I’m not planning on staying late.”
I had a sleepover planned.
He grinned, waving his hand toward their table. “I’m a more the merrier kind of guy. Come on over.”
Oh, if only he’d meant that the way it’d sounded…but the good guys were always subs.
Chapter 3
Cohen
I knew everyone…but I didn’t really know them…especially the big guy in the back corner who’d been smiling all night.
Even when he’d talked to Eli.
“Is he a new model?” The way Preston snorted said I might’ve interrupted something he’d been saying…but he answered my question anyway, so it couldn’t have been that important.
“No.” As his boyfriend giggled, Preston continued dryly. “He’s a friend of one of them, though.”
“He’s Bishop.” Casey grinned ear to ear, so I must not have hidden my interest in the sexy man very well. “He’s a pup, and he’s come to a few of the shoots lately. All the models giggle over him even though he’s a sub too, and Emerson—”
The way Preston cleared his throat had Casey blushing, defending himself to his Dom. “It’s not a secret. He tells everyone. Honest.”
Ah.
Glancing between them, I raised one eyebrow. “Everyone here talks about their kinks like they’re a food allergy, announcing them right up front. Is that not how it’s usually done?”
Every once in a while I wished I’d taken a more active role in Leashes & Lace, but then Preston and Eli would do something like get in a screaming match over packing logos and I remembered why I’d always been a silent investor.
They were all insane.
Okay, so the logo battle had been back when the company was first starting to take off, but the memory was still fresh even though they’d, thankfully, both grown up a lot.
They both shrugged, leaving me more confused than I’d started, but Preston spoke up. “How much do you know about the lifestyle outside of the L and L stuff?”
Nothing.
“Very little.” I seemed to be entirely too honest for most of that community to handle. “I understand that I spank well and I’ve been told I’m a conscientious Dom, but that’s the end of my experience.”
I’d read up on the safety and caretaking aspects of the lifestyle, but most people I’d met in it were…high maintenance.
Casey blinked, clearly not sure how to respond, but Preston laughed and shook his head. “And that answer is exactly why you don’t have more experience.”
Bullshit.
I was just a bit boring for most of the guys in the lifestyle to really appreciate.
And the fact that I was avoiding anyone who worked at Leashes & Lace didn’t help.