Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
I sniffled and wiped at my face, and Archie brought drinks and cookies to the couch.
“Come here, love. Sit down. Would you like some tea? Or coffee?”
I shook my head and sat down in one of the chairs. “Please just ignore me—I’m a mess.”
“I can’t do that.” He smiled sympathetically. “I think we—” Something caught his attention, and he looked toward the hallway.
Corey stood there with a towel wrapped around his hips. “Someone requires your service in the bathroom.”
Ah.
“Of course. I’ll be right there.” Archie excused himself, and I waved him off. That was way more important than tending to my stupid emotions. “Pick a movie till I get back.”
Sure, sure.
I reached for the remote and grabbed a cookie too.
Corey trailed closer, running a towel over his head. “Is there anything I can do? I can offer you dirty jokes and gossip.”
I mustered a weak smile and shook my head. “Thanks, I’m good.”
He lifted a brow and climbed over the armrest of the couch to sit down. Because he couldn’t possibly round the furniture and sit down like a normal human being; he had to climb over it.
“You don’t even wanna know that we’re planning a prank for the cruise?” he challenged.
I furrowed my brow. “Who’s in on it?”
If Noa was game, he would’ve told me, wouldn’t he?
“Sorry, that’s classified information,” Corey replied.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek and considered my options. I guessed if I wanted information, I’d have to sell my soul to the devil and be a part of the prank. Been there, done that! I’d bratted off plenty at the Funhouse event last year.
“Are you in?” he asked.
Hmm.
“I’ll think about it,” I said. “Ask Noa first.”
He just smirked, so I guessed Noa was already in.
Corey wasn’t the best at lying.
And I wasn’t the best at handling future plans tonight. Christ, we had the cruise coming up. We had so many plans. So many events. But did we really? Or would Master and I end up canceling everything? Would KC and Noa go off on their own? I couldn’t see them skipping out on the cruise. They shouldn’t have to anyway.
“I’m just gonna put on jammies,” Corey said. “Can I watch a movie with you and Archie after?”
“Of course. You don’t have to ask.”
“Cool!” He smiled and darted off.
I returned my cookie to the plate, not in the mood, and pressed the Netflix button on the remote.
I was halfway through the list of dramas when Archie reemerged from the bathroom, and he wasn’t alone. Master Greer was on his phone, and the look he sent me had me sitting ramrod straight in my seat. It was worry and sympathy and…something else.
“He’s…” He sighed and disappeared into his and Archie’s bedroom.
Goddammit!
He’s, what? Was he talking to Lucian? Were they talking about me?
Archie reentered the living room, and he righted his clothes and sat down on the couch.
“Is he talking to Master?” I had to ask.
He nodded slightly. “Yeah, he called.”
I swallowed hard.
God, I wanted to listen in so bad. Nerves tightened in my stomach, and I felt closer to him at the same time as he’d never felt so far away. I mean, I could barge into their bedroom right now, rip the phone from Master Greer’s hand, and hear my Owner’s voice. And then what? I’d cry my eyes out. My anger would come out. I’d sob how much I missed him.
Nobody needed tickets to that freak show.
“I can tell you’re impatient to watch a movie, so I’ll go ahead and pick something quick.” Archie sent me a knowing little grin and took the remote from me.
I managed a croaked, “Heh.”
Corey returned to us, skipping in his pajamas—a onesie with a bunch of…fighter jets on it?
“I thought frogs were your thing,” I said.
He grinned and jumped up to sit next to Archie. “Kit and I traded.”
Oh. I should’ve guessed.
“Are you dating?” I wondered.
Corey scrunched his nose and hesitated, then shook his head. “No, that’s not the word. We’re each other’s crushes! We have a playtime dynamic.”
“They’re adorable together.” Archie smiled.
I wouldn’t know. But they had epic banter going on online, and I’d heard a lot about their arrangement. Corey made Kit bolder, and Kit sometimes helped Corey think twice before speaking. Before bratting off, more accurately.
It didn’t always work.
They were living proof that relationships changed over time—and they could still thrive. New rules and boundaries had been decided; Kit, Colt, and Mr. West could find playtime freedom in a restricted space with people they trusted, considering neither of them was into traditionally open dynamics.
They were similar to Master and me in that regard. We considered ourselves close to monogamous, with KC and Noa as the only exceptions. Kit and his Daddies were the same. Their one exception was Master Greer’s family. But even there, they had limits.