Chapter 6
Ash Riley
Iblew out a breath and switched lanes before our exit. “Yeah, I ate too much.”
Nate chuckled, gaze glued to his phone. “Told you.”
Yeah, yeah.
I side-eyed him, admittedly excited to see him in action for the first time in a very long time.
Even before we’d separated, kink had been an infected topic for me, so I hadn’t engaged as much as I had back in the day.
But I still had my memories, and Nathan was a force to be reckoned with in his rigger mode.
He came off as damn strict—because safety was his priority.
His punishments were severe for the same reason.
Mistakes, on the other hand, were forgiven instantly.
It was the willful disobedience and recklessness that legit pissed him off, and nobody could blame him.
Rope bondage wasn’t generally a safe kink.
“Have you decided what you’re gonna do?” I wondered.
He hummed. “I think so. It’s mostly beginners there tonight, so after my usual safety intro, I’ll have about forty-five minutes. Enough time for a Server’s Hand, maybe show some basic knots, and possibly a single-column waist harness.”
I understood about half of what he said, but it was 100% sexy as fuck. Nathan in his element. Unyielding, assertive, calculating, and more observant than anyone I knew. Whoever was his rope bottom had his undivided attention.
I wanted it fixed on Jordan tonight, but I’d leave that up to Nate. It was possible he’d prefer James.
It was just… I wanted to see how Jordan reacted to Nathan.
If the boy had the guts to unleash his bossier side—which I doubted.
Over the years, subs and brats had miscalculated our levels of dominance more times than we could count.
They initially thought I was the big bad wolf while Nate was the kinder, more patient Dom.
And sure, he had patience. He was nurturing and diplomatic.
But unless I was in the mood to hunt down my prey, I was way more laid-back. My fuse was long.
Nate’s wasn’t necessarily shorter—in fact, he never lost his cool—but he was sure as hell quicker to shut things down.
The reaction whore in me wanted to see Jordan’s switchyness tickle Nate’s dominance.
I cleared my throat. “Should we discuss limits?”
“Hmm?” He tore his gaze away from his phone. “Oh. Well, I don’t see myself doing anything sexual with anyone during the session.”
I wasn’t surprised, but still. “Could be nice to have things established…? For instance, James and Jordan are all in—they’d prefer no protection, they don’t have to be in the same room together when playtime is on the table, and for the time being, they’d like to be exclusive with us, but they might wanna explore with others in the future.
” I paused. “I don’t think I can be that open right off the bat.
I’m fine with fucking unprotected as long as everyone’s being safe, but I want you and me together for anything beyond kissing and… I don’t know, touching.”
Nate nodded slowly, thinking about it. “I’d say that’s a good start.
I don’t know what kind of chemistry—if any—I will have with them, but until we get to know each other better, I’d definitely want the heavier play to happen when we’re all together.
At least, I want you and me to be in the same room. ”
Thank fuck. I grabbed his hand and kissed it.
“And just to be clear,” he went on, “I want you to feel free to interact with Jordan as his Daddy Dom. You must be further ahead in establishing your dynamic, and I want to see that side of you. I don’t know how to explain it, but I always found it sexy when you revealed that part. Rare as it was.”
He didn’t need to explain it, because I understood. “I get it. I feel the same way when I watch you with rope. And now we can both do it without insecurities getting in the way.” I was curious about one more thing, though. Something he’d said. “How come ropework was never sexual for you?”
He turned pensive. “I’m not sure. I don’t know if I’m too focused or… I don’t know.”
Either way, I had hopes. Because he’d never tied up a non-platonic play partner before. Except for me—and those moments had definitely been sexual.
The rope dojo on the second floor was Nathan’s domain.
This was where he was the reluctant leader of a group of bondage enthusiasts who soaked up every word he said.
He and Nattie, I should say. She was the other ringleader, a talented rigger, though she wasn’t here tonight.
But her sub was, and I helped Sierra set up for tonight while Nathan prepared his demo.
The room was grand, like a ballroom, with higher ceilings, and they even had a balcony facing the front lawn.
The walls were painted a dark red with streaks of lighter shades that came together as silhouettes of bodies being tied up.
Discreet until you really looked. The lighting was dim, aside from standing spotlights here and there.
The crown molding and other intricate details were painted gold, matching the velvet curtains.
This room had been treated differently from all the others after the fire.
It’d been restored to its former glory rather than transformed into a playroom.
I carried four more chairs to Nate’s corner.
Sierra told me that more people had signed up last minute, so we were looking at twelve participants now—plus a few partners who sat on the sidelines for one reason or another. Two walls were already lined with chairs, and I could guess the kink attracted an audience on a regular basis.
Five minutes before seven, more people had trickled in.
Nate hadn’t been lying about the come-as-you-are dress code. While he wore his standard slacks and fitted pullover, two younger guys were wearing nothing but underwear, another guy was wearing leather pants, Sierra was in her usual slave dress, and the Domme who’d just entered wore latex.
I was the jeans-and-tee guy.
“Pssst!”
I threw a glance over my shoulder toward the double doors, and I cracked a grin at the sight of Jordan. James stepped in too, and both of them looked around, almost in wonder.
“Hi, Sir.” Jordan rushed over to me and pointed up. “An actual chandelier? Fancy.”
I pulled him in for a hug and kissed the top of his head. “Good to see you again, sweetheart. Did you leave the shyness at home?”
He grinned impishly and smacked my chest lightly. “Are you serious? You did not warn me how hot Mister Rigger was gonna be in person. I about swallowed my tongue.”
I chuckled and dipped down, but I didn’t kiss him yet. “Wait till you see him naked.”
“Eeep!” he whispered. “I hope he likes me that way.”
I couldn’t imagine he wouldn’t.
I brushed a quick kiss to his lips before I straightened to greet James too. Which reminded me… They were dressed casually in jeans and tees like me, but I’d heard something about Jordan picking out a pair of briefs…?
“Did you decide who’s gonna be Nate’s rope bunny tonight?” I asked. “And is he the one stripping down to those cute briefs?”
James smirked crookedly. “I was on the fence when we drove over here, but after seein’ the hooks in the ceilin’, I’m more than happy to let Jordan be the bunny.”
Jordan gasped and looked right up. “Oh my gosh. Um.”
I laughed quietly. “You don’t have to worry. No suspension bondage tonight.”
“Thank God,” he exhaled. “But does Mister Rigger do that? Like, he hangs people from the ceiling?”
I shrugged with one shoulder. “It happens.”
“Right, yeah, of course, because why not?”
I grinned and combed my fingers through his hair. “That’s advanced play—an understatement. Those sessions go on for hours, and everybody involved knows what they’re doing.”
“I would hope so.” The boy shuddered. “I bet it’s hot, though. But—” He shook his head quickly, as if to clear it. “No, before I forget, I have to ask something.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I start a group chat for us?” he wondered.
“James and I were talking on the way over, and our boundaries haven’t changed, but it would be nice if we had a chat for all of us so nobody’s left out of the loop—unless that’s on purpose.
” He added the last part with a pointed look to James.
“James doesn’t want to know a whole lot. He likes being caught off guard.”
James nodded with a dip of his chin. “I was more thinkin’ the group chat could be a good idea to just talk when we can’t see one another. Everyone’s got busy lives.”
Good point, and I loved the idea. “Set it up for us, boy.” I gave Jordan’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll give you Nate’s number.”
“I already have it,” he admitted, pulling out his phone. “It was listed at the bottom of the event page for tonight’s demo.”
Ah. Of course it was.
“The session is about to begin, everyone!” Sierra called out. “Please take your seats.”
“Oh gosh, okay, I’ll do this later.” Jordan promptly handed over his phone to James. “I gots to go take my seat.”
Warmth spread across my chest. He wasn’t worried or nervous anymore. His excitement was making a swift return, and it was amazing to see.
“Mr. Riley! Can I please be your model tonight?” someone asked.
I looked into the little crowd forming by the low demo stage.
Don’t think so, boy. That position’s been filled.
“Nuh-uh!” Jordan whispered, clutching my hand. “He’s gonna pick me, right?”
I smiled and kissed his forehead. “He’s gonna pick you. Go on. James and I will be back here. Have fun.”
“Okay, see you later, Daddy.” He scurried away.
I drew a deep breath and let the pleasure course through me.
We were going in the right direction, and it felt damn good. I was so happy I’d waited until Nate and I were solid again. This was right. This was something we could only do together.
James and I found seats along the nearest wall, and we sat down farther away from the other partners who were here to observe. It was darker back here too, with all the spotlights aimed at the stage.
Was James a little tense?
“Are you all right?” I asked.