The Exposure (The Submissive 9)

had been an amazing night.

“You okay?” Luke climbed in the bed and pulled her close.

She relaxed in his arms, chiding herself. She didn’t want him to think she regretted anything. And she certainly didn’t like the fact she’d thought about The Taskmaster so much while he was gone. “Just lonely without you.”

“I was gone for five minutes, tops.”

“It felt much longer.”

He started to speak, then hesitated.

“What?” she asked.

“I was just wanting to make sure you were okay with spending the night.”

Was she? Hell, yes. But would it be smart? In their haste, they’d agreed to one night, sure, but should she? Where would that leave them in the morning?

“Will anyone be worried if you don’t go back to your place tonight?”

She laughed. “My plants.”

He nibbled on her ear. “I meant what I said earlier. If we only have tonight, we should take advantage of the whole night.”

“Mmm.” She’d never leave if he kept that up. “When did you get so smart?”

“When I accepted your invitation to dinner.” His fingers teased the back of her neck. Fuck, he’d remembered. All those years and he hadn’t forgotten how to drive her crazy.

“Sir,” she whined, pushing her hips against him. “Please, please, please tell me you’re recovered enough.” He had if the bulge she felt told her anything.

“Probably,” he said, but didn’t move.

Well? she bit back.

“Probably, I have, but there’s something I want to do first.”

As long as he stayed naked and didn’t get out of the bed, he could do whatever he wanted. “What?”

“I want to see if you taste as good as I remember.”

She moaned as he lowered himself between her legs. She might not survive until morning.

Chapter Six

The next Friday night, Meagan eyed the secluded house that looked more like a hunting lodge, and then turned back to Abby. “Are you sure it’s okay that I’m here?”

Abby all but rolled her eyes as they got out of the car. “It’s fine. And you were the one saying you needed to get out more.”

“I could just go to the bed-and-breakfast.” It was what she’d planned to do before Abby invited her to the “Girls’ Night In.”

“You’d be by yourself. That defeats the purpose of getting out.”

“Dena’s husband doesn’t mind all these women sleeping at his house?”

“You, me, Julie, and Sasha are hardly ‘all these women.’ Besides, Dena said Jeff was more than happy to spend the night at Daniel’s.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am.” Abby waved at the car that pulled up behind them. “Look, there’s Sasha.”

They waited while the other woman parked and got her overnight bag. She smiled. “Hey, Abby, and Meagan, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.” The last time Meagan saw Sasha, the evening ended with her soon-to-be Master punishing her for coming without permission. But now, she couldn’t help but notice the gorgeous collar the brunette wore in place of the thin leather band she had on the last time. “Love your collar.”

A look of complete bliss covered Sasha’s face and she lifted one hand to trace the necklace. “Thank you.”

Ah, new love. Had she ever looked like that? “I can’t wait to hear about your hot Brit.”

“I’m surprised Cole let you get away tonight,” Abby said as they made their way to the front door. “Isn’t Friday when you two start your more structured time?”

Sasha ducked her head, but not before Meagan saw her cheeks flush. “Yes, but he had to travel into New York City tonight to meet with his editor and some people she brought in. He said it’d be late, so he’d stay overnight and come home in the morning. Otherwise, I’d planned to just stay for a few hours.”

She sounded a bit wistful, as if she really wanted to be with Cole, but was trying to tell herself that it was just fine she was staying at Jeff and Dena’s. No, Meagan decided, she’d never experienced anything like that before.

A dark-haired man with a gentle smile opened the door. “Hello, ladies. Come on in. Julie’s already back in the bedroom with Dena.” His gaze stopped at Meagan and he offered her his hand. “Jeff Parks.”

His touch was strong and sure. “Nice to meet you, Jeff. Meagan Bishop. I’m a friend of Abby’s.”

“Technically,” Abby said. “She’s my boss, but for tonight, we’re just friends.”

Understanding crossed Jeff’s face. “Her boss, you’re the one—”

“Come on, let’s go see Dena,” Abby interrupted, grabbing Meagan’s hand and pulling her down the hall before Jeff could finish his sentence. “’Bye, Jeff.”

They left a frowning Jeff standing at the front door. Meagan peeked over her shoulder. He stood watching them, his arms crossed. “Uh, Abby. Jeff doesn’t look very happy.”

“I am not going to go into what happened at that club. That was months ago.”

“He was there?” When Abby’s first post went up at the news station, it was an unprecedented success and Meagan had taken her to a BDSM club to celebrate. An old Dom friend asked Meagan to dance and later to play. She’d agreed because he assured her he’d taken care of Abby. But he hadn’t and she’d almost been assaulted.

“He was the one who saved me,” Abby said. “And I’m not talking about it anymore.”

They’d made it to the bedroom where a gorgeous and very pregnant blonde was sitting up in bed, surrounded by pillows and giggling at something the brunette beside her was saying. They looked up at their entrance.

“Hey, guys,” Abby said. “This is my friend Meagan. Meagan, that’s Dena in the bed and Julie beside her. Julie owns Petal Pushers with Sasha.”

Meagan nodded and said hellos, but she couldn’t help but feel out of place. These ladies all knew one another and had shared history. She should have gone to the bed-and-breakfast.

She was even more sure of that when Jeff entered the bedroom. He made a beeline to Dena and sat beside her on the bed. “I’m going to Daniel’s. You let me know if anything happens.”

Dena lightly stroked his cheek and gave him a sweet smile. “Yes, now you go have guy fun. The little miss and I are fine.”

He leaned forward and kissed her. “Love you.” He kissed her belly. “Love you, too. Stay put a few more weeks.”

When he stood up, he spoke to Abby. “Call me if she so much as sneezes.”

Behind him, Dena picked up a pillow and aimed it at his head.

“I see you,” he said.

“Damn, you do have eyes in the back of your head,” Dena said, but put the pillow down.

“Nah, just a well-placed mirror.” He nodded to the far wall. Instead of leaving though, he turned to Meagan. “Any friend of Abby’s is a friend of mine. If she’s made peace with you, I won’t hold the past against you either.”

No one said anything until he left.

“That was cryptic,” Sasha spoke first.

“Not talking about it,” Abby said.

“I should go.” Meagan shook her head. “This was a bad idea.”

“No,” all four women said at once.

Meagan hesitated. It would be nice to be part of girls’ night. “I don’t know.”

“I’m deciding for you,” Abby said. “You’re staying.”

Meagan turned her Domme face on her, but Abby just laughed. “Don’t even.”