“Why do you ask such a stupid question? Who on earth finds being tied up comfortable?”
Daniel wrapped his fingers in her hair and tugged, a gentle pull to remind her not to mouth off. “A lot of people, if it’s done correctly. And a little discomfort isn’t necessarily bad, but we want to make sure nothing is too tight, that your left shoulder doesn’t hurt at this angle.”
She froze, as if he’d said something entirely unexpected.
Daniel lifted his gaze to Kyle.Did we misread her history? She said it was her left shoulder.
Kyle shrugged.
Alison’s gulp—a tell-tale giveaway that she was nervous—came before a surprisingly direct answer. “It doesn’t hurt.”
Sometimes dealing with her felt like wandering a minefield, like he was traipsing around and had no idea when the next step would blow him up.
But they were pushing her enough this afternoon. There was no need to make it more uncomfortable, so he let it go.
“Good. If that changes, let us know. Right now, you can just tell us. If it’s when we need to be entirely in character, use your safe word, and I’ll try to figure out the issue. Do you remember your safe word?”
“Master.” The word was whispered like a vile curse, and Daniel had to admit, he didn’t care for it, either.
He’d never been in for the twenty-four-seven thing. He loved a willing submissive, and yeah, he’d slip into that mode quite often, but he didn’t want a slave.
“Good girl,” Kyle said, seated on the couch in front of her. He reached out and dragged his fingers over her cheek. “Now, when they’re here, we’ll have you bound just like this. Blindfolded, headphones on. It’ll help reduce you having to play along too much. Don’t worry, we’ll turn the noise canceling off on the headphones so you can still hear us.”
Tension left her shoulders, as though that was what she’d needed to hear. “So how long do I have to be like this?”
Daniel huffed a chuckle at her annoyance. If it wasonlyannoyance, it would have been easier to ignore. However, the moment she’d gone to her knees, when Kyle had pushed her shoulders to guide her down, that delectable scent had blossomed in the room.
She didn’twantto like this, but she did. It made Daniel want to press his lips to her exposed skin, to taste her.
She hasn’t asked for that, though.
“You’ve got to look like someone who has been bound and played with enough that it isn’t surprising anymore,” Trent said.
He’d stood back, still seemingly unnerved by the entire bite thing.
“Played with?” Alison furrowed her eyebrows and took that plump bottom lip between her teeth.
How could she be as dangerous as she was, as tough as she was, and still somehow look so innocent?
Daniel took his seat behind her, in a chair he’d pulled in from the kitchen. It meant she was kneeling surrounded by all three of them. “I’m sure you know exactly what we mean by that. You aren’t a virgin.”
“No, I’m not, but I’m also not someone stupid enough to let people tie me up.”
Of course not. Bondage required some real trust, and Alison didn’t trust herself, let alone anyone else. No way would the girl let someone tie her up and have fun, no matter how much her reaction showed she would love it.
She was close enough that Kyle cupped her cheek and rested her head against his thigh. It put her very close to him, but that was why they were doing this.
Alison had to look as if she’d done this, that they’d spent the last few weeks in such close contact. There was no way to fake that level of comfort, especially with a girl as guarded as Alison.
Tension ran through her muscles, and she seemed a moment from bolting—or at least trying to, since her bindings would hold her.
“Yes, playing,” Kyle said as he toyed with her hair. “Even though we aren’t planning on actually fucking you, you need to seem like we have been. If we’d spent the last few weeks actually training you, you sure as hell would be comfortable kneeling for us, or accepting our touch. So, that’s what we’re doing now.”
“Or you’re just trying to justify why you can touch me,” she pointed out. “What’s next, you’re going to say that to really sell the story, you need to actually have sex with me?”
“Well, if you’re offering…” Kyle had a full grin on his face.
She offered him a hell of a glare.
