Page 67 of Heist

He brushed a kiss to her lips and released her chin, allowing her to return to the phone.

When they were airborne and the captain informed them they were at cruising altitude, Patrick plucked her phone from her hands.

“Times’ up, baby girl. Let’s go to the bedroom.”

For a moment she looked like she wanted to protest, but she gave a nod and stood to follow him to the bedroom. She looked tense, but hopefully he would be able to help her relax.

Once there, Austin wasted no time removing her clothes. Patrick leaned against the cabin wall, slowly unbuttoning his shirt as he watched her. He’d already stowed his carryon in the room and there was some rope in it. After tossing his shirt aside, he retrieved the bag and pulled out several lengths.

“I want you on the bed with your ass in the air. Grip your ankles. That will mean pushing your face into the mattress so look to your left when you do.”

Austin stood, seemingly paralyzed for a moment, and Patrick chuckled. “What’s wrong?”

“Sorry. Just nervous all of a sudden. I’ve been so focused on work lately I think I just need a minute.”

Patrick dropped the rope on the bed and crossed the short distance to her. “What would help put you in a submissive headspace?”

Austin reached for him and he pulled her into his arms. “Talk to me, baby girl,” he murmured, stroking her hair.

Austin pulled away. “I’m sorry, Sir. I’m being a terrible submissive.” She moved to go around him and get on the bed, but he caught her arm and stopped her.

“You’re not being a terrible submissive, but I do need you to talk to me. Why so tense?”

Austin blew out a breath. “I think it might come out that I’m a member of Solitaire and I’m worried about what that means for us.”

Patrick sat on the edge of the bed and pointed at the floor. “Kneel and tell me more.”

Austin dropped to her knees and pressed her palms into her thighs. Why hadn’t she told him any of this before they got on the plane?

“I got an e-mail from a reporter asking me to confirm whether or not I was a member. I haven’t responded. I got it just after we got on the plane. But I know it’s already common knowledge that you’re part of the club. I’ve just always kept it a secret.”

Patrick cupped her cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me as soon as you got it?”

Austin took a shuddering breath. “I was trying to decide how I wanted to deal with it. I feel like if I leave it until Monday, it will be OK. The journalist is from a magazine that prints on Wednesdays, but they blog every weekday so I’m not sure. I just left it sitting in my inbox.”

Patrick dragged a hand through his hair. Having them connected by a sex club would make their media problem even worse. It was the sort of thing gossip sites and magazines loved to blow out of proportion. If they had gotten ahold of Austin’s membership information, that meant he needed to talk to Lance about beefing up their information security. This was not something that should have gotten out.

“OK. I need to get this information to Lance, baby girl. It’s important. But then, I want us to put this aside for just a little bit and focus on each other. You’re right, there is little we can do about it this weekend. I’m going to step out and call Lance. When I come back, I expect to find you on the bed the way I instructed.”

Austin nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

Patrick stepped, shirtless, back into the main cabin of the jet and pulled out his phone. Connecting to the plane’s Wi-Fi, he pulled up the video calling system and dialed Lance, Eli, and Garrett in a group chat. They could pull other board members in if it seemed necessary.

“Put some clothes on man,” Lance said with a grin when his face popped up on the screen. It appeared he was already at Solitaire. Eli answered from his own jet with Holly sitting next to him, and Garrett answered from his office.

“What’s going on, Patrick?” Eli asked.

“This is a board thing,” he said.

He waited while Holly stood and retreated to some other part of the jet.

“What’s wrong?” Garrett asked when she was gone.

“I think we have a leak or a hacker of some kind at the club.”

Lance’s eyebrows shot up. “Like hell we do,” he said, already tapping keys somewhere off screen.

“What makes you think this, Patrick?” Eli asked, ever the calm one, preferring to have all the facts before making a judgement.

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