“Not with this group.” I could only seeTanner and Wade, but Austin’s laughter echoed across the yard from somewherenear the hot tub. The way Russ was watching wide-eyed said they were getting upto something fun.
“You’re betting a lot on them.”
I still couldn’t tell from his calmdelivery what he was thinking, but no matter what, my answer would’ve been thesame.
“I’d bet everything on them.”
Chapter 6
Simon
I’d fucked up.
I could see it before the words even leftmy mouth, but somehow I hadn’t been able to stop myself. They were taking ahuge risk and it felt like someone had to be the voice of reason, just to makesure they’d really thought about the consequences.
I wasn’t sure about the legalities, but Iknew at the very least that one of them would’ve researched that before they’deven started. So it had to be legal, but that didn’t always mean very much inour society when it came to issues like sex.
“Don’t take me wrong. I’m not saying it’s abad idea or anything like that. I know a lot of people who’d love to have aspace where they could be themselves.” He cooled a bit as I spoke, but I knew Iwas losing any chance of getting to know him.
Bradley the uptight omega financial guruwasn’t someone I was really interested in. But Bradley the dry-witted omega whowas looking for a Dom to slip through his walls was much more interesting. Hewas going to come with enough baggage to tour the world with, but I wasn’tafraid of hard work.
I might even be able to pull that sexystick out of his ass. But as long as he let me play with it sometimes, he couldleave it in. I didn’t need sweet and whimpery all the time…just when itmattered.
Knowing that opening up might be the onlyway to show him I wasn’t an asshole, I sighed quietly. “I used to go to thisprivate dungeon a few years ago. It was owned by a couple that were nice. It’dbeen a while since I dated anyone, so I thought I’d see what was going on, butthe couple who owned it got divorced. Huge drama, but luckily neither of themspilled about the dungeon.”
Bradley was still for a few long momentsbefore he shrugged. “Dating is hard, but it gets even more complicated when youhave to rely on strangers to find someone you can relate to.”
With anyone else I might have said theysounded bitter, but his tone was more resigned.
“The club should help fix that…applicationsand background checks to make sure everyone is sane and you’ll have a safespace to meet people in.” I tried to sound cheerful so it wouldn’t come acrosslike I was doubting them. But I had a feeling it sounded like I was shooing himoff to find other Doms.
When had I gotten so bad at getting to knowsomeone I was interested in?
When was the last time I’d really wanted toget to know someone?
Suddenly I was feeling old and rusty.Trying again, I snorted. “And maybe if you give me a membership, I’ll be ableto figure out how to talk to people again without sounding like an asshole.”
That had a quiet chuckle escaping thestern-looking omega.
“Yeah, you need work.” Bradley’s dryresponse made me laugh.
Once I stopped, I sighed and did my best tolook a bit pathetic. “You’re not even going to volunteer to help me out? You’renot even going to let me practice a bit on you so I don’t look stupid at theclub? Come on, as an owner of the club, it’s your job to make sure members havea good time. I won’t be able to do that if I’m not smooth enough to get a sexyomega’s attention.”
Bradley actually barked out a laugh. Hisstance relaxed and he turned his head to give me a look that said he thought Iwas ridiculous. But since I had a feeling only his friends saw that expression,I felt pretty special.
Bradley snorted. “My job is to help youattract some omega who’s desperate for an alpha to dominate him?”
“Yes.” I gave him my best non-threatening,sincere smile. “I clearly need help and you’re the owner.”
Rolling his eyes, Bradley gestured towardthe backyard. “And what would you call those yahoos?”
“Taken, taken, taken, distracted, and sad.”I shrugged. “That means helping me is up to you.”
“We’re not even open yet.” He thought hehad me.
I smiled wider. “I just happen to have anin with the guy who’s building the site. I can guarantee I’ll be the firstapplicant.”
He narrowed his eyes and gave me thatjudgmental look that I was starting to find just a little bit sexy. “Beingsneaky is not an attractive quality.”
