Page 23 of Sweet Heat at Bayside
“He gave you aslavebracelet?” Violet asked with more than a hint of shock. “I did not expect that kind of frickery.Wow.”
“What’s a slave bracelet?” Desiree asked. “That sounds really offensive, Violet. You shouldn’t say that in public.”
Violet stopped dancing and gave her sister a deadpan look. “Notthatkind of slave, Desiree. It indicates a love slave. They relinquish all rights to their master.”
“Who would do that?” Desiree gasped, looking at Serena with troubled eyes.
“What?No!What are you…? He isn’t…Ohmygosh.” She stormed off the dance floor and headed for the table. The girls followed like she was the pied piper. She stopped, and they collided into her. She turned around as they frantically apologized all at once.
“Please don’t say anything, okay?” she pleaded. “I don’t need everyone thinking this about me.Us.There is nous!”And if he is into slaves, there is definitely nous.
“We won’t,” Desiree promised.
“Promise,” Harper said.
Chloe laughed. “My lips are sealed, but I totally want to know!”
“I don’t,” Mira said.
Serena needed a drink. Orthree. She glared at Violet and Emery.
“Fine.You guys are so weird.” Violet went back to the dance floor.
“Okay, but you have to tell us what he says when we’re not around the guys,” Emery urged. Then she joined Violet.
Serena thought she was nervous before, but every step closer to the table made her heart race faster. The girls took their seats, chatting with Rick and Dean and stealing glances at her. Her thoughts fragmented as Drake rose to his feet in all his rugged glory—and she pictured him with a whip, wearing leather shorts and a collar.
Shootshootshoot.
“Take my seat, Supergirl,” he said. “I got you another drink.”
She sank down to his chair.
He pushed a glass in front of her and leaned in close, bringing his mouth beside her ear. His chest pressed deliciously against her side as he said, “It was torture watching you dance and not being out there with you.”
“What do you want to do? Handcuff me to your wrist?” she snapped in a hushed whisper.
He chuckled against her cheek, and despite her irritation, her entire body heated and tingled in anticipation of his lips on her again.
“Is that what youwant?” he asked in a low voice.
“No!” She put her hand up, shielding her mouth as she spoke harshly intohisear. “I can’t believe you got me aslavebracelet!”
“What?” he said angrily. “I didn’t.”
She held up her arm and twisted her hand from side to side, showing him the bracelet. “Violet said it’s a slave bracelet.”
“She’swrong,” he said vehemently, putting his mouth beside her ear again. “I’dneverwant you for my slave. I’m not into that.” The distaste in his voice conveyed his honesty.
“Then why did you get me a slave bracelet?”
“I got you a bracelet Iliked, something edgy and different, likeyou,” he said.
She pressed her lips together, wishing she’d asked Violet if they sold them in places other than kinky sex stores. “Where’d you get it?”
“From a custom-jeweler friend of mine, Sterling. We designed it together two months ago. He’s in P-town with his brothers for the weekend. He called the office today. You’ve talked to him several times. Why?”
Oh boy. Now she felt like an idiot. “I’m sorry.” She reached for her drink, and he covered her hand with his, stopping her.
