Chapter 4
NAOMI
Istood there in my underwear and felt the weight of their gazes like physical touch.
Kellan behind me. Rowan in front. Both of them studied me with an intensity that should have made me feel exposed.
Instead, I felt... powerful. Like I'd made a choice that was entirely mine, and they were responding to it.
"Wait," I said, before this could go any further. "Kira. My friend. She's downstairs. She'll worry if I just disappear."
Rowan's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his brown eyes. Approval, maybe.
"Smart," he said. He pulled out his phone and typed something quickly. "I'm having security let her know you're with us. That you're safe. She can stay as long as she wants, and leave when she wants. Drinks are on the house."
"And if she wants to check on me?"
"Then she can." Kellan's hands slid from my shoulders down my arms, his touch feather-light. "We're not holding you hostage, sweetheart. You want to leave, you leave. But if you're staying," his fingers traced back up, leaving goosebumps in their wake. "Then you trust us to take care of you."
My phone buzzed in my clutch, which was still on the table by the door. Through the designer bag, I could see the screen light up. I excused myself and went over to it to read the screen.
Kira, my favorite Beta
Security just told me you're upstairs with the owners. ARE YOU INSANE???
Okay fine you're an adult. But I'm staying until you come back down. Text me every hour or I'm calling the cops.
And USE PROTECTION.
Okay. I will.
Despite everything, I smiled, put my phone back inside and returned to where I was standing before.
"She okay?" Rowan asked.
"She's threatening to call the police if I don't check in every hour."
"Good. She should." He moved closer, close enough that I had to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact. "You should have people who protect you."
Something in his tone made my chest tighten. Like he meant it and he actually cared whether I was safe. I pushed the thought aside. This was one night. Just one night.
"So," I said, trying to regain some equilibrium. "What now?"
"Now," Kellan said, his breath warm against my ear, "you answer some questions."
"What kind of questions?"
"The kind that help us understand what you need." His hands settled on my hips, holding me in place. "Have you ever submitted before?"
"No."
"Ever been with two Alphas at once?"
Heat flooded my face. "No."
"Ever been with an Alpha at all?"
I hesitated. "No, all the ones that I’ve met were assholes and filled with disappointment."
Kellan's laugh was dark. "We're not assholes. And we’re definitely not going to disappoint you."
"Confident."
"Accurate," Rowan corrected. He circled me slowly, and I felt his gaze cataloging every inch of exposed skin. "What do you want, Naomi? Specifically."
"I told you…"
"You told us you want to stop thinking. That's the goal. I'm asking about the method." He stopped in front of me again. "Do you want pain? Pleasure? Degradation? Praise?"
My mouth went dry. "I don't know. I don't have experience with any of this."
"Then we'll find out together." Kellan's hands moved up my sides, his thumbs brushing the undersides of my breasts through my bra. "But I need you to promise me something."
"What?"
"If something feels wrong, not just uncomfortable, but actually wrong, you speak up immediately. We're not mind readers, sweetheart. We need you to communicate."
"Okay."
"Say it."
"I'll communicate," I said. "If something feels wrong, I'll tell you."
"Good. There’s no pleasure for us if you’re not into it."
The honesty coming from him went straight through me like lightning. I liked it when he told it to me straight. There was vulnerability in honesty, and it came easy for Kellan. Both of them actually.
"She likes that," he said to Kellan.
Rowan noticed. Of course he did.
"I see that." Kellan's hands moved higher, cupping my breasts fully. "What else do you like, Naomi?"
I couldn't think or form words. His hands were warm through the thin cotton, his thumbs circling my nipples until they hardened into peaks.
"Answer him," Rowan said, his voice dropping into that commanding register.
"I don't know what I like."
"Then let's find out." Rowan's hand cupped my face, tilting my chin up. "I'm going to kiss you now. If you don't want that, say so."
I should have said no. Should have maintained some kind of boundary. However, the way that he was looking at me right now, made me want to give him the world.
I exhaled slowly, "Yes."
His mouth came down on mine, firm, demanding, and so thorough. Not the tentative kiss of someone feeling things out. This was a claim. A statement of intent. He wasn’t timid about making it either.
Behind me, Kellan unhooked my bra with practiced ease. The fabric fell away and his hands replaced it, skin on skin, and I gasped into Rowan's mouth.
"That's it," Kellan murmured. "Let us hear you."
Rowan's kiss deepened, his tongue sliding against mine, and I felt myself melting. Felt the careful control I'd maintained for years starting to slip. When he finally pulled back, I was breathing hard. I wanted more of that for sure. I’d kissed men before, but it was never anything like that.
"Good?" he asked.
"Yeah." I whispered.
“‘Yes, Sir.’” he corrected.
“Yes, Sir.” I repeated.
"Good. Then let's move to the bed."
I looked past him for the first time and really took in the room.
It was larger than I'd expected, more suite than bedroom.
A massive bed dominated the space, flanked by low lighting and what looked like custom-designed furniture.
And on the wall above the bed… My eyes widened.
Restraints. Built into the frame. Soft leather cuffs attached to chains that disappeared into the headboard.
"We're not using those tonight," Rowan said, following my gaze. "Not for your first time. But later, if there is a later, we could."
"There won't be a later," I reminded him. "One night."
Something flickered across his face, disappointment, maybe, but it was gone too quickly to identify.
"Right," he said. "One night. Then we'd better make it count."
Kellan guided me to the bed, and I let him. Let both of them position me how they wanted, on my back, arms above my head, legs slightly apart.
Vulnerable. Exposed. And somehow, safer than I ever remembered feeling.
"Last chance to back out," Rowan said, his hands going to his shirt buttons. "Once we start, we're not stopping until you're satisfied. Understood?"
I watched him unbutton his shirt, revealing a chest marked with old scars and hard-earned muscle.
I watched Kellan strip off his own shirt, exposing more tattoos that covered his torso with intricate designs that told stories I didn't know.
These were men who could break me if they wanted to.
But they weren't going to. I knew that with a bone-deep certainty I couldn't explain. And I didn’t know how I knew these things. I just did.
"Understood," I whispered.
"Good." Rowan's hands went to his belt. "Then let's begin."