Page 13 of B is for Beg

“He might be…”

“Blake told me he’s been to kink clubs.”

Cal’s eyebrows rise. “Has he now?”

“And he’s been cuffed to whipping posts and bondage boards.”

Cal purses his lips.

“And that helikedit.”

Cal makes a happy, rumbling noise deep in his throat. “That’s good to know.”

“If theyarerelated…”

“Hamish’s PA might be into kink too…”

I smile. “Exactly, and even if he’s not, Blake might be interested in coming to the party. I’m sureyou’dlike that.”

Cal stares at me for a few seconds. “Something tells me you’d like that too.”

I shrug. “We both know that if he likes either of us, it’ll be you.”

He snorts. “Don’t put yourself down.”

I chuckle. “I’ll try not to.” I finish my drink.

“Come in for a boudoir shoot,” Cal suggests, not for the first time. “I’ll show you how handsome Gabriel Webb is.”

“Are you trying to make me blush?”

Cal laughs. “Maybe. Once the shoot is over tomorrow, we should invite Blake to the party,” Cal says decisively. “And if Archie does happen to be related to him, we should invite him along too. But to be clear, it’s Blake I’m interested in. Giving Hamish and Archie a push towards each other would purely be a bonus.”

“Of course.”

“How will we find out if Blake and Archie are related?”

“We could ask?”

He frowns.

“Subtly, of course.”

“Of course.”

I laugh. “You realise Hamish will kill us if we do manage to get Archie to the party?”

“Probably, but it’ll be worth it.” Cal half closes his eyes. “Especially if I get to play with Blake at the party.” He clears his throat. “Unless he’s more interested in you, of course.”

“Of course.”

4

Blake

I arrive at Calvin’s studio half an hour early on Thursday. I’mneverearly for anything. But Calvin and Gabe have told me never to be late for them again, and I’m desperate to please them. I press the door buzzer.

“Hi, it’s Blake,” I say when I hear a click.