Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 63970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Charlotte Taggart popped up from behind the curtain. “Seriously? I thought we were doing this in character.”
Big Tag shrugged. “Do you doubt this is what I would be like as a sultan, baby?”
She sighed and stepped out. “Nope. But let me show you how good I am at playing the concubine.”
She started to dance, her hips moving in time to the music. She was followed by a line of subs each dressed in sexy costumes, every one of them taking the game seriously. It was apparent she’d lined them up so they would end up standing in front of the tops they’d been paired with. Some of the subs had no rhythm at all, but there was still a joy in their movements. This was what he adored about the lifestyle. No one would make fun of the subs who couldn’t dance. They would be praised for the energy they put into their offering, for the sheer happiness they were bringing the people around them.
And then he saw her and nothing else mattered. She maneuvered her body with a casual grace, the easy move of a woman comfortable with herself, with her own sensuality. She wore a veil that covered her face, but he would know those eyes anywhere. They sought out his and the warmth he saw there nearly sent him to his knees.
He was lying to her.
She stepped in front of him and her hips swayed.
He started to move, shifting to stand, but Tag’s hand came out.
“She knows what she’s doing,” he said quietly. “Let her.”
He sat back. There would be time to ruin it later. For now he let himself look at her, the memories of their time together flashing through his brain. If their lives together had been a film, this would be the montage. It would be the part of the film where the audience sifted through each of the moments that brought them here.
Meeting Sarah, her smile so bright it lit up his world and made him wonder if he’d actually seen color before.
That first brush of her hand against his.
Her laughter as she teased him. His ridiculous attempts to get and keep her attention.
The moment he realized how hard his world would be on her.
The kiss. She’d been so angry with him. He’d tried to explain, but every word damned him more until he didn’t give a fuck what the world thought. The only thing that had mattered in that moment was getting his hands on her, making her understand how much he wanted her.
The cops pulling him away, that fear in her eyes. For him? Of him?
And then the long lonely time without her.
It played through his head, the uniqueness of their personal story striking through him.
She was it. She was the one, that mystical part of himself that had been missing all along. He could have gone through his life, found relative happiness and never known a piece of himself was out here in the world, but he’d met her. He’d met her and he would never be whole without this one woman.
She danced for him, her hips swaying, and he wished he’d kissed her the night before. They’d touched each other, hands roaming across skin, connected despite the dark. But he hadn’t put his mouth on hers. He hadn’t brought their lips together and let their tongues tangle.
The music stopped and she fell to her knees before him. He recognized that the moment was playing out around him, and not every sub was on their knees, but he only had eyes for her.
“Would you play with me tonight, Sir?” Her husky voice went straight to his cock.
He wanted nothing more than to keep it up, to pretend for a little while longer. But he couldn’t do it. He loved her and he wasn’t going to win her with lies. “Sarah…”
She put a hand on his knee, her eyes pleading up at him. “Sir, I would like to play for the evening. Would you take me upstairs so we can play out a private scene? I would like to be alone with you.”
“Sarah, I…”
“Take me upstairs, Jared.”
His heart clenched. She knew. She knew and she wanted him.
It was enough for now.
He got to his feet. Beside him Big Tag had pulled his wife onto his lap and had his tongue halfway down her throat. To his right, JT was busy watching Sweetie turn her dance into a twerking session.
He didn’t have to ask permission. He didn’t have to tell anyone where he was going. He was in control because she’d given him that gift. He leaned over and hauled her up and into his arms.
It was time to take off the mask and be real with the woman he loved.
Jared strode up the stairs, Sarah in his arms. He’d ignored everyone who stared at them. Even his brother. He’d caught the thumbs-up, but hadn’t even been tempted to stop for a high-five. Maturity. This must be what it felt like.