Page 55 of Never Tell Secrets
“What's a rope bunny?” I asked.
“You don’t need to know,” Alfie cut in again before Kal could answer.
“Okay, do I need to know what a church mouse is?” I looked between him and Kal but neither of them answered me. “How about a Marie?” Still no answer. I was done being patient. “Alfie, we got done with this bullshit evasiveness two years ago. What’s going on?” We stared at each other, conflict deep in his eyes. He wanted to tell me but he didn’t want me to know.
“You won’t like it,” he said eventually. I gestured at him to spit it out. “Years ago, I played a game involving four women. The prize was that necklace. None of them won it and I gifted it to someone else. One of those women was Pollyanna Berry, it seems she went and bought the necklace after the fact.”
“So? Why do you care?”
“The necklace belonged to Marie Antoinette.” My jaw dropped.
“Marie Antoinette as in the French queen?” I asked and he nodded. “Okay…so why do you care if this Pollyanna has it?”
“She doesn’t deserve to own it,” he said, as if that made any sense. Kal watched us, a curious expression on his face.
“She’s not your concern though. I am.” I held Alfie’s gaze until finally, he nodded. I turned back to Kal. “So, what’s a rope bunny?”
“A woman who’s into rope play. Bondage.”
“Can I watch?” I asked and he arched a brow at me, a smile creeping onto his soft mouth.
“The lady has spoken, Tell.”
“I don’t need her to watch,” he snapped. I knew that tone. He was over this conversation and he wanted me away from here and to himself.
“No? What’s the point in keeping her around if she isn’t a fan of your proclivities?” His proclivities? Why didn’t I understand anything tonight?
You aren’t ready for the kinds of games I want to play…
The words he’d spoken to me once echoed to me now. I swallowed the lump in my throat, hoping the room was dark enough that they wouldn’t see the blush creeping over my skin.
“Who said she wasn’t a fan?” Alfie said, sounding bored. He gave a small shrug. “I’ve tied her up before, I didn’t like it.” My stomach clenched at the memory of me tied by my wrists to Alfie’s bed as he stood over me, naked.
“Well, that’s a first.” Kal stared at him, genuinely surprised. “You didn’t like a woman tied up?”
“This woman specifically, no. Shouldn’t you get back to your blonde? The tension on that arm binder is looking a bit weak.”
“Fuck off, Tell,” Kal said, feigning offence. “What about the Marie?”
“Fuck the Marie. Lola’s right, it’s not important.”
Kal eyed his friend with a shrewd gaze. “What’s gotten into you?”
Alfie didn’t answer.
“Can you give us a minute?” I asked and Kal looked at me, surprised.
“Sure, I’ll be over there. Fixing my arm binder.” I watched him return to the stage to work on his blonde.
“So, this is one of your proclivities?”
“It was.”
I looked at the woman, admiring the intricate ropework encasing her body.
“You know how to do that?” I asked and he nodded, eyeing me carefully. “I want to watch. You said you wanted me to experience this place. I want to watch what you used to be a part of.”
“Are you sure?”
