Page 15 of Seduce

“Max and Jordan know not to get between a Dom and his sub unless absolutely necessary.”

“We’re not Dom and sub. We’re not anything.” Tessa stared at Damon. He was a little hard to ignore standing right in front of her in a black t-shirt, which molded to his large chest, and black jeans so tight she could see the bulge of his cock. Heat filled her veins.

“Not yet.” His voice was soft. “Why don’t you go sit down, and I’ll be right there.”

Tessa snorted, before turning on her heel and marching away. She never snorted. Damon had somehow burrowed under her skin. She took her seat and waited.

A few minutes later, Damon walked in and to the front of the room where the podium stood. “Good evening. I know I’m not Destiny. She’s much cuter than me.” Laughter filled the room. “Destiny had an emergency, so I’m pitch-hitting tonight. How did everyone like the book?”

Tessa glanced at her friends, who looked as shell-shocked as she felt.

Over the next hour, Damon did a great job going over the points of the book and telling them which book to read for next month. “If you’ll give me a few minutes, I’ll get to the counter so you can buy the book, if you choose. See you all next month.”

“Counter?” Sierra’s voice held confusion.

“He said he was pitch-hitting for Destiny. He must be filling in for her at the cash register as well,” Crystal said.

Neither Max nor Jordan looked surprised. Tessa eyed the men, suspicion building in her mind. “You two knew he’d be running the book club tonight,” she said.

“Nope,” Jordan replied as he stood. “Let’s go look around.” He pulled Crystal from the makeshift room.

“We had no idea about tonight.” Max stood, and he and Sierra left.

Something didn’t feel right. Tessa went out into the store. There were several people in line to buy the book and a few others wandering around the store. Tessa walked down an aisle. All too soon, it was only the six of them in the store.

“I’m glad that went well. I was nervous,” Damon said.

“You did great,” Sierra said.

“Why did Destiny ask you to fill in?” Tessa asked. It didn’t make a lot of sense. While Damon had been at the book club meetings, why would she ask him to fill in?

Max and Jordan shifted and were studying the ceiling. Sierra started tapping her foot, and Crystal poked Jordan who didn’t respond.

“She asked me because I own the place,” Damon said with a grin of a cat that knew exactly where he’d hidden her keys.

CHAPTER FIVE

“What?” Sierra and Crystal said at the same time.

“So I’m not the only one who kept secrets,” Tessa said, and Damon winked at her.

“Come on, ladies,” Max said, urging Sierra to move. “I think Damon and Tessa need some alone time.”

“I agree.” Jordan swept Crystal out the door with Max and Sierra following. Through the window, Tessa could see Sierra talking to Max with her hands waving. Damon went over and locked the door and turned the sign to closed.

“So you own an adult store?” Tessa leaned against the front counter watching Damon. Why had he felt it necessary to keep it from her? Sierra and Crystal had been surprised as well.

“I do. Why don’t you go look around while I close out the register, then we can talk?”

“Okay.” While she was surprised to find out Damon owned the store, she wasn’t upset that he’d kept this from her. Maybe because she kept her own secrets.

Tessa went back to the aisle that held the restraints. She knew about the lifestyle, and she’d been tied up with scarves or rope, but never anything like what she saw here in the store. She looked over the boxes until she came to the cuffs. She picked them up. There was some weight, but she assumed that was the metal. Tessa flipped the box over and read the description. Silk-lined cuffs with a leather covering. The picture showed buckles and heavy rings, plus carabiner clips on the rings. Interesting.

“Would you like a demonstration?” Damon asked.

Tessa’s face grew warm. “I think that would be very helpful.” Why not? It wasn’t like anyone besides her friends were going to see them. She wanted to see how they felt, and why not have Damon do the honors.

He smiled, took the box from her, and opened it. Her heart sped up as metal clanked against metal.

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