Writes of Submission
Page 28
Nikki had believed her. For all his pretending that he was a dissolute, undisciplined lush, he was the hardest worker she’d ever met. They’d spent hours going over the manuscript, debating about word choice, punctuation, and point of view. She’d never realized how much work—or how interesting—editing could be. If she was sure of anything, though, it was that the story had been polished to within an inch of its life before anyone at the publisher’s office had ever laid eyes on it.
“What time is the party starting?” Dante asked, checking his watch.
“Around seven,” Allie told him, putting her drink on the table. “That reminds me. I’d better go check the hors d’oeuvres.”
Brad followed her into the kitchen and Karl excused himself to go finish his preparations in the barn.
“So, what’s next?” Dante pulled out a dining room chair and straddled it, tilting his head a little as he scrutinized his partners.
“We do it again, and again, and again,” Kane said. “With you as our manager and marketer, Nikki’s amazing ability to write great emotional scenes and my overall genius, we can’t go wrong.”
Nikki grinned, wondering how she’d ever seen his playful boasting as anything but funny. Now that she wasn’t as intimidated as she’d been in the beginning, she could see his joking as amusing and endearing. God, she thought. I really was a tightass. Thank goodness I got over that.
“Your fitness manager, too,” Dante said. “As soon as we all get settled, we’re starting a yoga class to get you both more flexible. I can think of several places that will come in handy.”
Kane shrugged, draining his champagne and looking around for the bottle. “Suits me. I seem to recall that yoga had some definite advantages, at least in terms of scenery and positions.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” Nikki said. “As long as you don’t make me get on a mountain bike again anytime soon. My ankle is just barely back to normal now.”
Dante’s face lit up. “That reminds me. I have something for you.” He jumped up and went out to the hall closet, coming back a minute later with a black leather jacket. He held it up to Nikki, who stared at it openmouthed. “I figured you were going to need some better protective gear for when we ride again. Plus, if we’re going to be part of the leather community, you need to look the part. Don’t you think so, Kane?”
Nikki fingered the jacket, fascinated by the soft feel of the leather under her fingers. Dante turned it around so she could see the back, and laughed at the expression on her face.
There was a large patch on the back of the coat. It consisted of a round symbol that she had learned was the BDSM symbol, pierced by a long quill. The letters LE were written at the bottom in an elaborate script.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, tilting her head to admire it. “What’s LE mean?”
“It stands for Leather Edition,” Kane said, coming to stand behind her and look over her shoulder. “Dante and I thought it would be a good name for our leather household. What do you think?”
“I love it.”
“This brings up a compromise I think we should talk about,” Dante said. “I propose that we do get back on bikes, but this time I’d like them to be motorized.”
She stared at him. “Motorized?”
“Yes. I love bicycles, but I’d actually rather be on a motorcycle.” He ducked his head as if a fitness manager should not be advocating non-human-powered forms of transportation. “Would you guys consider riding with me?”
Kane gave a shout of laughter. “Now that’s the kind of biking I can get into!”
Dante turned to Nikki with a tentative smile. “Would you be interested?”
She hesitated for a minute, thinking about the possibility of dying on the back of a motorcycle. Then she looked at the excited expressions on Kane’s and Dante’s faces and grinned at them. “With Doms like you two, what’s a girl got to worry about? Let’s do it.”
THE END
WWW.NAUGHTYEVERAFTER.WORDPRESS.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cassidy Browning is the pen name of Reggie and Kasi Alexander. They live in Colorado as a part of a poly quad and are active members of the BDSM and polyamorous communities. The family can be found selling their chainmail jewelry and presenting at national Master/slave events around the country. They dream of the day they can have their own Clifftop Fantasies.
For all titles by Cassidy Browning, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/cassidy-browning
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
About the Author