Page 73 of Their Domme

Bodhi:You messaged me so I could tell Sacha and Vas, didn’t you?

Bodhi:Why not the group chat?

Nicholette:Well… you’re dating Sacha too. He might take it better from you.

Plus, this has been the only way we’ve really talked since I got back.A frustrated sigh fell from my lips as I kept that thought to myself instead of texting it. Oli said Bodhi had kept insisting I’d come back, but after I did…nothing. He wasn’t avoiding me like when we first met, but he was somehow always busy.

I shoved all that aside for now. I needed to figure out what the hell Roderick was bringing my way. Walking into the bedroom I had claimed as my own, I pulled off my shirt only to realize I wasn’t alone. Ansel was sitting on the bed, his sharp gray gaze intent on my shirt’s descent to the floor beside me.

“I didn’t realize you were back.”

“I found Joe,” he replied, his hands loose on his lap. My lips parted in shock as my breath was knocked out of me. Shock made my hands feel numb, and Ansel’s brow furrowed with concern.

“Where?” I finally managed to ask as I bent down for my shirt, ready to confront that asshole. I had so many fucking questions.

“No,” Ansel ordered harshly. “Nicholette, come here. Now.”

I swallowed hard, slowly standing up straight as I recalled the price for his help in finding my dad. Us. Talking.About feelings.Couldn’t I just murder or fuck someone instead? I was much better at those two things than what he wanted from me. Too bad he wouldn’t be interested in either option, at least not right now. I could tell from the stern set of his face that he wouldn’t let me run from this conversation; I wished that I could pull an Oli and just leave. Ansel would chase me down though, and I knew what it was like to be chased by him.

Relentless.

He’d stop at nothing until I was his, and he’d opened the door to move that from the physical department into the emotional one. I stood no chance at all when he beckoned me to join him on the bed. Haltingly, I went to him, trying to sit beside him, but I should have known better. He grabbed my waist and tugged me until I straddled him, forcing me to look him in the eye.

“We need to have a long overdue conversation, Nicholette, and you aren’t escaping it because I won’t give you what you want until you do. Just so we’re clear, I’ll know if you lie.” He breathed that last bit to me as he ran a hand through my hair, using it to pull me closer, and I shuddered at the threat.

“Truth is a two-way street, Ansel. I’ll give you what you give me,” I challenged.

We were locked together, sizing up the other person as we tried to figure out where to start. But if he thought I was going to talk first, he didn’t know me as well as he thought he did.

* * *

Oliver

Friday

“Oliver!”

My footsteps faltered on the steps outside the house.Guess getting away without any confrontations just went out the window.I remained where I was, listening to his approach until he stood a step or two away from me.

“Do you still need help? With the hacking, I mean.”

I gave in and glanced over. Atlas was standing there with a neutral expression, and I took that opportunity to inspect him. Shoulder-length blond hair hung loose around his face, and careful blue eyes were fixed on me as he waited for my answer. He was in a loose white t-shirt and ripped jeans, with no shoes. If I had to describe him, I’d say he looked like a surfer. He seemed like he would usually be laid back even though he didn’t appear that way right now.

“This is going to take more than just the skill to hack traffic cams,” I said, trying to brush him off. Was I being just a tiny bit of a brat? Maybe. But if there was ever a time where a little brattiness was warranted, it was definitely when you were unexpectedly confronted with a DNA test you didn’t consent to while your possible brother watched it all play out.

Atlas laughed, the sound light, as he confidently smirked at me, not the least bit put off. “I can do more than hack traffic cams. Making fake documents and hacking are the areas of expertise that I gained after… after things happened in my life. I have my own computers and can pull my weight.”

I fully turned around then, scrutinizing him and his offer. “I don’t want to talk about the shit from the office. This is about getting information regarding the trafficking ring and anything else related to Nic. That’s it.”

“Sounds fair.” He licked his lips. “And just for the record, I didn’t take the envelope either. Blake means well, but they are about as subtle as a wrecking ball.”

“Well, Blake and Nic have that in common,” I said dryly, smiling despite myself. “Alright, if you’re coming, we need to go now. But if you bring up any of that… brother shit… I can’t promise I’ll react well.”

A wide grin filled his face, making his eyes dance with amusement. “I can work with that. We can take my van. It already has everything I need in it.”

“Always ready to leave at the drop of a hat?” I joked, gesturing for him to lead the way.

“Sometimes I need space when my past and present start to blur,” Altas replied offhandedly, but I could feel the seriousness beneath his flippant tone. Then his statement really hit me… I could relate to that sentiment. What the hell had happened to him? Despite not wanting to get into the possibility of him being my brother, I was itching with questions. But as much as I related to what he’d said, I also knew that tone… He wasn’t going to share, and asking would seem a bit of a pot-and-kettle situation, so I left it alone.

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