why couldn’t I envision Ransom and Cody together?
Even thinking about it caused a tightness in my chest. Which, when you thought about it, was stupid. It wasn’t like Ransom had promised me anything. In fact, last night, I’d found myself back in my own bed. Alone.
I wanted something to happen, for Ransom to want more from me, and maybe that was my problem. I’d spent the past nine years without Ransom, having walked away from the best thing I’d ever had in my life. I’d never expected to see him again and here he was. I was a fool not to figure out whether or not we might get back what we once had.
Then again, maybe what we once had was no longer an option. I’d heard stories about the Doms at the club Talon belonged to. How most of them had hooked up with more than one person. Permanently. Some with two Doms, one submissive. Others with one Dom, two submissives. Maybe that was the way of Ransom’s world now.
I tracked Ransom when he strolled around the pool, utilizing the stairs to ease his way in. He was wearing a pair of shorts and nothing else, his broad chest highlighted by the underwater lights, all those tattoos shifting as his muscles bunched and flexed.
The doctor in me wanted to ask how his ribs were, if he was feeling any pressure or pain as he sank deeper into the water. I settled for watching his face for signs of discomfort. When I saw none, I breathed a sigh of relief.
“We’re going to play a game,” Ransom stated as he came closer. He glanced at Cody. “For this, you can speak. But to you, I’m not Master and I’m not Sir.”
Or Titan, I wanted to add, but kept my mouth shut.
“The game’s called Truth or Directive.”
“Is that like Truth or Dare?” Cody asked, smiling.
“My own spin on it, sure.” Ransom glanced at me. “Each person gets to ask someone a question. They have to answer truthfully.”
Very similar to the original.
“If you choose not to answer the question, I will give a directive.”
“What if you don’t want to answer?” I asked.
“I will answer, regardless.” He held my gaze. “So make sure you want to hear the answer.”
Oh, shit.
I knew where this was going, and the churning in my stomach said it was not going to end well. Not for me, anyway. There were so many questions I wanted answers to, but I figured that was likely the same for Ransom.
“Be warned, I will be creative with my directives. I will make them hurt.” Ransom smiled and I could see the promise. “Cody, I’ll let you go first. Ask away.”
Cody turned to me. “How old were you when you lost your virginity?”
I frowned because that sounded like such a girl question. What man really cared to know that?
I got my answer when I glanced at Ransom and noticed he was watching me closely.
“Seventeen,” I admitted, holding Ransom’s stare. I didn’t know if he was aware he’d been my first.
“The person who answers is the next to ask a question,” Ransom explained.
I considered it a moment, then addressed Ransom. “How many submissives have you had in your life?”
“Clarify,” he stated. “Are you referring to how many I’ve fucked or how many I’ve taken as my own?”
Oh, shit.
“Fucked,” I decided since I didn’t think I’d be able to handle the answer to the other.
“I haven’t kept track, but I’d say several … dozen.”
I should’ve known.
Ransom didn’t miss a beat when he looked to Cody. “What’s your favorite part of giving a blow job?”
Cody smiled widely. “When a man’s big enough to choke me.”
I felt my face heat, which was stupid.
Cody kept his eyes on Ransom. “What toy is your favorite to use on a submissive?”
“Flogger.” Ransom looked at me. “If I told Cody to give you an orgasm right now, what method would you choose to achieve it?”
I was surprised by the question but didn’t figure it was that difficult to answer. “Blow job.”
I lobbed my question back at Ransom. “Why’d you come here to Sapphire Island?”
“To escape my past.”
Damn it. I should’ve known he would be vague.
“I can’t give you the details in present company,” he tacked on, as though he’d read my mind. “But I’m happy to give them to you. You simply have to ask.”
My heart kicked in my chest and I didn’t know why.
Ransom chose Cody. “Do you wish to become a possession?”
“Yes,” he said quickly. “My overall objective is to