Page 59 of Bonds of Fate

“Sassy. Here we are. House: library lights on, zones A and B.” The lamps in the center of the office and the upper level turn on, and it’s easier to see some of Finn’s space. It’s a two-story room at the front of the right-wing of their home. There are two floors joined by a central spiral staircase, and the hundreds of books are meticulously organized by the Dewy Decimal System, for fuck’s sake.

The desk is clear of clutter and sturdy as fuck—he knows this from experience. The scent of black currants and books is strong, and it’s the scent of home. He’s spent a lot of time here on the soft, welcoming couch behind the desk, in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows that never see direct sun.

It’s to the couch that he leads his sexy, vanilla-scented mate.

“Am I in trouble?”

He wants to laugh at his tone that’s part sass and part concern—like a teenager caught sneaking out but unsure if they should admit to any wrongdoing just in case.

Future Gideon will ask if there’s something he did that Gideon should know about, but today’s Gideon just wants to be sure his newest love is up to play.

When he sits, Nix helps himself to his lap with comfortable familiarity, and Gideon knows that no matter the answer to his questions, he and his kitten will be good.

“What did you and Jay talk about after you left my room?”

Nix flushes an even deeper shade of pink. “Uh…we talked about how Luca needs you to feel happy and that you decide stuff for him so he doesn’t have to do it—and that includes sex stuff.”

“That’s actually pretty accurate. Do you know anything about BDSM?”

Nix tilts his head. “Not really.”

They both know why, andhehas no place here right now. Gideon allows himself a surge of relief that the earlier show of deference at the lunch table had been Nix’s instinct and not some mockery of the dynamic.

“That’s okay, but sometimes, when things aren’t so hectic, we can maybe talk more about it if you are interested in what Luca and I do. It’s something we both need to be happy, and it works well for everyone in the pack.”

He makes sure he has all of Nix’s attention before continuing.

“You are not, and I cannot express this enough: you arenotrequired to be involved in anything we do; if it ever makes you uncomfortable, you can tell me or Jay at any time. I only ask that if you can, try not to make Luca feel bad or interrupt him if he seems…”

He’s at a loss for the right words to use for someone outside the community. He hates that he’s ill-prepared, and for the first time, he thinks maybe Nix should sit this evening out.

“Floaty?”

“What?” He’s surprised because that’s a great description.

“Is it like how I get when I scent too much and everything fades away?”

“You feel like that? Hmmm. It’s a lot like that, but in this instance, Luca gets there through sex and sometimes pain.”

“He likes it when you hurt him?” He seems skeptical.

“He does, but we have a list of ways he enjoys and a very clear understanding about how I do it or let others do it.”

“The othersplay,too?”

It’s said with no small amount of interest, and Nix’s butt feels damp through his t-shirt and Gideon’s sweats. The scent of vanilla is so strong that Gideon allows himself a nanosecond fantasy of tipping his kitten over the back of Finn’s couch.

But he’s not done, and this is important.

It’s been a while since he’s had to explain their dynamic to anyone, as the pack has grown along with them through the process of them figuring shit out. Putting it into words is hard, especially when he’s invested in Nix’s acceptance for both his and Luca’s sake.

Luca will be heartbroken if Nix can’t accept them or, worse, criticizes them. If Gideon is completely honest with himself, he will be, too.

“Not the same way Luca and I do. If we involve the others, it’s usually as a tool that I’m implementing to satisfy a need for Luca—and me, too.”

Nix shivers, goosebumps on his thighs and arms. Gideon is excited to learn that his kitten likes the idea.

“This afternoon in my room, Luca came without my permission for the second time today. He has agreed to give me ownership of his pleasure, and he disobeyed.”

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