The Architect (Nashville Neighborhood Book 3) by Nikki Sloane (top e book reader .TXT) 📗

I was dying inside at picturing Travis under Clay’s command. Had he been restrained while Clay demonstrated all the sensations the different implements could give? The bite of the clamps? The sting of the paddle?

The pure fire of the cane?

I was so turned on, it was uncomfortable, but I pretended I wasn’t affected. “How many sessions have you done?”

“Two. After the second one, he started to pull away.” His gaze darted away for a moment, then returned to me. “Maybe he felt like he’d shown me as much as he could, but then I got a call from him out of the blue.” He moved subtly closer. “He told me to go to the club that night because he’d be there, and he was bringing someone he wanted me to meet.”

I sucked in a breath at the memory.

But his reaction wasn’t the same as mine because his expression twisted with displeasure. “He said I wasn’t allowed to speak to you until he’d introduced us, which if you remember . . .”

“He didn’t.”

“Nope. It’s why I was pissed when the scene was over and he made me leave. He didn’t give me any feedback that night either. I didn’t know what to think. For the three of us to have this amazing experience together, and then to have him act like it had no chance of happening again . . . I was so confused. He wouldn’t even tell me your name.”

“Because he’s so private?” I guessed.

“Yeah, I thought it was a trust issue.” His mood suddenly lightened. “But a week later he called, apologized, and explained the situation. You were a new submissive, I was a new dom looking for experience, and he’d been enjoying guiding me. We could all get something from this arrangement he was suggesting.” He smiled. “Once again, it was an easy yes.”

I knew I shouldn’t say it, because I liked him, and it would be better if I didn’t like him. It felt as if there were a time limit on our relationship and admitting my feelings would be pushing the start button on the clock. But it was unavoidable. “I’m glad you said yes.”

He leaned close, tilting his head down so his mouth hovered right over mine. “Me too.”

Our kiss wasn’t long, but it contained so much passion, I was buzzing in its aftermath. He was too, although his was literal. I had a hand on his hip and felt the phone vibrate in his pocket.

He checked the email and visibly brightened.

“Good news?” I asked.

“Yeah. One of the trainers giving me an update on a ring-tailed lemur. Jasmina’s twenty-two, which means she’s nearing the end of her life, and we’ve been battling this lingering infection. It’s been resistant to everything I’ve tried so far.” He pocketed his phone and looked relaxed. “But the new medication seems to be working. She ate all of her food and has been more active today.”

“Oh, that is good.”

He smiled like he was recalling a memory. “She’s a handful. Lemurs are female-dominant and Jasmina’s the matriarch of the troop, so I’m sure she’s anxious to get back on exhibit and keep everyone in line.”

“How long do lemurs usually live?”

“In captivity? Between twenty to twenty-five years. She’s a special girl, but I don’t know how much longer she’ll have a good quality of life. It’s been hard watching her struggle with this stubborn infection.”

“I get the feeling,” I said softly, “you’re especially close with her.”

His eyes read guilty as charged. “Jasmina was my first patient when I took up my residency at the zoo, and you know what they say. You always remember your first.”

God, the way he looked at me. I smiled and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, trying not to think about how we were each other’s firsts in our unconventional relationship.

“So, anyway,” he continued, “I know it’s a fight I’m eventually going to lose, but I’m going to keep trying anyway.”

He held my gaze for a long moment and my heart slowed to a stop. Was he talking about Jasmina . . . or me?

“Lilith!” Cassidy came at me so fast, she nearly ran into me. Her eyes were glassy and full of laughter. “You’re next.”

“For what?”

She flung a finger toward the center of the ring and the empty saddle that waited.

Travis chuckled, but I shook my head. No matter how good of balance I thought I possessed, I had zero desire to flop down on the mat in front of a bar full of strangers. Which was kind of hilarious when I thought about it. I’d had no issue letting people watch as Travis fucked me at Eros.

But that was different. People hadn’t been rooting to see me fail like they would here.

“I’m going to pass,” I said.

But she didn’t want to take no for an answer. Her warm hand wrapped around my wrist, but when she tugged me toward the entrance, I stayed rooted to the ground.

Travis nodded and a wide, unhelpful grin smeared across his face. “I think you should do it.”

“You first,” I shot back at him.

Greg appeared at Cassidy’s side, handing her a glass of what looked like ice water. “Preston’s getting ready to go next.”

“Oh, this I gotta see,” I said, turning my attention back to the ring.

My phone vibrated with a text message. It was from Travis, sent to our group chat with Clay, and was a photo he must have snapped moments ago of the empty mechanical bull.

Travis: Do you want to see Lilith ride this?

“Don’t include him on your peer pressure,” I teased.

Clay: I’d rather watch her riding something else. Like your dick.

I lifted my gaze from the screen, pretending to be shocked and scandalized.

“That’s naughty,” I whispered.

Travis grinned as he thumbed out his reply.

Travis: I can make that happen.

TWENTY-ONE

Our group chat was active. The week after my date with Travis, private DMs from a married, conservative politician leaked online, and his atrocious and graphic texts to his mistress gave us a lot to talk about. I’d started it off