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Authors: Maya Banks

BOOK: Sweet Persuasion
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“He has, hasn’t he?” Julie pounced. “Dish, Serena. We want details.”
“He didn’t exactly find
someone
,” she hedged. “He sorta volunteered himself.”
Faith’s mouth fell open while Julie just looked confused.
“He did what?” Faith demanded. “Are you serious?”
Julie looked rapidly back and forth between Serena and Faith. “What am I missing? This is the
GQ
guy, right?”
Faith ignored her. “But he’s so not into all the role-playing and games. I mean, he once told me that if he had his way, he’d have a woman collared and tied to his bed.”
A delicious shiver started at Serena’s toes and worked up until her entire body was bathed in goose bumps.
“Well, we don’t need a rocket scientist to figure out where this is going,” Julie said dryly.
Now it was Serena’s turn to ignore Julie. “Well, he did sort of mention that. Not in such specific terms, mind you, but um, it works for me, at least on a temporary basis.”
Concern shadowed Faith’s eyes. “I never figured Damon would go for something temporary. He’s very focused on what he wants.”
“Maybe he’ll talk you around,” Julie teased.
Serena shot her a glare. “Come on, Julie. Can you really see me as someone’s permanent sex slave? It’s fine for some really hot sex and a scorching fantasy, but for real? So not me.”
“Why isn’t it for you?” Julie challenged. “Obviously it appeals to you on some basic level or you wouldn’t be advertising for a man to tie you up and have his wicked way with you.”
“Has anyone ever told you how obnoxious you are?” Serena grumbled. “It’s a fantasy. Everyone has one even if it isn’t something that would translate to the real world. I’m too . . . strong-willed to ever permanently submit to a man.”
“Gray once told me that he would never go for a woman who wasn’t strong enough to submit,” Faith said softly. “It takes a strong woman. Don’t ever doubt that.”
Julie and Serena both turned to look at Faith in shock.
“Wait a second. Are you saying that you and Gray . . . that you have that sort of relationship with him?” Serena asked.
Faith shrugged. “I wouldn’t classify our relationship as typical of anything but what we make it, but if you’re asking if he’s the dominant force in our relationship, then yes, he is.”
“Oh, shit, and now I’ve gone and insulted you,” Serena said as she frowned apologetically at her friend.
Faith smiled. “No, you haven’t. I used to think as you do. That it made me weak to want a man to take care of me, that I was some lily-livered ninny for submitting to a man. But it was what I wanted, and I was tired of settling for second best.”
“Owning your sexuality,” Julie murmured. “I tell you, I’m going to have to get me some of that.”
“Amen,” Serena seconded. “Faith, I don’t mean to pry, but you’ve simply got to give me more to work with here.”
Faith grinned. “Well, I’m afraid that Damon is probably a little more hardcore than Gray, at least going by what he’s told me. He wants . . . he wants a woman. In his own words, he wants a slave, although he did go to great lengths to say that he objected to the word, but for all practical purposes that’s what he wants.”
“Wow,” Julie breathed. “It’s getting hot in here, and suddenly I’m thinking about shit that’s never before crossed my mind.”
Serena rolled her eyes. “Julie, you don’t have a meek bone in your body.”
Julie grinned cheekily. “Nope. I don’t.”
Serena turned back to Faith. “Okay, so if Damon isn’t into games or fantasies, why the hell is he signing up to be my . . . master? God, I hate that word. It just sounds silly.”
Faith shrugged. “Maybe he’s attracted to you? Maybe he’s tired of waiting for the right woman?”
“Or maybe he just wants a few nights of hot sex with a slave,” Julie added with a mischievous smirk. “I mean, come on, what guy is going to turn down a gorgeous woman begging for a man to own her?”
Faith’s eyes glimmered with amusement. “Micah informs me that men go crazy for a submissive woman.”
“Ah shit, not him too,” Julie groaned. “Good lord, woman. So you let him and Gray both have their wicked way with you? What did you do, let them tie you up and fuck your brains out?”
Faith pretended interest in her fingernails and cast Julie a sidelong glance. “Pretty much.”
“You are such an evil whore,” Julie muttered. “And Gray was okay with this?”
“You’ve already asked that,” Serena said patiently. “Obviously he was since they were both there.”
Julie shook her head. “I just can’t get past that. I mean, Gray is all forbiddingly possessive of Faith and yet he lets another man fuck her while he watches? That’s seriously messed up.”
Faith snorted. “Like you’d turn down a threesome with two hot guys?”
“Hell no, I wouldn’t,” Julie exclaimed. “I’m just stunned that your man let you get away with it.”
“It was his idea,” Faith said with a grin.
Julie closed her eyes. “Why are all the good ones taken?”
“Maybe you should rethink your stance on sleeping with men your friends have had sex with,” Serena said. “Forget about Nathan and redirect your attention to Micah. If you just want to get laid, I bet he’d accommodate you.”
“Oh, right, like I want him out comparing notes with the guys on mine and Faith’s performance in bed. No thanks.”
“Not that I’m encouraging you to go after Micah, but he’d never do that,” Faith said. “He’s not like that.”
“So are you still sleeping with him . . . them?” Julie asked.
Faith shook her head. “I’m not saying it would never happen again, because it’s a serious turn-on for Gray, but it’s only happened once.”
“Okay, I get why it’s a turn-on for a woman,” Serena said. “But for the guy? What’s he get out of it?”
“Hell of a conversation,” Julie interjected. “Thank God you guys are my last appointments of the day.”
Julie leaned back against the massage table and looked between Serena and Faith. “You two are sitting here in the buff, and we’re dishing about hot guys. There is something seriously wrong with this picture.”
“We have towels,” Faith corrected.
Julie rolled her eyes. “And they cover so much.”
“So?” Serena butted in. “What’s a guy get out of it, Faith? You’ve got me totally curious. I always thought a guy’s fantasy was to get it on with two women, not to get it on with another woman and a man.”
“Ohhh,” Julie gasped. “The men don’t . . . they don’t do each other, do they?”
Faith dropped her face into her hands and let out a groan. “This conversation has seriously deteriorated. For God’s sake, Julie.”
“Hey, it’s a legitimate question,” Serena said.
“Thank you, Serena,” Julie said as she folded her arms over her chest and glared at Faith.
“No, they do not get it on with each other,” Faith said in a strangled voice. “They don’t even touch each other.”
“Then what’s the point?” Julie asked.
Faith sighed in exasperation. “The point is that it’s a turn-on for Gray to watch while another man fucks his woman. He likes to fuck me at the same time. You know, different orifices?”
Serena snickered. “She said ‘orifices.’”
Faith threw a towel at Serena’s head. “I swear, I’m sorry I ever said anything to either of you. I was trying to help a
friend
.”
Julie rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “So you’re saying it’s a male primitive thing. Sort of like, ‘Here’s my woman. She’s mine but you can have her for a little while.’”
Faith rolled her eyes. “I guess you could say that in a barbarian sort of way. I can’t speak for anyone else, but in my situation, the men were focused solely on me. They weren’t touching each other. They were too busy touching me.”
“And fucking your brains out,” Julie added.
“That too,” Faith added with a grin.
“Lucky bitch,” Julie said mournfully.
“So, if we can direct the conversation back to me and my impending slavery,” Serena said.
“By all means,” Julie said airily. “Don’t let my fantasies about being sandwiched between two hot men interrupt you.”
Serena looked at Faith. “Do you think I’m making a mistake by letting Damon fulfill my fantasy?”
Faith pressed her lips together for a moment. “Honestly, no. I’m not sure you could ask for a better man. I’m surprised that he agreed, or offered I suppose I should say, since you didn’t exactly ask him, but I actually think he’s perfect for you. And it certainly helps that he’s so freaking hot.”
Serena watched as Julie sent her eyes toward the ceiling. “Green isn’t your color, Julie,” Serena teased.
Julie sighed. “That’s me. Jealous bitch.”
“Why don’t we take Julie out for a drink?” Serena suggested. “Maybe we can get her laid in the process and then God knows her mood would improve.”
“I don’t think you were supposed to look so hopeful, Julie,” Faith said as she choked on her laughter.
Serena discarded her towel, slid off the table and wrapped her robe around her body. “Well, come on then. Let’s get decent and go imbibe. Considering what I agreed to yesterday, I think I could use a drink or three.”
“Yeah, well, just promise me you’ll give me all the down and dirty details of your stint with slavery,” Julie said. “If I get really desperate, I’ll sign up to go a round with Mr. GQ.”
“I thought you wouldn’t sleep with guys who’d had sex with your friends?” Serena said with a raised eyebrow.
“It was very uncharitable of you to remind me of that,” Julie huffed. “It would seem that between you and Faith and the bimbo that’s hovering around Nathan, all the hunks are accounted for. It’s damn sad when I’m actually contemplating leftovers.”
“For God’s sake, Julie, shut up,” Faith said. “I thought only men objected to sloppy seconds.”
“Honey, apparently your men don’t,” Julie said sweetly.
“Okay girls, enough. Let’s go get drunk before the catfight starts,” Serena interjected.
“Drunk and laid,” Julie said as she performed a mock toast.
CHAPTER 9
W
hen Serena, Julie and Faith walked into Cattleman’s, Julie groaned and tried to turn around and walk back out.
Sitting at one of the tables was Nathan and a blonde bombshell.
Faith and Serena each grabbed an arm and hauled Julie forward. “Never let them see you run,” Serena advised. “Walk in here like you own the place, bodacious tatas and all.”
Julie glanced down at her chest and then glared across the room at Nathan. With a quick flick of her finger, she unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt and arranged it so the barest hint of her lacy bra was bared. Serena had to admit, Julie had some pretty fantastic cleavage.
An evil gleam entered Faith’s eyes. Sweet, innocent Faith suddenly looked like satanic, scary Faith. She tightened her grip on Julie’s arm then stared purposefully at Serena.
“Come on, we’re going over there,” Faith announced.
“What?” Julie all but screeched. She yanked her arm back, but Faith held tight.
Between Serena and Faith, they dragged her across the floor toward Nathan’s table.
“I’m going to kill you for this,” Julie hissed just before she pasted on a bright smile.
Nathan looked up and smiled warmly. “Hello, ladies.”
His companion was not so pleased to see them.
“Hi, Nathan,” Faith said sweetly. “Early day at work?”
Nathan laughed. “Yeah, just don’t tell Pop. He and Connor are still at a job.”
His gaze flickered over Julie and then Serena, and Serena could swear she saw interest in his eyes, especially when he got a good look at Julie’s cleavage.
Julie smiled, but it was one of those calculating smiles that should have told Serena she was in trouble.
“Well, it was nice seeing you, Nathan. Call me and we’ll reschedule your massage. We’d stay and chat, but we’re heading over to the bar to discuss Serena’s upcoming auction,” Julie said.
Faith coughed, and Serena closed her eyes and groaned silently.
“Auction? What are you selling?” Nathan asked.
Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it, Julie.
“Herself,” Julie responded as if it were an everyday occurrence.
Nathan’s eyebrows shot up, and he turned his gaze to Serena. Even the blonde bimbo looked surprised.
“Well now, that’s an interesting auction,” Nathan drawled as amusement crept into his eyes. “Is it open to everyone?”
“Julie’s been drinking,” Serena explained as she dug her fingers into Julie’s side. She could feel the heifer shaking with silent laughter. “It was nice seeing you, Nathan. And you . . .” She glanced over at the blonde, who looked irritated that Nathan hadn’t introduced her.
“Nice to see you ladies too,” Nathan said. “Faith, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Julie fluttered her fingers then tossed her hair and followed after Faith toward the bar.
“I’m going to kill you,” Serena hissed when they slid onto the bar stools.

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