Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Now that was something I could believe.
“I think that is a detail that will have to come out.” He’d done an amazing job and there was no reason to downplay that. “It wouldn’t be a believable story otherwise.”
Austin didn’t do anything ugly…now dramatic and ridiculous, well, that was to be expected.
“It’s Tanner and Shane’s day…but yes…it’s probably a necessary detail.” The best part of his slightly dry delivery was that I couldn’t figure out if he was joking or not.
“Agreed.” As I tried to find the best way to excuse myself from the conversation and the party, he stepped forward and took my arm, lacing his through mine. “Are we…”
“Walking. Yes.” It looked like I was in charge, but he was definitely the one steering us around the elegantly decorated yard.
Politely nodding at the people who were still hanging around and chatting, it took me a couple of awkward encounters before I realized he was moving us toward somewhere private.
Yep, he had a motive.
I wasn’t going to poke at it until we had as much privacy as possible, though. Knowing Austin, he could’ve wanted it for a variety of conversations and I wasn’t going to push my luck. If he wanted our privacy to end up looking completely accidental, I wasn’t going to argue.
After entirely too much small talk, we ended up on the other side of the yard where a quick walk around some large bushes completely obscured us from the rest of the party. It looked like a dead end, but there was a side door I thought led to a laundry or mud room.
“Silas is on watch and he’ll let me know if anyone comes close enough to hear us.” His shift into all business mode would’ve been startling if I hadn’t seen it countless times before. “Do you understand that I’ve done as much as I can to give us complete privacy for this conversation? Unless we wish it, no one outside the community will even know we met at all.”
Damn it.
“Yes.” Refusing to snap at him, I gestured around us. “The meandering route. The bushes. Not going inside because there are too many places to hide. Silas keeping watch.”
Inviting me to something as private as the wedding to begin with.
Yes, everything was making more sense.
Austin gave another regal nod as he took all that as praise for how smart he was. “And if anyone asks, he’s going to tell them that I’m showing you the updates to the media system I had installed. You’re curious about the speakers I had put out here for the wedding.”
Austin had everything planned as best he could, so I could only nod, which got a pride-filled smile from the insane and insanely smart omega. “Good.”
I could hear it coming, whatever his crazy was going to be, but I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Had he bought another country?
Had he found another mate?
Had they inadvertently made a sex tape?
“I need to know why you want to join the club.”
Fuck it all.
It was about me.
“I explained my interest in BDSM in the application.” It’d been very well-written and I’d answered every question, even the stupid ones.
“You left something out.” Studying me, he frowned. “I can’t put my finger on it, but I need to know what you didn’t say before I can let you in.”
For fuck’s sake.
“I answered every question in detail.” I’d even listed out an interest in spankings and that stupid cross thing just to make sure I had legitimate topics to include.
“I know.” Narrowing his eyes at me, he sighed. “It was beyond frustrating to read.”
If anything was frustrating, it was Austin.
“But there wasn’t a single thing honest on there. I can’t prove it. I know that, but it’s making me…” His voice trailed off before he took a deep breath. “Silas said it wasn’t logical to do a deeper background check to find out what was going on since you’d figure out what I did.”
Yes, I would.
I was probably one of the only people in the entire world who would’ve known what he’d done.
“BDSM is about trust and I trust everyone at the club.” That seemed to be him talking to himself, so I just let him continue until his gaze met mine. “I have people to protect. You understand that.”
I hated it when he manipulated me with logical arguments.
He was easier to deal with when he was irrationally scheming.
“I do understand that.” I just wasn’t sure how I was going to handle the situation yet.
“Then you have to agree with me that I can’t admit anyone into the club that feels off.” He waved his hand toward me. “Even you. It wouldn’t be safe or setting a good precedent. We don’t admit people who are off. No matter what.”
From what I’d managed to find out, they’d done very well at weeding out potential problems, and when it’d looked like they hadn’t noticed an issue, I’d been polite and put a clue in their path. When I got into the club, I wanted it to be a safe place for me to visit.