Page 35 of Love Me in the Dark

“I… Cade, close your ears,” I say, and he laughs.

“What is it?” Knox asks.

“Something about giving you three complete control is… healing,” I say. “Not having to think about things makes me calmer. I want more of that.”

“Be specific, Phoenyx,” he says.

“I want to give you three complete control of me,” I say. “Obviously within reason, but I don’t want to have to think about things. I like not having control, oddly.”

“Nyx, you are a brat. Giving complete control means consenting to punishment,” he says.

“I mean, don’t slice me up or anything, but okay,” I say.

“Are you sure?” Tripp asks.

“Yes,” I say.

“Okay,” Knox says.

“But I don’t want any other woman being involved. I think I am too selfish to share,” I say.

“We only want you,” Rook says.

“Then it’s simple. If we tell you to do something, you do it. You refer to us as sir. Use red as a safe word, and it will replace the word no. It should only be called in the event that you are in real pain or you feel that you are in true danger,” Knox explains.

“Define true danger,” I say.

“Well, Tripp might use fear play, which is just scaring you while he fucks you. For him at least. He will never put you in real danger, but you’ll come thinking he might.”

“If I die, I die,” I smile. “Anything else?”

“So, if I tell you in the middle of a meeting to get on your knees and suck my dick, what do you do?” he asks.

“Uh… probably panic. I won’t lie,” I laugh.

“Everything takes time,” he says. “Always communicate, and you’ll be okay. If you flat out say no, I’ll put you on your knees, and I won’t be nice about it when I fuck that pretty mouth of yours.”

“Sounds tempting,” I admit.

“Nyx, you are a brat because you are seeking control,” Cade says. “When you get scared, you are a brat. When you are unsure or feel uneasy, you are a brat. When you need some pushback to ground yourself, you are a brat. Anyone who knows anything about brats will understand why you are acting the way that you are. There is always a reason, and none of it has to do with being disobedient. In this case, you want to submit, but you are afraid of the unknown, or you want more attention than you think you’ll be offered.”

“Is that how you are with your assistant?” I ask with a sweet smile.

“Maybe one day,” he admits. “She’s been through a lot in life.”

“Cade went and got all of your stuff from the cabin this morning, so get dressed and we’ll go to this meeting,” Knox says. “Sundress with no panties. Comes downstairs when you are dressed.”

“Yes, sir,” I say with a smile.

“Good girl,” he says as he kisses me.

They all leave the room, and I go to the bags to pick out a light pink sundress. The bottom flares out and hangs to my knees. I pair it with white sandals and go to the bathroom to fix my hair. Looking at myself in the mirror, I hate how I look. It’s not the dress but the face that it isn’t hiding a lot of my scars. Before I talk myself out of wearing it, I go downstairs and meet everyone in the living room.

“Beautiful,” Rook says with a smile.

“Mhmm,” I say, ignoring him.

“Aht, come here,” Rook says. I roll my eyes and walk over to him. He lifts my chin and looks at me for a second. “What’s wrong?”