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“Our guests are here, sugar. I think you can stop wearing a track in the carpet.” Thane gestured their friends into the room. Neither Jasper nor Atticus gawked at his humble surroundings, but Connie could read their admiration as they absorbed the room and its furnishings.
Anarchy hurried to Jasper's side when he sat on the plush couch, nesting on his lap protectively. “You have a beautiful home, Thane. Connie said she was helping with the redecorating. She has the best eye for furniture—I told Jasper he needs to get her opinion for his new office.”
Thane slanted Connie a look as he limped to his favorite armchair, then summoned her with a crook of his finger. “Is that so? Did you decorate your own office, sugar? I have a partiality to that coffee table in your therapy area,” he said casually, although his mouth barely resisted smirking. Heat flared in his eyes. “I wouldn't mind having one like it right about there…” His finger pointed to where a small circular glass table acted as a catch-all.
Remembering exactly how they'd christened the one in her office, Connie flushed and clenched her buttocks tightly. The cleaning crew had done an amazing job by Tuesday morning, but nothing could erase the memories from her mind whenever she looked at the damn table. “You can have the one from the office,” she managed to say without stuttering, walking toward him with a slow, unhurried stride. “It's distracting.”
His eyebrow winged up. “Oh? How so?”
Fucker. She nearly spat the word before she reminded herself this wasn't the man she'd topped last night, or the man she'd been equal with just a couple of hours earlier. The gleam in his eyes was all dominant, which meant she'd been relegated back to being quiet, calm, and contemplative. She snorted to herself, then blushed savagely when all eyes in the room locked on her with amused interest.
When she reached Thane's side, she started to kneel. He had other ideas, spinning her around and yanking her onto his lap firmly, spreading her thighs over his. He pinched the inside of her thigh, just below the hem of his borrowed boxer shorts—he'd told her there was no point dressing properly, as his plans for the afternoon included getting her naked once their friends had gone—then rubbed the sting with his palm. “Come on, sugar, what's wrong with the table?”
This wasn't the intended conversation, Connie thought with a scowl. They had bigger, more important matters to discuss than the fact she got wet every time she looked at a piece of furniture. But his fingers were ready to pinch her tender inner thigh again, and she was wound too tight to be toyed with. “I'm not going to dignify that with a response, Sir. Can we please get on with what we're here to do? I'm sure everyone has better things to do with their time.”
The pinch came again. “No. Answer the question.”
Hardass fucking bastard.Seething, she crossed her arms over her chest defensively, refusing to meet the gazes of the three people patiently waiting for the little drama to unfold. “Fine. I don't need to be reminded that I…that I…” She dug her nails into her biceps, used the pain to bring her focus into one spot. “I conquered an obstacle on that damn thing.”
“Yes, you did. All the more reason for it to stay exactly where it is, as a daily reminder you're strong enough to overcome anything from your past.” Both of his hands rested lightly on the crease of her thighs where they met her groin. “So, back to whatever this impromptu meeting is for. I'm going out on a limb and saying the big secret revolves around the three of you, maybe Braun and Bodie?”
“Hang on, let me get him on speakerphone now that the entertainment portion of the afternoon is done,” Atticus grumbled, fiddling with his phone. After a few seconds, the sound of a connecting call sang from the speakers, followed by Braun's voice.
“Did you ask him yet?”
“Leaving that honor for you, brother.” Atticus leaned forward and set his phone on the glass top, central to everyone seated. “Might as well get the pleasantries out of the way before we dig down to the shit. You're on speaker, Braun.”
“Of course, I am. Sorry we can't be there. Bodie got herself overexcited last night, so she's on mandatory bedrest and enforced nap schedules for the rest of the weekend.” Braun's tone was wry. “You can imagine what I'm dealing with. Anyway, I know you're all there for a different reason, but before the darker side of Avalon rears its head, I'd like to make an announcement. This morning, a vote was held to appoint an additional two Masters into the fold. Both men were approved unanimously, should they accept.”
“Unanimously?” Thane shuffled Connie around on his lap, narrowed his eyes at her. “Do you get a vote?”
“My votes were cast last night, with Att as my proxy. Good job, seeing as I was otherwise preoccupied this morning.” She ran her hand over his short beard, smiling as she instigated a celebratory kiss. “Congratulations, MasterThane. Welcome to the inner circle of Avalon.”
Thane's face lit up like a little boy who'd found a puppy beneath the Christmas tree. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” Jasper said soberly, while Archie jabbed two thumbs into the air in a victory dance. “We vetted a whole list of members, culled out the ones we liked and…didn't,” he added with a curl of his lip. “In the end, we narrowed it down to you and Saul, and both of you fit Avalon's criteria to a tee, even though you're both new to the club. You moreso,” he told Thane. “You proved your skills with Connie, and that was enough to balance out your newbie status. Congratulations.”
“We'll need an official yes or no,” Atticus advised him. “There'll be an announcement at Avalon tonight so Liam and Loki can join us. That gives you some time to think it over. It's a huge responsibility, but worth it.”
“Don't need time to think anything over. Are you okay with this, Connie? There's a lot going on with you right now, and I don't want you to think I'm encroaching into your space. You need to—”
“I voted for you, you idiot,” she whispered. “Take the damn title.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes, Master Thane. Welcome to the dark side.”
Cheeks ruddy with pleasure, Thane laughed and kissed her soundly. “Well then, you have your answer, gentlemen. It's a privilege to be considered. My answer is yes, I'd be honored.”
Anarchy whooped and wriggled excitedly on her Dom's lap, apparently oblivious to the rising edge of devilish lust in his pale blue eyes.
“Excellent. Saul's been notified and he's accepted the invitation as well. There will be some paperwork to fill out tonight, and I'll make sure you get the information packet on the club rules, additional guidelines, etcetera. It's a pleasure to have you on board, Thane. I'm sure you'll be a valuable team member.” Braun cleared his throat, then groaned. “Shit, I've got to go. Bodie! Don't you dare try and go to the bathroom by yourself. You're not climbing the stairs when you can barely stand up.”
Bodie's sharp retort was too muffled over the line, but the meaning was clear.
“Goddamn stubborn brat. Connie, you have my permission to tell Thane whatever he needs to know from our perspective. If you have any questions requiring a direct answer from me, Thane, you have my number. I'll see you tonight.” A harsh shout of, “Bodie!” echoed through the room before the call cut off.
“Bodie's in trouble again.” Atticus shook his head ruefully. “She just doesn't learn.”
