“I hope you’re not telling Harlow any exaggerated tales about me. I wouldn't want her to get the wrong impression.”
Hope stands up and gestures for me to follow, giving Holden a wink in the process. “Holden, I really think you don't need me to tell her anything. You've already made a bad impression if the rumors I've heard are true, not to mention that billboard debacle. I still can’t believe you didn't stop Jacinta," she scolds, and he immediately hangs his head with a wince.
“I know, I know. You’re right, and I plan on making it up to her.” His eyes meet mine as he says this, and I can appreciate this part of him. Holden, away from his siblings and any of the games, with a helpful bestie to call him on his shit… that Holden is one that I might be able to forgive.
And Hope snorts. “Well, have you even apologized for letting your sister railroad you? You know I love you guys, but come on, she’s not an insecure teenager anymore, and you havegotto stop letting her make these kinds of decisions.”
Amazingly, Holden's cheeks grow pink with embarrassment as Hope continues to chastise him, and he twitches in his chair like a child being lectured. I almost speak up about how he and Thomas hadn't actually done anything, but then think again. They must have known she had something planned, and even if they weren't outright encouraging the behavior like Jaxon and Declan, they’re just as guilty of complacency as Oliver.
To my amusement, Hope continues to rake him over the coals while I just lean back and soak it up. Seriously, from the look on his face, this is almost punishment enough, but I think I can get something more out of it.
Leaning forward, I interrupt her tirade. “Do you really want to make it up to me?” I ask, my eyes narrowed as I watch foranysign of duplicity.
“Yes, of course,” he’s quick to assure me, no sign of deception to be seen. Well, this could work in my favor.
“And are you prepared to do whatever it takes?” I nearly hold my breath, not sure what he’s going to say.
I can see Hope out of the corner of my eye, waiting with baited breath to hear about what I want him to do. There’s a kind of sadistic spark in her eye that tells me she’s enjoying seeing her bestie squirm.
He gives me a quick nod, and I can see the caution in his eyes, but he breathes deep and gives me a more decisive nod this time. He fucked up, and he knows he has to pay the price. I’ve got to say, that makes me a little hot, that he’s recognizing he fucked up and now wants to make amends. It certainly gives me another picture of the spoiled billionaire's son.
I’m not sure why, but the thought of Holden being my bitch makes me squirm in a much more pleasant way than he is now. To have him at my beck and call, this strong, capable man entirely submissive to me, just lights a fire inside of me. Some small sadistic part of me really wants to see him, all of them, really, grovel for my forgiveness. I’m not sure where it comes from, probably some fucked up interaction with my mother, but the need is real.
“Awesome, from now on at home and in public when strangers aren't around, I need you to refer to me as mistress. You will be at my beck and call twenty-four seven, catering to my every need. Is that understood?” There’s a hint of steel in my command so that he knows that I’m serious. Sitting back again, I wait for the fall. Wait for him to rant and rave and declare me crazy. He didn’t have the balls to stand up to his sister before, so will he have the balls now? I can only imagine how she’ll rip into him for showing any signs ofobedienceto me, and something inside me just loves the idea of her knowing I’ve “taken” one of her brothers from her. If I make it to that Hawaii trip with Kai, that’ll be two of her allies I think I could now call mine.
His jaw clenches, the only sign of a negative reaction. His eyes, which had been deliberately blank, then begin to heat with something I hadn't expected.Desire. Well, well, well. Who would have thought Mr. CEO would like the idea of being bossed around? I had honestly just been thinking about making him my bitch at home, but nowallkinds of possibilities are coming to mind.
The room is thick with tension and a growing sense of a sexual... something, so when Hope clears her throat, both of us startle. Getting to his feet and coming around to our side of the desk, he holds out his hand to me. I take it, making an extra effort not to glance down at anything that may or may not be happening there, and he pulls me to my feet before kneeling in front of me. “Mistress Harlow, if this is what you require of me, then I will be yours to command.” With a bow of his head, he waits for me to respond.
Holy shit.Over his head, my eyes meet Hope's, and she’s fanning herself and mouthing “Hot.”
I shake off his hand and step away. “Well, good. I will see you at home then, pet.”
Without another word, I stride out of his office, leaving him kneeling on the floor. I can hear Hope’s heels as she hurries behind me, but I don’t stop until I hear the door click closed. Breathless from his response, I need to take a moment to calm down. While I’m totally lost in the hot mess of my hormones, Hope steps up next to me, her hip bumping mine again.
“Jesus, I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you, but that was somesteamyshit right there. I just hope you make him work for it before you give in to the lust.”
Shaking my head to clear the fog, I blink at her a couple of times. “Huh?”
“Oh, come on, the sexual chemistry between the two of you was off the fucking charts. Holden’s not backward in coming forward with his sexual interests but submitting to a woman has never been one of them. He prefers for women to submit to him.” She starts moving down the long corridor, dragging me by my arm, keeping her voice low so that it doesn't carry to the receptionist in front.
“Not to mention the eye fucking Thomas and you just gave each other too,” she adds in, and I nod, admitting she’s not wrong.
When we pass her on the way to the elevator, we both wave and smile broadly, getting no reaction from the sour-faced young woman. Giggling together, I wait for the door to close to respond to her.
Collapsing back against the elevator walls, I sigh deeply again. “The problem is he’s not the only one I have chemistry with. Jaxon and my chemistry was off the charts when I first met him before all this. Not to mention what happened with Oliver when he gave me my new tattoo, and I also find myself attracted to Kai. Which, to be honest, seems like the safest bet. He's the one who’s been nothing but kind to me since the very beginning.”
The words come tumbling out of my mouth, the confession feeling like a release, and I hadn’t realized how much the worry had been building up inside me. I run a hand through my hair before meeting her gaze.
“How do I know that the rest won't continue to support her? Because I can guarantee from the look in that woman’s eyes, she isnotdone with me yet. I was so determined to get payback for how they treated me. Spent hours with Alex and a bottle of wine plotting all sorts of crazy schemes, but now it all seems pointless. It’s just not in my nature, and some of them seem to be coming around and acting like mature adults instead of childish teens. Maybe I can still get a little taste of that revenge without it making me resort to something ugly. I must admit making Holden my bitch is going to be fun.”
My stomach swirls with butterflies and disappointment. On one hand, I love the thought of spending more time with Kai, but I feel guilty as well because I want to be spending more time with all of them. At least the nice versions of them that I only get these little peeks of. If we can move past their initial hostility so that I get the real versions of them full-time, what am I supposed to do then?
Hope’s eyes are wide with surprise at my confession, but it doesn't take her long to recover and start addressing some of the rambling I’ve just dropped on her. “Dude, who says you have to choose? You’re young and single, and it’s not like you’re trying to trap them into marriage, are you? You might be the perfect piece to fit into their not-so-normal puzzle. Things don’t need to be conventional to be right.”
Her words have me pausing. “No, I guess not… This is probably my own family baggage talking, but I guess I’ve always just thought it would be nice to have someone to rely on. That traditional future of a man to cook dinner with and watch Netflix.”
She shrugs, looking entirely unfazed. “Why not a few someones? The world is a different place than it was for our parents, Harlow. Who says you have to pick just one? Arguably, I’m closer with Holden than the rest of them, but I don’t think that ordinary would ever work for the Summers. They’re just so close-knit and protective of each other, and god knows their family legacy adds a million layers of complication. Let’s face it, they’re all very busy men and often travel on business. I can guarantee you, you will spenda lotof time on your own if you settle for just one." Her eyes sparkle with her next words. “But if you had more than one, it would guarantee that someone was always around. You would never have to feel lonely again.”
