Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
She closed her eyes, looking like she was in pain.
“Never, baby girl. Understand me?” Liam pressed.
“But you hurt Nico, with his permission,” she added hastily.
“Yes, because it’s what he likes. What he enjoys. I don’t want an unwilling partner. That’s abuse. The minute he tells me he no longer wants that, then it’s off the table.”
“Just like that?”
“Yes.”
Nico raised an eyebrow. Liam turned to look at him, including them both in his stare. “Nothing means more to me than the two of you, got it?”
“Sometimes, I push Liam into taking charge because it helps me let go for a while. I tend to hide things that upset me behind jokes and laughter. Liam gives me a space where I don’t have to think. I trust him. And if something went too far, then he’ll always listen to my safeword.”
“I still don’t know.”
“It’s not all bondage and pain. Of course, if you want to mix in some spanking and role play, then Liam won’t say no. His favorite is where he’s the uptight, grouchy boss and I’m the naughty employee who comes to work late.”
“Nico,” Liam groaned.
Lottie looked shocked, then she actually smiled. “You’re joking.”
“He is,” Liam told her.
“I’m not.”
“Personally, I’ve always wanted to try the butler and the maid, but I don’t have the legs to pull off a maid’s uniform.”
“Dear Lord,” Liam moaned. “He’s making this shit up, baby.”
Nico shook his head, eyes wide. “Just think of the possibilities. He could be a builder. Just imagine him, bending over, showing you his builder’s crack—”
Liam slammed his hand over Nico’s mouth. “I’ll be doing something to your crack soon.”
Lottie just watched them and for a moment, he thought they might have gone too far. He didn’t want her scared of Liam. But her eyes started to twinkle. “You know, I’ve always thought that Liam would make a better farmer.”
“Yeah, I can see that. Him out, milking the cows,” Nico said after he’d pulled Liam’s hand away from his mouth.
“Tending the crops.”
“Oh, he’d be aces at that. Potato growing is in his blood.”
“You’re both in trouble.” Liam pointed a finger at them both while happiness swum through Nico’s veins.
He’d always known she’d fit in. She wouldn’t let Liam take himself too seriously. Wouldn’t let Nico get too carried away.
Nico handed over her phone. “Our numbers are in there.”
She nodded, looking a bit sad. Because she wanted them to stay?
“Lottie, if you hurt yourself again, then I’m going to have to tell Regent,” Liam warned.
Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t.”
He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Nico stared over at Liam. That would break any sort of trust between them.
“Baby, you can’t keep doing this. It has to stop. And I’ll do whatever it takes to help you. Even if it means you hate me.”
Fuck.
Damn bastard was right. They would sacrifice their own happiness for her. To keep her healthy. Safe.
“I don’t want you to say anything,” she told them.
“Then you know what to do.”
“You’re blackmailing me.” She shot Liam an angry look.
“I’m keeping you safe. You think I can go back to my room and sleep, wondering if you’re down here and all right? I can’t. I need you to do this.”
She nodded tiredly. “Okay.”
“Your promise.”
“I promise,” she whispered.
“Good girl.” He turned to Nico. “It’s late and Lottie needs some sleep. Let’s clean up the bathroom.”
“You don’t need to do that,” she said.
“We do,” Liam said firmly.
Nico knew he likely had two reasons for insisting on helping. To get it cleaned up so she didn’t waste time doing it when she should be sleeping. And to ensure there was nothing in there that she could use to hurt herself.
He hated that they had to do that.
Without listening to her protests, they got to work tidying up the bathroom. There was nothing that he could see her using to hurt herself, but it wasn’t like she couldn’t go searching in another bathroom or the kitchen anyway.
Either she was watched all the time, or she was trusted to keep her word.
By the time they’d cleaned up, she was swaying on her feet clearly exhausted.
“Time for you to go to bed.” Liam moved to her and held out his hand.
Nico sucked in a breath. Liam could be affectionate. But generally, only in private and pretty rarely. He didn’t hug a lot or kiss all that often.
Please don’t reject him.
Lottie reached out and slipped her hand into Liam’s. Nico let out a breath as he walked out of the bathroom towards the bed.
“I still don’t think it will work, Liam,” she whispered.
“It will work, pretty girl,” Nico told her as he drew back the blankets. They were soft. And they smelled like her. Sweet and light.
Shit. Wrong time for his dick to get hard.
“We’re going to stay with you until you fall sleep,” Liam told her.
Nico tensed, wondering if that would freak her out. But she simply nodded. Probably too tired to argue. And maybe she trusted them more than she thought she did.