Page 90 of Lesson In Honesty
She narrowed her eyes at Mack.
“They know,” he said quietly. “Things escalated and we needed to make sure everyone was still onboard with the original plan. Can’t expect a conscientious Dom to play with a sub with a glaring issue without forewarning.”
“It won’t go any further than us, Sierra.” Fordham leveled her with a look that sent a chill down her spine. “We’re not here to make you feel embarrassed or ashamed.”
“We’ve all had rough times, pet.” Levi lifted a shoulder. “Each of us has history that’s knocked us flat on our backs and tried to steamroll us. There’s no shame in being human. We’re just here to help.”
“Y-You can help by putting your clothes back on.”
Merrick glowered at her; she immediately wanted to retract that statement.
“Tonight is all about you, Sierra. You’re probably going to hate it, but I need to get it through your stubborn, irrational brain that you are more than what you believe.” Liam jerked his chin at Fordham. “Do you need cuffs on?”
Sierra frowned. Hadn’t they already put cuffs on her? Damn it, why did only a couple of hours ago seem like a lifetime? Holding out her hands, she scowled at her unadorned wrists.
“I took them off when you broke down,” Liam murmured.
Ford’s serious gaze stroked up and down her body in an oddly professional assessment. “Yeah, wrists and ankles. A collar might come in handy if you’ve got one, Levi.”
“I’ve got a variety; take your pick.”
“The rest of her clothing can go, Liam. The ropes are more effective against bare skin.”
Collars and bondage? What cockamamie idea had her lover come up with this time? Ropes meant restraint, and if she was tied seven ways to Sunday, there was no escape from the five hulking men eyeing her up like a juicy steak.
God, that shouldn’t make her hot and flustered.
Shouldn’t.
Apparently her traitorous hussy pussy didn’t get the memo.
As Levi and Ford moved over to a table and began inspecting collars, Sierra inched back. Multiple Doms at one time was a particular fantasy of hers, but she needed to process it.
“Come here, little girl.” Merrick beckoned her over with a finger. “If the rope maestro wants you naked, naked you’re gonna be.”
The energy in the room was swirling, ricocheting off the men until it sucked her in like a vortex. Lightly at first, just a whisper of something over her skin. That something began to grow teeth as it spun, using the men as conduits, turning the air too thick to breathe.
“Liam, there are five men here,” she hissed.
“Five Masters,” he corrected lazily. “Our illustrious hero over there got an upgrade from Elias. He’s Master Maverick now.”
Wonderful, he got a promotion. That didn’t help her predicament, did it? It made it infinitely worse—her first instinct was to obey a Master… even if she was willfully ignoring Master Merrick at this moment in time.
“Would you believe it?” Sierra asked in a falsely cheerful tone. “I think I left the oven on, possibly even my hair straighteners. I really should go back to the cabin and check before I confine myself to the bedroom and ponder the consequences of my actions.”
“Babygirl, you don’townhair straighteners.”
“Don’t bother pondering, either,” Merrick told her as he strode over and plucked her off her feet. She instinctively braced her hands on his lower back when he tossed her over his shoulder. “These are the consequences of your actions, Sierra, and they’ll only get worse if you continue to disobey.”
Her Little threatened to come out and smack his tight tushy. For an older man, Merrick was disturbingly fit. “You arenotmy Daddy!”
“Daddy Merrick,” he hummed. “That has a certain kind of ring to it, I guess. Problem is, troublemaker, your Daddy gave all of us his permission to do what we want with you.”
“Within the parameters,” Liam added.
“Within the parameters,” he parroted, carting her across the room. “I’m not the Dom in the room you want to piss off. Do what you’re told when I tell you to do it and we won’t have any misunderstandings.”
She smacked her hands on his back, relishing the sound of flesh on flesh. Was that why Doms liked spanking so much? The sound and the sting in their hand? “Who’s the Dom I want to piss off?”