Chapter 1
Wade
“Okay, what do you think? Is this too muchor just a bit naughty? Sometimes when the guys get excited it’s hard to tell.”Looking at Matthew’s photo on the dresser, I sighed. “I know. It’s too late toback out now.”
Opening night of the club was probably notthe best time to be having an existential crisis, but there I was anyway.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the pictureframe that held his photo and sat down on the bed. I had almost an hour beforeDakota and Tristan were supposed to pick me up, but I had a feeling theyweren’t going to wait that long. Dakota had been texting me all day, asking mevariations on the same question…are you doing okay?
The answer might be no or it might be yes; Ijust wasn’t sure anymore.
“We’ve had mini-scenes when Dakota gets awild hair up his ass and decides we need to try something ridiculous, but thisis going to be a full scene at the club.” Every once in a while, when I talkedto Matthew I knew what he would say, but in that moment, I couldn’t feelanything except nerves.
The smiling picture and thoughts of a scenebrought back memories of our first confusing exploration into BDSM. We’d bothbeen so worried about what the other would think, even though we’d talkedaround the idea for ages. Finally, Matthew had burst out laughing and asked whywe were so scared. He’d said he was just going to spank me, not turn into somekind of serial killer.
“You’re right. They’re not serial killers.”I smiled. “Even though Dakota’s written enough death scenes to probably be adamned good one.”
I could almost hear Matthew laughing. “Iknow. You were right. But since you’re dead, that’s not a bet you’re going tobe able to collect on.”
Matthew had always said Dakota would end upwriting naughty books based on all the crazy things we talked about. He’d madea very dirty bet one time when we’d both been three sheets to the wind and I’donly taken it because, well, it was Dakota and the bet had been ridiculouslyhot.
“Okay. I’ve got this.” Just remembering allthe wild things he’d said and had been curious about made me feel better. “Iknow you’re going to be watching from somewhere, but remember that no matterwhat happens, I love you.”
He’d said almost that exact same thing whenwe’d been on vacation one time. He’d bribed the bouncer at a strip club to letme in too because, of course, having an omega in a strip club had beenscandalous. There weren’t many of those kinds of establishments around anymore,but we’d taken our first and only cruise vacation and had ended up finding oneon this little out-of-the-way street on a tiny island.
He’d gotten a completely random idea thatwe should do something wild we would never do at home. Since I’d never beenable to tell him no when he’d gotten that look in his eyes, we’d skipped thecity tour we’d planned and ended up at a strip club.
Matthew had promised the bouncer that wewould behave and wouldn’t start shit, but he hadn’t really believed us.Evidently they didn’t usually allow couples in because of jealousy issues andnever single omegas, but he’d laughed and said we looked so innocent we’deither leave in minutes or would end up being dirty little things.
We’d ended up being dirty little things.
I still had the selfie we’d taken with thebouncer and one of the club performers that had turned out to be married to thebouncer. It’d been an eye-opening experience for us and had made us really seethat we could make our marriage whatever we wanted it to be.
Giving the photo one last smile, I stoodand walked over to place it back on the dresser. “You’re going to love thisoutfit. I look like one of the dancers from the club that time. But you mightend up seeing me again in person sooner than you think because there’s a damnedgood chance I’ll have a heart attack just thinking about letting people seeme.”
But Austin said I’d looked hot when I’dfirst tried them on, so that was something.
He’d drive everyone nuts about a lot ofthings, but he wouldn’t lie about clothes. Austin’s goal for this eveningseemed to be for everyone to look hot and do outrageous things—and so far, itseemed like I’d let him have his way on both.
I was really going to have to learn to tellhim no…but telling him yes had always been so much more fun.
Gathering up the rest of my stuff andtossing it in my bag, I walked over to the dresser. “Okay, I think I’m done.I’ve got my stuff for tonight and comfy clothes for after. Dakota isthreatening to drag me back to his house later, so don’t worry if I don’t comeback here tonight. Oh, and I also threw in my toothbrush and stuff like that,just in case. Sleepovers are much better if you don’t have to deal with a fuzzymouth the entire next morning.”
I was still ridiculously nervous, but awarm feeling washed over me. “I know. It’s going to be fine.”
A knock at the door had me forcing a biggersmile and standing straighter. “This is going to be great. You’re right.”
Refusing to feel bad about the one-sidedconversation, I grabbed my gym bag and headed for the door. Opening it, Ismiled. “You’re not supposed to be here yet.”
Dakota waved his hands. “I finished thechapter so it was either now or when Tristan remembered to drag me away fromthe computer. But he’s helping with last-minute stuff for the club.”
I nodded. “He’s the best at managing thingsbesides Shane.”
I’d come to learn that idea people andplanners were two different sorts of individuals. Both were necessary, but ourratio seemed to be skewed toward the idea people.
“Yes.” Dakota sighed. “But he’s mine and Ireally don’t want to share.”
I laughed. “You share really well, though.”
