Page 80 of Piece Us Together

Maybe some leftovers.

It seems Nolan is having the same thoughts as me because he asks, “You’re really going to be all alone for Thanksgiving?”

Before I can give him a warning look, Hunter shakes his head. “On the actual day, yes, but Saturday, my friends and I do something. It’s my turn to host, actually.”

“Oh god. You’re not going to cook, are you?” Nolan asks before immediately covering his mouth and widening his eyes. “I’m so sorry, that was rude, sir.”

Hunter is already laughing though. “I thought the pancakes were good.”

“Pancakes and Thanksgiving dinner are two entirely different levels,” I argue, since Nolan still looks like he might pass out from offending his dom.

“Okay, true.” Hunter leans forward, a hand out to Nolan. “Hey, I’m not mad. I like you teasing me. And you’re right, it would be a disaster if I made dinner. They all bring dishes with them. The host is responsible for the turkey, but my best friend has a pet that can cook pretty well, so they’ll come over early and help.”

I frown. “His pet can cook?”

“His submissive.” Hunter gestures vaguely. “All of my friends are involved in kink. Wells, my best friend since college, calls his submissive, Jaxon,petmost of the time. Or pup when he’s overexcited.”

“Kinda like you, Nol,” I tease, trying not to think about Hunter spending all his time around other submissives—even taken ones.Are there single submissives in his friend group? Does he play with them? Does he play with anyone other than us? How have we never fucking discussed that?

He’s supposed to beours.

“Oh, I like that. You are quite puppy-like sometimes, aren’t you, darling?” Hunter teases, completely oblivious to the panic he just opened inside of me. “All excited and eager to please. So obedient.”

Nolan squirms, his cheeks colored again. “I like being called darling, though…”

“Can’t you be both?” Hunter asks with a tilt of his head and a smirk.

“I could be, yeah.” Nolan overcomes his shyness suddenly, his posture shifting and his eyes going to me. I know a second before he speaks that he’s about to turn the tables. “If I’m a puppy, then what is Maison?”

I frown, ready to tell them I’m not fucking anything, but Hunter’s grin stops me short. There’s something different in that grin. Something mischievous. A little evil. It’s a grin that reminds me that this man is a self-proclaimed sadist.

I swallow hard.

His grin widens.

“Maison is a kitten.” I narrow my eyes, but he continues before I can argue. “The sassy kind. You know, the ones that make eye contact with you as they slap your mug off the table. The ones that pretend they hate you and your attention but secretly love cuddles and pets.”

Nolan’s laugh is sharp, like he tried to cut it off but failed. I turn my glare on him. “Don’t you dare ever call me kitten.” I look back at Hunter. “Either of you.”

“Aww, you don’t want to be our kitten?” Hunter asks teasingly. “We’d spoil you silly.”

“I don’t need to be spoiled.” Now I’m the one blushing, Nolan having turned around to put the casserole in the oven. I stare at his back to keep from looking at Hunter again. He’s too dangerous.He sees right through me.“I’m nothing like that. I don’t need a pet name, either.”

Hunter leans harder against me, making us touch from shoulder to elbow now. I shiver. I think I hear him chuckle, low and deep. When he speaks, his voice is quiet, meant just for me. “Don’t worry, kitten. I won’t tell anyone you want things you don’t need.”

I breathe heavily, feeling winded and unsteady.

I don’t want those things either.I say the words in my head, over and over, but no matter how hard I try, the words don’t make it past my lips. I can’t even get my fucking mouth to open.

Hunter’s arm moves, his pinky overlapping mine.

It feels like the world is spinning.

“We’ve got about fifteen minutes while that cooks,” Nolan says, turning around with all the excitement of the puppy he was just accused of being. His gaze falls to our hands. The sight pulls a smile from him, blue eyes bright when he looks up at me.

It doesn’t mean anything,I want to tell him.Don’t look like that. Don’t be so excited. None of this means anything.

Those words don’t come out either.