Gathering her courage, she nodded, determined to take the plunge and learn more about her deviant appetites once and for all. The door to the limo opened and Lacey gasped when she saw Jacob.
Since Michael had exited the vehicle to knock on her door like a gentleman, as well as assisted her in and out of the car, she hadn’t been aware who the driver was. He was dressed similarly, in a nice suit with a silk tie.
“Hiya, Lacey.” He stepped back and held the door open.
Keeping her hands on her dress and her knees locked firmly together, she managed to squirm off the seat without showing any unnecessary skin. Michael exited behind her.
“I’m going to park around the back.” Jacob looked at Michael and waited for his nod before he took off, leaving them alone. She lifted her head, peering into Michael’s face. Her stomach rolled as she realized she’d already broken one of the rules—eye contact—and quickly looked down.
“Good girl.” He sounded pleased. “You’re learning.”
Instead of becoming angry at what might have been construed as an insult, she felt tingles in her stomach. Michael placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her toward the house. The noise coming from inside was muted but the windows revealed the shadows of people. The door swung open before they had the chance to ring a doorbell or knock.
“Well, well, well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise?” The voice was deep and slightly accented with a hint of what appeared to be a Scottish or Irish dialect.
“Shouldn’t Trevor have you on a leash somewhere?” Michael asked good-naturedly.
“He wouldn’t dare. I might be his bitch but not to that extent, and never in public.”
“Lacey, this is Brian.” Michael gently nudged her forward and uncertainty overwhelmed her.
Did she extend her hand and say hello? Or did she just stand there like a mindless twit?
“You already have her tied up in knots. That’s not nice at all.” She felt fingers surround her chin and she lifted her gaze and peered into the most exquisite pair of gray eyes she had ever seen. He wasn’t as tall as Michael but he was broader, and his coloring and notable brogue told her that she’d been correct in her first guess of his ancestry.
“What a pretty little thing you are.” Brian smiled, his full lips parting to reveal a perfect smile.
He ran his finger along her jaw and brushed his thumb across her lower lip, eliciting a startled intake of air. He grinned and glanced at Michael. “You’re a lucky bastard. Do you know that?”
“Yes, I do.” Lacey found herself out of Brian’s hold and in Michael’s arms in the same second.
“Keep your hands to yourself.”
“Still not sharing?”
“Hell no.”
“It’s a shame, greedy sod.” Brian sighed and moved aside. “Come in. The night’s not getting any younger.”
Even though her gaze was lowered, Lacey was still able to see the submissive men and women seated at the feet of their masters and mistresses in the living room. Most were entirely naked with the exception of collars and cuffs, although a couple of the women did have sheer outfits that resembled something that would be suited for a harem. A few of the subs sent sidelong glances in her direction, but it was only obvious because she was studying them as well.
“We’ve sectioned off the entertainment room on the second floor for open play, which I’m sure you’ll want to avoid this evening. Vaughn is in the kitchen doing a lesson on temperature and fire cupping, if you want to step in to take a look.” Brian walked ahead, as if giving a tour. “The basement is set up with several play areas, if you’d like to watch and observe or play yourself. There are stations, including a few booths.”
It was impossible to block out the moans from above as they exited the living room and passed under the archway of a double staircase. As they walked past an ornate dining room, Lacey glanced to the right and saw several people crowding the door to the kitchen. Muted whimpers came from the area. She blushed and kept moving. A woman or a man could be tethered to the kitchen table, naked as the day they were born, while all kinds of wicked things were performed on them in there.
After what seemed like an eternity Brian stopped and stepped aside, leaving them beside an enormous staircase that led down. “Before you leave tonight,” Brian said, becoming serious, “you need to speak to Trevor. He’s downstairs.”
“It can’t wait?” The hand at her back became firm and Michael’s tone shifted from relaxed to guarded.
Despite Michael’s earlier instructions, Lacey looked up to witness the exchange. Brian’s friendly smile was gone, and when she looked at Michael he appeared angry. Brian peered over at her and shook his head before he took off in the opposite direction. Turning until they were facing each other, she placed a hand on Michael’s chest. He glanced at her, and she could tell he was torn about something.
“Tell me what’s wrong.” She moved closer, until they were pressed against each other.
He didn’t meet her gaze, focusing on their interlocked hands. “The day Aly showed up at my place, I told her that I was going to speak to Trevor about taking her on as a full-time submissive. She wasn’t very receptive to the idea but she didn’t argue. I assumed that meant she was going to do as I asked but now I’m not so sure. If Trevor wants to speak with me then something had to have gone wrong. Doms don’t usually meddle in the affairs of submissives and their former partners. If they want answers they go directly to the source.”
The mention of Aly’s name revived anger and jealousy she’d almost forgotten. When she saw just how conflicted Michael was, she bit back the evil green monster.
“Should you talk to him now?”
“Probably.” He lifted his head. “Trevor wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
She felt her cheeks heat as she pictured Brian and Trevor intimately. She’d met plenty of gay couples in California but none of them had been so masculine. Usually she could tell when men were into other men.
“What is the deal with them? Are they a couple? Like a real couple?” Although she’d yet to meet Trevor, Brian had made it clear at the door that the other man was in charge.
“Are you asking who’s the top and who’s the bottom?”
“Brian doesn’t seem like much of a submissive.” She pictured the heat in Brian’s stare when he’d touched her earlier. There was definitely a Dom vibe.
“That’s because he isn’t—not technically. He’s a submissive, but only when it comes to Trevor, and they never play that way in public.”
“How would something like that work?”
Michael’s sexy grin made the warm champagne fizzle in her abdomen return. “They invite thirds into the mix when they’re at the club, with both of them dominating.”
“Oh.” The flush that had started in her belly crept all over her skin, covering every single inch of her body.
“That’s why I thought Aly would work for them. They don’t have a permanent third but they’ve been searching for one for a long time.”
“Two men at the same time?” She tried to wrap her head around two men telling her what to do and how to do it. As exciting as it was, it was also terrifying. With Michael it felt right. With someone else?
She shuddered.
“I’m glad to see that thought doesn’t turn you on. As much as I want to fulfill all your fantasies, I don’t share.” His eyes slitted, going ice blue. “Ever.”
He drew her into his arms as his mouth covered hers. His hand moved to her dress, delved beneath and raised the thin material until she felt the tepid air on her ass just before his palm covered it. He squeezed the bare skin as his tongue slid past her lips and stroked, the forceful plunges strong and deep. When he pulled away she dimly noticed her fists were clenching his jacket and her legs were almost as liquid as water. He smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead before he playfully slapped her ass, removed his hand, readjusted her dress and took her hand.