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“Handcuff keys on the dresser. You’ll need a knife to cut the ropes off; I knotted them perfectly.”

Trey nods when Liam clears his throat.

“Wait, you’ll need these too,” Liam says, digging in his pocket. He tosses two keys to Trey. “The little one will release the ball gag, and the skinny one is for the choker. I told you he wasn’t going anywhere. Dusty poo likes a little bondage,” Liam says, winking at me before turning back to Dustin while Trey holds the keys up, looking horrified at him. Dustin’s face turns bright red. I just blink, not really needing that information.

“Go, I have work to do. We can argue later. Azzy doesn’t want to hear this shit,” Dustin says, waving him off. “You’re causing a scene.”

“I am not causing a scene. You are. Three years, Dustin, I have been asking you to let me mark you, three years, and youstill turn me down,” Liam snaps before walking off and following Trey. Dustin turns to face me.

“Sorry,” he mumbles.

“Trouble in paradise, Dustin,” Kyson says, coming behind me, trying to put his cufflinks on.

“That was quick,” I tell him.

“Larkin, remember, I am leaving the guard here with you and going with Cedric.”

“Wait, you’re going by yourself?” I ask him.

“No, Cedric will be with me.”

“Maybe take Damian and Gannon with you?”

Kyson shakes his head.

“I am not leaving you here defenseless. I should only be gone a couple of hours at max. I’ll be fine. And Gannon is still locked down with Abbie’s heat,” he tells me, kissing my forehead and wandering off.

“I’ll be back soon,” he calls over his shoulder, and I sigh, looking down at Tyson.

“Let’s go see Clarice and get you out of your jammies,” I tell him when Dustin moves toward the window. He grabs a backpack.

“Liam came and got his clothes already. That’s why he came down. I forgot the bag,” Dustin says, holding it out to me. I take it, and he follows me into the room. “What’s the deal with you and Liam anyway?”

“He wants to be exclusive.”

“You aren’t already?” I ask him.

“Not from his lack of trying,” Dustin tells me.

“Then what’s the issue? He seemed pretty upset.”

“I know he will leave me eventually. It is better this way.”

“You mean because he also likes women?” I ask, remembering Tandi.

“Yes and no, he mainly does that to piss me off. I told him I don’t care who it’s with; I know he will leave me for a woman eventually,” Dustin says, sounding defeated.

“I don’t think he would, not if you let him mark you.”

“You sound like Gannon. He said the same thing the other week,” Dustin groans.

“You don’t believe Gannon?”

“No, I just don’t want him to resent me later because he has marked me. And I won’t allow him to fool around with women once he does. Which wouldn’t work if he decided he wanted kids. I can’t give him that, so–” He shrugs as I pull Tyson’s top off.

“Can always adopt, as Liam said.”

Dustin shakes his head, passing me Tyson’s tank top, when we hear a knock on the door. Dustin goes to answer it. He opens the door, and I realize it is Tandi.