“When I leave he’ll be back to his happy self,” she said, reminding him of her earlier threat.
Grayson gazed at Greg over Kelsey’s bright blonde head, one black brow lifted as he waited for his answer to that remark. With his engorged cock pressing against his zipper, his reaction upon hearing her first threaten to return home had been relief followed by an alarming sense of panic. Now, his only response was determination not to end up responsible for another attack on her, or worse. Regardless of her irritation with him and Devin, and of his escalating lust, he refused to let her go until the McAllisters gave them the all clear.
“We will discuss all this tomorrow, but you know as well as I, you won’t go against your foster parents’ wishes when they’re only thinking of your safety.”
“Anything I need to know about?” Grayson asked sharply. As the county sheriff, their ranch fell under his jurisdiction.
“No, but I’ll be sure to let you know if that changes. Master Grayson is the sheriff, Kelsey.”
Avery laughed at Kelsey’s piqued expression. “Give it up, Kelsey. In case you haven’t figured it out yet in your time at the ranch, when these guys get into protective mode, there’s no talking them out of it.”
“I think I just found that out. You call it protective, but I call it over-bearing.” She turned toward him and asked, “Is there anything I can do tonight?”
“We’ll see.” Greg caught the hopeful expression on Kelsey’s face and the remainder of his anger with her slipped away. It was obvious she wouldn’t be opposed to exploring some of what she was feeling with him, and it was much harder to turn her down now that he’d seen her indisputable streak of submissiveness. Before he crossed the line he and Devin had agreed upon, he needed to speak with his partner. The two of them didn’t always share a sub when playing, but he respected Devin’s opinion and sensibilities on the subject of getting involved with a woman under their protection. Even though Devin had left anything to do with agreeing to the McAllisters’ request to shelter Kelsey for a few weeks up to him, Greg saw the look in his eyes as he’d held her shuddering, aroused body on his lap. He wanted to help her explore her new desires as much as Greg did, he just didn’t want to admit it.
Kelsey’s eyes widened and her face flushed as she looked over Greg’s shoulder. Turning to see what snagged her attention, he grinned as Dan joined them, Nan’s hand clutched in his, the tips of her full breasts now pierced with attached chains clipped to the D ring in the center of her collar. “Aren’t you a pretty sight, Nan?”
“I think so.” Dan reached up and flicked one nipple.
“Thank you, Sirs.” Her golden eyes swiveled toward Kelsey. “You must be Master Greg’s guest. I’m Nan.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Greg spotted Devin heading their way and lifted Kelsey off the stool, liking the way she leaned into him. Glancing from Grayson to Dan, he said, “With your permission, I think Kelsey might benefit from some girl talk in the hot tub.”
“I’ll be here for another forty minutes, so go ahead Avery,” Grayson replied with a nod.
“Your girl does look as if she has questions.” Dan winked at Kelsey then took Nan’s mouth in a deep, possessive kiss before releasing her with a nudge toward the other two. “Have fun.”
“I’ll come out and get you shortly,” Greg told Kelsey. “Don’t go wandering off.”
“Of course not.”
She turned to follow Avery and Nan but not before he caught the roll of her eyes, a gesture prompting him to address with a quick, physical reprimand. The swat he delivered on her sore ass drew a sharp inhale and forced her hand behind her to cover the offended area. “Careful,” he warned when she turned and glared at him.
Grayson grinned, watching the three girls walk out back. “She’s not shy, is she?”
“If you’re talking about Kelsey, the answer’s no,” Devin remarked as he slid onto the stool next to the one Greg took a seat on.
Dan sent him a quizzical glance. “You don’t sound happy about having her around.”
“I’m not.” His gaze slid toward the back glass slider and he narrowed his eyes.
Greg looked out and saw Kelsey’s bare breasts jiggle as she shimmied out of her skirt. Taking a half step around, she bent slowly and picked up her top and skirt and laid them on a deck chair.
Devin turned his dark look on Greg. “She did that on purpose.”
Amused by both Kelsey and his friend, he drawled, “So don’t watch,” his remark drawing a chuckle from Grayson and Dan.
“I always enjoy a teasing striptease, especially one that gives me a lovely look at a new sub.” Dan smirked as he brought his beer bottle to his lips.
“I do believe that’s the first complaint over a sub revealing herself I’ve heard from you, Fisher.” Grayson handed him a brew. “Here. Chill.”
For the first time since he’d picked up Kelsey over a week ago, Greg saw Devin’s tense shoulders relax and a rueful grin pull at the corners of his mouth.
Kelsey shuddered, the hot, bubbling water doing little to prevent the chill hearing about Nan’s horrendous ordeal caused. “And Greg and Devin didn’t know about what happened during those three days that asshole kept you locked down there?” She couldn’t help but admire the strength it took for Nan to return home and work to get her life back after being kidnapped by a sadist and left locked in a dark cellar room after he’d taken a whip to her.
Nan sank lower on the seat until the water rose to her nipples, sighing in enviable pleasure. “No, that was another mistake I made, thinking I could just jump back into a scene after everything he put me through. They were as ticked off at me as Master Dan when I freaked out.”