Bondage Buddies (Masters of Marquis #1) - Golden Angel Page 0,67

to talk about a business venture and find out some more about a new space they opened. I’ve been thinking about expanding, and I want to know how it’s going for them.”

That made a lot more sense.

“What club down here?” Mitch asked. “Maybe I’ve been to it.”

His dad chuckled. “I doubt it.”

Rolling his eyes, Mitch sat back in his chair.

“I do go out, you know. What club?”

“It’s called Stronghold.”

Time skidded to a stop—except it didn’t. It was Mitch’s brain that stopped. Froze. Time, the rest of the world, it all kept moving. Their server appeared at their table with the crusty bread he loved so much and the beers they’d ordered.

“Here you go,” she said cheerfully while Mitch and his dad stared at each other across the table, his dad’s expression slowly changing as he realized Mitch knew exactly what Stronghold was.

“Stronghold? And Marquis?” Mitch’s voice sounded odd. Strangled.

Did his dad look paler? He nodded. “Aye. I ah… I take it you know of them?”

“I’m a member.” His brain felt as if it was exploding. Suddenly, his dad’s reluctance to have him anywhere near the Outlands took on a whole new meaning. “Does this mean… you and Mom?” Of course, his mom was part of it. His parents had owned the Outlands for years before Mitch was born. They’d gone out every weekend on dates before things started to break apart. Sometimes, even after things had started to break apart.

Back then, Mitch hadn’t understood why they kept going out together when they did nothing but argue at home. Now… fuck. He’d had more than one thought lately about how hard it would be to go back to vanilla sex. Not that he wanted to think about his parents getting their needs met, especially kinky needs, but… fuck. It all made sense—too much sense.

His dad’s chuckle was a pale imitation of his usual hearty laugh. “Ye really are a chip off the ole block, eh?”

Mitch’s stomach sank like a brick.

Which, of course, was when Domi and her family walked in.

Domi

Meeting up with Marcus and Julia in front of the restaurant, Domi was trying not to seethe. For some reason, Ana was completely invested in finding Domi a boyfriend and was convinced the purple dress was the way to do it. Ana had dressed up in her fanciest dress as well—her Elsa costume—so Domi wouldn’t feel so alone. Which was very sweet. Rae thought the whole thing was hilarious, and Domi could tell from her bestie’s significant looks, she thought Domi should tell Ana about Mitch.

But it was Ana’s birthday, which was definitely not the right time.

“Daddy! Mama Julia!” To everyone’s surprise, rather than running to her father’s arms, Ana went straight for Julia, stopping in front of her and pushing her face up close to Julia’s stomach. “Hello, baby!”

From the expression on Julia and Marcus’ faces, Domi wasn’t the only one who melted at the sight, and she could hear Rae let out a soft little sigh beside her. Damn, the kid was cute. She was going to be such a good big sister.

Wedging herself between Marcus and Julia, Ana grabbed both of their hands, pulling them forward.

“Come on, come on! Time for my birthday dinner!”

“Wow.” Marcus’ eyebrows went up in surprise when he saw Domi’s outfit, and Julia looked a little stunned. They were both dressed nicely but far more casually, Marcus in slacks and a dress shirt, while Julia wore a long-sleeved blue dress with a belted waist to emphasize her curves. It also hid any sign of a bump, if there was one yet. Rae had also gotten away with a dress and a sweater for when the evening got cooler. “You look nice.”

“Thanks,” Domi said, smiling with a smile that wasn’t really a smile. “Apparently, this is how I get a boyfriend.”

“Yes! Mommy is dressed up.” Ana did a little happy dance that killed some of Domi’s ire, though it brought up a whole host of other emotions.

Marcus’ brows drew together, but Julia lifted the hand that wasn’t holding Ana’s and covered her lips, sudden mirth filling her eyes.

“Oh, dear,” Julia said, clearly trying not to laugh. The expression on her face was friendlier than it had ever been, though, which was something. “I think something might have gotten a little lost in translation. One of the characters on a show we were watching got all dressed up to go on a date, and Ana had some questions.”

The anger Domi had been fighting drained away when she