Charli stared down at the jewelry, realizing the two metals probably represented her two lovers—fair and dark. No collar, but cuffs. So Evan was their submissive. A little spark of melancholy went through Charli as she remembered the band around her neck was only made of disposable leather.

Good Lord, what’s wrong with me?

“Did you know that’s what you wanted when you came here? To be a submissive?” Charli asked, her words coming out tentative even to her own ears.

Evan sniffed and nodded toward Grant. “Hardly. But Mr. See-Right-Through-Your-Bullshit here recognized it in me before we even finished my first tour.”

Grant gave her an easy smile. “That’s my job, darlin’.”

Charli straightened, a little perturbed by Grant’s obvious warmth toward Evan. Had he offered to train her when he’d figured out she was submissive? How close were all these “friends”?

The jealousy was ugly and totally uncalled for—as if she had any claim on Grant anyway. But there it was nonetheless, setting her teeth on edge. She tried to shrug off the tightness in her shoulders. Grant’s fingers drifted from her hair to her neck and massaged.

“You’re very tense, Charlotte. Come here.” He spread his thighs and patted the spot in between his knees. “Sit.”

Shyness threatened, but she remembered what he’d told her before they walked in—don’t think, only do. So after a breath of hesitation, she scooted closer to him. His palms spanned her waist and he lifted her easily over his leg and settled her between his thighs, as if she were as petite as the woman sitting across from them. A beat of pleasure went through Charli, the feeling of being small and easily handled such a rarity for her.

Grant put his hands on her shoulders and began to work at the knots that had formed there with his thumbs. A soft sigh escaped her, as the muscles yielded to his commanding fingers. If this is what being submissive was about, she’d clearly been missing out. Wasn’t she supposed to be the one serving him?

Though, honestly, massaging him wouldn’t be a hardship either. Getting her hands on all those lean, honed muscles of his would be quite the treat.

The conversation continued around her, and Grant gave her permission to speak freely with his friends. Despite that first whip of jealousy, Charli found herself liking Evan. She seemed like a no-nonsense woman with a good head on her shoulders. Not at all what she would’ve imagined a submissive woman to be like. And Evan’s two guys were like a comedy team with their easy volleys back and forth. Charli got the sense that the three of them probably created quite a cozy and loving household.

But just as Charli began to relax and mellow, the guy from the training class she’d crashed sidled up to the table. The dip in his brow said something was wrong before his mouth opened. “Hey, Boss.”

Grant straightened a bit behind her. “Colby.”

“I hate to bother you, but Elliot’s sick as hell. He just called me to say he’s going back to his cabin to get some sleep and won’t be able to do his demonstration tonight.”

Grant made a displeased noise under his breath. “What was he supposed to feature?”

“Shibari. It’s one of the main things the Florida group wanted to see. And I’ve been working on it a little, but I’m definitely not in the position to demo it.” Colby’s attention diverted briefly to Charli, then back to Grant. “Nyla was scheduled to bottom for Elliot. She’s still ready to go, but…”

Colby was speaking a different language as far as Charli was concerned, but could feel Grant release a long breath behind her, which didn’t bode well. “Give me a minute, Colby.”

Colby nodded. “No problem. I’ll be in the staging room.”

After Colby strode off, Grant scooted out of the booth, taking her along with him. She turned to face him, her recently loosened muscles starting to coil again. Grant put a hand to her cheek. “I’m sorry, darlin’. I planned for tonight to be about getting you acclimated, but I’m going to have to take care of this first. I promised my friend Stefan that we’d train his staff well for his club opening. We don’t have anyone here besides me and Elliot who are trained in Shibari.”

“What’s that?”

“A Japanese rope bondage technique.” He lowered his hand from her face and rubbed the back of his neck, looking more displeased than she’d ever seen him. “They’re going to need me to do the demonstration tonight.”

With some other woman. He didn’t have to say it. She’d pieced together Colby’s conversation. “Oh.”

“I’m sorry.” He tilted his head to look around her. “Would one of you guys mind walking Charlotte back to her cabin? She’s staying in the one just west of my place.”

“Whatever you need,” Jace replied.

“Wait a second, you’re sending me home?” Charli asked, yanking Grant’s attention back her way. Anger began to simmer beneath the calm façade she was trying so hard to maintain.

“Yes, it’s bad enough I have to end our evening early, but I’m certainly not going to make you watch me do this. You’re still uncomfortable here, which is to be expected. I’m not going to make it worse.”

She gritted her teeth. She’d been through the gauntlet of beauty treatments today, had been twisted up with nerves all evening, and now he was going to send her home so he could tie up some other naked woman? Oh, hell no. Her freshly polished nails dug into her palms as she tried to frame her retort to match her role. “Sir, Grant, you set up tonight as my opportunity to serve you, correct?”

His mouth thinned, no doubt noticing her words had come through clenched teeth. “Yes, Charlotte. But—”

“Then please let me do so. I know I’m new, but it can’t be that hard to be the one being bound.”

Either Jace or Andre coughed behind her, obviously covering up a laugh or a sound of surprise. She didn’t bother to look back at them, her eyes fixated on Grant. He crossed his arms, staring down at her, his expression a mix of things she couldn’t name. “Charlotte, you struggled standing naked in front of me the other day. You’re not ready to do that in front of a room full of people.”

Naked? In front of a crowd?

Her heart hammered against her ribs, her palms going sweaty at the thought. But she matched his posture and jutted out her chin. “Maybe you’re underestimating me, sir.”

He leaned closer, his voice going low and dangerous. “You’re treading a fine line, freckles. I’m doing this to protect you from something you’re not prepared for.”

Red edged her vision.

“You know what I’m really tired of, sir? People telling me what I am and am not prepared for or capable of. Really. Fucking. Tired.” Her mother. Her brothers. Her boss. And now Grant?

Screw that.

Without breaking eye contact, she lowered herself until she was kneeling on the cold floor at his feet. “I don’t share, Grant. Add that to my hard limits. If you send me away, I won’t need my cabin anymore.”

The music and ambient conversation in the club seemed to fade as her challenge hung in the air between them. Grant stared down at her, the muscle in his jaw twitching. Power and anger seemed to drip off him, the impact of it splashing down over her like fat raindrops. She’d threatened him, and he didn’t like it. Adrenaline leaked into her system, giving her that panicky rush that usually only preceded things like that slow climb on a roller coaster before the big drop.

He leaned forward, his evaluating gaze coming closer. She looked down at her lap, the response automatic. He grabbed her hair and forced her face back upward. “Don’t play demure now. That’s not going to get you out of trouble. Talking back and cursing? You’re lucky this is your first night because otherwise I’d take you over my knee right this second in front of everyone.”

Breath became hard to come by, and her limbs tingled as if blood had forgotten to flow. She managed a whispered “I’m sorry, sir.”

“Now you want to apologize?” His gaze raked over her face and the pulse point at her neck, hovering there as if it held the answers to some question he hadn’t asked. Then a sinister smile broke through that stubble of his. “Well, would you look at that?”

“At what, sir?” she said, her voice sounding soft and distant to her own ears.

His grip tightened against her scalp. “Oh, sweet Charlotte, this is going to be fun.”

FOURTEEN

Grant led Charli to what he’d called the staging room. Her legs barely wanted to cooperate beneath her as she tried to keep up with his purposeful pace. She was really going to do this. She was going to let Grant get her naked and tie her up in front of an audience. She inhaled deeply through her nose, the combination of nerves and strange anticipation making her brain fuzzy.

Inside the staging room, Colby was standing with his back to them at a nearby table, laying out different lengths of rope, and a curvy, dark-skinned woman sat on the couch closest to him, her gaze down, her hands folded neatly in her lap—the picture of demure beauty. An inviting smile crossed the woman’s lips when she peeked up and noticed Grant. Charli wanted to throw a right hook her way.

The door clicked shut behind them, and Colby turned. “Oh, hey, Boss. Nyla is rea—”

“She won’t be necessary,” Grand said, cutting him off. “Charlotte will handle the demonstration. Thank you, Nyla, but you can go now.”

Colby’s gaze went to Charli, a hint of surprise crossing his features. “Sure, you got it, Boss.” He nodded at Nyla. “Go back to Master Elliot. I’m sure he would appreciate your comfort while he’s sick. Tell him we appreciated his willingness to lend you to us tonight. And if his fever gets any higher, you call in the doctor even if he orders you not to.”

Nyla’s perfect posture sagged a bit, her relief evident. “Thank you, sir. And don’t worry. I know how hardheaded he can be. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Nyla peeked at Charli once more, obviously curious but too polite to stare, then headed out the back door.

Grant’s hands landed on Charli’s shoulders, causing her to jump. His breath tickled her ear. “Take off the dress.”

Her attention slid toward Colby, who was winding another rope but watching her and Grant closely. Words stuttered and stumbled in her mouth, but none made it out.

Grant stepped around her and crossed his arms. “Scared of Colby seeing you naked? In a little while, he’s going to be one of many.”

She wet her lips, her heartbeat going staccato. She was scared, but that wasn’t the only thing stirring inside her. Desire coiled low and hot in her belly.

“Back talk in front of my friends and now hesitation. I don’t appreciate it, freckles,” Grant said, his tone cool. “Lace your fingers behind your neck. Colby, please remove Charlotte’s clothing since she can’t seem to do it on her own.”

“Wait, I can.” She moved her hands to her dress, but Grant stepped forward and captured her wrists.

“Too late.” He guided her arms behind her neck, waiting until she followed his earlier directive and intertwined her fingers. “You’ll have to learn to follow a command when I give it. If you don’t, the alternative will probably be less to your liking. Understand?”

She glared at him. “Yes, Grant.”

He stepped back and released her arms, making room for Colby. Colby put his hands on her waist as he moved behind her, his touch surprisingly gentle for a man who looked like he could snap a two-by-four like a twig. His voice was low enough for only her to hear it. “You may want to drop the eat-shit-and-die look you’re giving him, sweetheart. You’re pushing his buttons, and there’s a lot he can do to you once you’re tied up and incapacitated.”