“Good to know,” Brooks said.
“Would you like this to be public or private?” Logan asked.
Everything in me tensed. Being spanked by relative strangers was one thing. Being spanked by relative strangers in front of a wholeclubof other strangers? No, thank you. “Private, please.”
Brooks took the hand that Logan didn’t hold and squeezed it. The extra touch settled me. Relaxed me. Then he tilted his head. “Do you have a position preference?”
I raised both eyebrows. “Jumping ahead a little, aren’t we?”
They all laughed, even Bastian, who hadn’t said anything yet.
“What he means to ask is if you’d like to be spanked on a piece of equipment, like a spanking bench, on the edge of a bed, or would you rather simply be taken over a knee?”
Another cascade of arousal poured over me. Because being taken over his knee sounded hot and intimate and oh-holy-fuck-yes, and frankly, I wasn’t sure I could handle that with someone I'd just met. Did I want it? Yup. Yes. Abso-fucking-lutely.
But not for this. I didn’t want that to be about anything but me and whoever’s hand was on my ass. Not because I fucked up when I should have known better.
“Equipment,” I managed.
He stared at me. Like he knew it wasn’t the real answer, but I heldmy ground. It wasn’t like I was a prude. I had my fair share of sex—at least up until the last few months—and the occasional drunk, night-out hookup. I wasn’t afraid of what I wanted.
And yet, the intensity of how much I wanted what he described did scare me a little.
“Barehanded or paddle?”
There wasn’t a question there. “Hands, please.” My voice rasped. The idea of a paddle terrified me, and I wasn’t sure why.
Of course they noticed. Logan’s fingers tightened and released, the tiny movement encouraging.
“What about restraints?”
I blinked, and it felt like the world went silent for a moment.
“Don’t forget to breathe,” Brooks said softly.
My lungs filled with air, following the quiet command. I cleared my throat. “Why would we need them?”
“Some people find it easier to take a punishment while being held down. Making someone stay still and bear it is a different kind of punishment.” The corner of Logan’s mouth tipped up. “And I don’t think you need to fight so hard during something like this. But I also understand not wanting them with strangers.”
That made sense. I was pointedly ignoring the fluttering, tingling excitement at the images in my mind centering around the words ‘held down.’ I didn’t want to have to make myself stay still, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to be tied. Not this first time.
Had the club suddenly gotten warmer? Because my skin suddenly felt hot. Sweat gathered at my temples and the back of my neck. Behind my knees.
“I—” Taking a frustrated breath, I repeated my thoughts to them. “I don’t want to have to keep myself still, but I don’t want to be tied down.”
Logan leaned in, the words so low they were barely audible beneath the music of the club. A rumbling vibration and breath that tickled my ear. “And if we were to help restrain you instead?”
All the air was gone. Sucked out of the room with his words. Like he’d been reading my mind and every tantalizing thought…
“We would make sure you stayed still, but it would be easier to free you if you panic than regular restraints.” His fingers stroked where they rested on my waist. All of them were so close. Holy shit. What was I doing? Four hot-as-fuck Alphas surrounding me? This was a situation I’d dreamed about. Even in my spicy extracurricular activities, I’d never been with a pack. You didn’t usually findgroupslooking for a quick fuck in a nightclub bathroom.
“Trinity?” Logan’s free tilted my chin up with two fingers so I once again met his gaze through the mask. “Did we lose you?”
“I want that,” I said. “For you to help.”
His smile stole my breath and gave me chills at the same time. “Only a couple more questions and I promise I’ll stop talking you to death.”
I laughed. It wasn’t thetalkingthat was the overwhelming part. It was the scents, hotness, and infinite possibilities that seemed to chase all my thoughts away.
