Owned (Office Intrigue Book 8) by Nicole Edwards (bill gates book recommendations txt) 📕

him?” That made me chuckle. “A little forward for a submissive, no?”

Braelyn took a drink, kept walking. “I didn’t want to do it. But he wasn’t making a move.”

“And that, dirty girl, was your first mistake. By making the suggestion when he didn’t, you robbed the poor man of his control.”

She stopped suddenly, pivoting to face me. There was a look of sheer horror in her eyes when she blurted, “Are you saying I broke him?”

Thankfully I hadn’t been taking a drink, otherwise I would’ve made an unnecessary mess.

I managed to contain my laugh but not my smile. “You did not break him. He never had the control in the first place.”

“What makes you such an expert on the subject?” she asked, a haughty tone to her voice. “How’d you learn?”

“I didn’t. It’s a part of my chemical makeup. And I’m not an expert. But I do know a bit about Domination and submission.”

“Because you own … people. Why do you own them?”

“Because I want to.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Actually, it is. It’s my desire to control every aspect of their lives. And I’ve surrounded myself with those whose desire it is to relinquish that control.”

“Just like that? Did they have a say in the matter? Back before you perfected your website?”

Because I’d answered this many times in my life, I knew exactly what she was getting at. “The only choice they had to make was to give consent for me to choose for them. And that was the last decision I allowed them to make.”

Braelyn’s expression sobered and she exhaled. “I hate that you make so much sense when none of this makes sense at all.”

Taking her hand, I continued toward the pool house.

“What are your thoughts now that you’ve witnessed some of it?”

When she looked up at me, frowning, I could tell I’d surprised her with the abrupt shift in topic.

“I … uh … I’m trying to wrap my head around it all. I’ll get there. Someday.” Braelyn glanced back toward the house. “I know the party’s still going, but I think I’m going to turn in for the night.”

“I’ll walk you to your room.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“I disagree.”

I could practically feel her tension. If I had to guess, Braelyn expected me to make a move, perhaps talk myself into her bedroom. Or demand entry, as she seemed to believe was the way a Dominant handled things.

Did I want to? Absolutely. Would I? No.

We were still on rocky ground, and until I felt as though she trusted me again, I knew I had to keep things casual. I was sincere in my apology for my outburst last night, and it still angered me that I’d reacted so poorly with her. She deserved so much better than that. And she deserved to come to terms with this new world I’d thrust her in.

This woman had captivated me in ways I never expected. She was evoking strange emotions, ones I’d never experienced before, and I wanted to pursue them, to see where this might lead. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t opposed to the possibilities of something … different. Something more. I had everything I wanted except for that one person who would own my heart.

And while there were never guarantees of success to any venture, I suspected Braelyn Bishop was the one and only person I could actually fall in love with.

And there was a better than good chance that was already happening.

THIRTY

Braelyn

I couldn’t sleep.

Not only was my mind restless, so was my body, a layer of chaos coating everything, making me feel out of sorts. Normally I would’ve thought it was stress induced, but that wasn’t the case now. No, this was due to my overactive libido. I was … horny.

Sure, I could remedy the situation with the trusty vibrator Tiegan had gifted me with, but I didn’t want it. I wasn’t interested in temporary relief. I needed something that would scorch me to my soul, and there was only one person who could offer me the satisfaction I sought.

I groaned.

When I had excused myself for the evening, I hadn’t exactly been tired, but I never expected sleep to be quite this elusive. I’d been tossing and turning for the past three hours and … nothing.

My thoughts continued to drift to Talon, to the way he had sweetly kissed me good-night when he walked me to my room. Part of me had hoped (expected) him to make a move, to talk himself past the threshold and into my bed. No doubt about it, I would’ve let him in, would’ve accepted whatever he was willing to offer. I was completely and irrevocably infatuated with him. My body craved his touch.

Unfortunately, Talon had been the perfect gentleman, kissing me chastely before walking away. My first reaction had been hurt. Ever since our argument at dinner and the subsequent apology, he’d been keeping me close but at a distance. As though he wasn’t sure he wanted me anymore.

Was he back at the party? Was he indulging in one of his own possessions? Were there others watching him do so?

I had no idea what Talon was into, but if he was anything like my brother, not much was off-limits.

And that was another thing I continued to fret about. My brother.

I knew he was considering this job offer from Talon. Probably leaning more toward taking it than not. And yes, he’d promised he wouldn’t do anything until we talked, but I knew him. This was a potential future for him. A good one if I had to guess.

What if Talon and I didn’t … I don’t know … work out? What if we went our separate ways? Could I seriously live on this island with him, knowing I’d never have him? It seemed like a lifetime of punishment, one I wasn’t eager to indulge.

Which meant I would be forced to leave. Now that Ransom seemed to be finding some happiness, who was I to disrupt that? I had seen him with