care to continue the tour?”
“Actually, yes. I would.”
Her smile was bright, and once again, it went right through me.
NINETEEN
Braelyn
After taking a moment to freshen up, I returned to the veranda to find Talon standing near the railing, staring out at the grounds below. I took a moment to admire him, because hey, why not?
Talon was by far the most appealing man I’d ever met. Everything about him was phenomenal. His body, his face, his mind. And yes, his dominance. I had to wonder if I felt that way because he was as close to perfect as I’d ever encountered, or merely because that was what happened when you met someone you were completely compatible with. Physically, I mean.
Not that I was thinking he was my soul mate or anything. I wasn’t that naive. A few good orgasms did not a relationship make.
He must’ve felt me staring, because he turned, his gaze raking over me before landing on my face. He held out his hand. “Ready?”
I managed a nod, put my hand in his, then walked alongside him as we made our way down the various staircases that wound down and around to the swimming pools.
“We’ve got Owners coming in on Monday,” Talon informed me. “They’ll be here for a week.”
“What do they do when they’re here?”
“It’s their opportunity to get to know the possession they’re looking to acquire. We do our best to stay out of their way, although we do have a few events catered for them. A variety of settings so they can see how their potential possession interacts with them. I’ll start by showing you the Owners’ Retreat, how we refer to the main resort building. That way you’re familiar with the property.”
I fell into step, curling my hand in his, relishing the security I found in his touch.
“So, I was curious…” I followed as he weaved along the walkway outlining the swimming pool area and outdoor dining. “You have seven … possessions,” I said, still having a hard time getting the word out. “And Zion has one?”
Talon nodded once.
“Does Tiegan have any?”
“No. Despite her dominance on the business end, Tiegan’s personality leans toward submission.”
Really? Holy crap. I never would’ve guessed that.
“The Owners’ Retreat is where the possessions reside,” he explained.
“Until someone picks them as their own?”
“Correct. From the time I acquire them until they’re placed with an Owner permanently and leave the island.”
We made our way across the grounds, past the swimming pools, the waterfall. This building fit with the island feel as far as the architecture, very similar to Talon’s residence across the way.
“How does that work? How do these … possessions come to live here?”
“Technically, they don’t live here. They’re merely visiting. It’s temporary.”
That told me nothing, but I sensed that was Talon’s play. He wasn’t willing to reveal any more than he had to.
Figuring he would speak when he was ready, I followed him up to the door. Rather than waltz right in, Talon placed his palm on a panel, and a second later, the lock disengaged.
Being that we were on an island, I wondered why they bothered with locks at all.
“Is security an issue?”
“Security’s an issue no matter where you are,” he said simply. “Just because we’re on an island doesn’t mean we’re inaccessible. I’ve got armed guards stationed here, as well. They maintain the perimeter and are paid handsomely to remain out of sight at all times. You can never be too cautious.”
I thought about how Jimmy had barged into my apartment. I’d thought I was safe in my own home, and I’d been horribly wrong. Suddenly, I was grateful Talon took such precautions.
He pushed open the eight-foot-tall, thick wooden door and gestured for me to precede him.
Stepping inside, the first thing I noticed was the entry was grand, and it was brightly lit thanks to all the windows that let the sun in. The decor in this space was similar to Talon’s main house. Open and airy, light, neutral tones on the walls, floor, and furniture. While the main house had marble floors, this one had a rustic hardwood in a soft brown.
The second thing I noticed were three naked men.
Completely, bare-assed naked.
And working away, dusting and cleaning like they were dressed in full garb.
“Is that … normal? Naked men everywhere?”
“Men and women,” he stated. “This way.”
All three men stopped what they were doing, lowering to their knees instantly as Talon passed. I craned my neck to watch as we moved through, noticing they quickly got back to what they