If soul mates are real, you’re mine.
CHAPTER 8
Three years ago
Mclean
Ash Riley
It was crazy how much a place could both put me at ease and unsettle me.
Mclean House consisted of a grand, three-story Victorian, with playrooms, nightclub area, shower rooms for watersports, a dojo for the ropers, and a million possibilities. We were surrounded by fields, a forest, and memories of takedowns, brat screams, and pain. The inspiration wrote itself out here, and yet, I wasn’t ready for much of it.
Perfect. The patio was almost empty. Members hadn’t started showing up for tonight’s happenings yet, so I was looking forward to catching some late-spring sun at one of the picnic tables while I prepared for my demo.
Reese had asked me to demonstrate knife play to D-types only. No playthings allowed.
Cam was the only one out here. He was one of the younger kids. Around twenty or so.
It helped that they hadn’t uncovered the pool yet for the season. Otherwise, the pool drew a crowd. Every damn day, it seemed.
I glanced over at the founding members’ six A-frame cabins that lined the western perimeter, wondering if the twins were around. I knew Colt and Lucas were here somewhere. Their task for the afternoon was to hide candy bars down in the forest.
“How you doin’, brat?” I asked, dumping my knife bag on the table.
He glanced up from his book and gave me a frustrated look. “I’m not a brat, Sir. And hello. Good to see you again.”
Oh. Huh. See, I was under the impression you were a brat if you did bratty things.
Maybe I was wrong.
I sat down across from him. “So, last time when you helped Tate fill Kingsley’s shoes with sand, that was what?”
“A one-time thing,” the boy responded quickly. “I owed him a favor.”
I snorted in amusement. “Sounds like brat logic to me. It never makes sense.”
“Oh, let’s not discuss logic, Sir. I’m not sure you know what that is.”
I smirked and lifted a brow at him.
He turned sheepish. “That was a bratty response, wasn’t it?”
I tapped my nose, then unzipped my bag.
“What’s that?” he wondered.
“Knives.” I pulled out my favorite set of throwing knives and my tool kit.
Cam widened his eyes. “You use them during play?”
“Well, sure. It’s a popular toy in fear play.”
“Hmpf. That’s so not me.”
I already knew that. He was busy exploring high-protocol and bondage. He was also making eyes at Lucian whenever he was here.
Lucian wasn’t completely innocent either. I’d caught him eyeing Cam a few times, but for starters, the man was off the market. Secondly, I’d heard him say he could never go for someone so young.
