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PROLOGUE

River Tenley

Shay’s eyes after sex were something else.

And that lazy, satisfied little grin of his…

I shook my head in amusement and withdrew carefully. Then I rolled off him and promptly collapsed next to my boy’s spent body.

“They’re gonna revoke our Sadist and maso memberships, Owner…”

I chuckled drowsily, still catching my breath. “Who are they?” I turned my head to look at him. Fucking stunning. All flushed and…well, not bruised.

That had been the plan. We’d come up here to have a round with a few canes. Instead… Christ. We’d thrown a blanket on the floor because the playroom had no furniture aside from a couple of contraptions to restrain people. But instead of a pre-pain session talk, we’d started making out. Then one thing had led to another, and I’d ended up fucking him stupid right here on the floor. Zero caning involved. Zero pain.

The old me would’ve shaken his head at me.

“I don’t know,” Shay mused, gaze fixed to the ceiling. “The BDSM gods?”

I smirked and stretched out.

The floor was no picnic. Maybe that should count as a pain session.

“Daddy will get a laugh,” he snorted.

Most likely, considering Shay and I had been jonesing for a session all day. He and I didn’t engage in physical pain as much anymore; we were busy exploring D/s and delving deeper into mental torture. Reese was the one who brought in physical suffering more often than not.

“Not if I turn your ass black and blue before we head downstairs.” I threw that out there. “There’s still time.”

I had no interest in what the others were doing anyway. Reese, Colt, and Greer had plans for the brats—and don’t fucking get me started on what was happening in the club. Despite soundproofed playrooms, the music downstairs blared so loudly that it gave the whole goddamn house a heartbeat. The bass reverberated through the foundation, accompanied by occasional screams and laughter.

“We could also cuddle,” Shay suggested.

He rolled closer to me and threw a leg over mine.

I smiled.

He brushed his fingers over my chest and bit his lip. “What I really wanna do is cuddle in the cabin, but nobody in their right mind wants to walk through the club right now.”

Damn right.

I brought his hand to my lips and kissed his fingertips.

“I suppose we could walk out the front door and go around the house, but…” He yawned and settled in to use me as his pillow. “Ugh. I don’t wanna move, Owner.”

We didn’t have to. We could lie right here until my back started spasming.

That should give us a couple hours.

With one arm around him and the other folded under my head, I glanced up at the black-painted ceiling and let out a sigh of contentment.

If Emerson and Danny could see me now…

One day, Reese and I had to introduce Shay to our past, but I wasn’t ready. Seeing a future with someone who wasn’t my brother was equal parts petrifying and amazing, and I wanted to let those two emotions battle it out until the fears were gone. We were in no rush. Even Reese could be patient for this part—because we felt the same pinch of dread at the prospect of bringing two worlds together. Our past as private military contractors, our future with Shay. Fuck me.

We’d started being more open with him, though. We’d shared some stories.

The simpler ones, from ops that hadn’t left any scars.