The whole room went still, as though not a single one of them could believe she'd uttered those words. At their shock, Belle had to stop herself from giggling.
"That's correct." Tate's voice was a little higher than before. It was nice to know she could get to him with a few well-chosen words.
"Belle, what Tate is trying to explain is that we'll first prepare you by inserting a plug in your ass that will stretch you to take a cock there." Eric circled around her until his feet came into view. He wasn't wearing shoes. How could his bare feet seem so masculine, so sexy? No clue, but they were.
She felt his hand sink into her hair, then he gently tugged until she was looking up at him. "When Kellan went out for beignets, he bought you a set of training plugs. This city has a surprisingly large amount of sex shops. And voodoo shops. Sometimes I couldn't tell the difference."
Belle would have to hope that no one had placed a curse on her anal plug. "I understand, Sir. I want to be able to take all of you. I'm ready."
He tipped her chin up and stared into her eyes as though he could see her down to her soul. "You're ready for sex with all of us, but not commitment?"
"I can't promise more now, Eric. You've had a year to think about this. I've had a few days. I need time to figure us out."
"I should probably step back until you do, but I won't. Instead, I'm going to show you absolutely everything we can give you. I'm going to show you what it means to belong to us. You won't be able to send us away."
Belle was already afraid of that. She didn't want to find herself swept back to Chicago and giving up her design dreams. She couldn't run their lives again and not have one of her own. Even if they did help her find an office close to theirs so she could go into business for herself, as Tate suggested, it wouldn't be what she needed. Fate, her grandmother-something-had called her to this place. She had to make them see that. Besides, even if she was ready to jump into the relationship … well, Kell still wasn't. These three men wouldn't be right without one another. She didn't want to be the reason they were no longer a unit.
"I can't do this." Kellan shook his head.
Couldn't what, even sleep with her anymore? Now that he'd had her, did he not want her again?
Panic encroached. She studied Kell's face, wishing he would look at her. She couldn't read him beyond agitation. His jaw firmed. He paced, shaking his head. Her stomach knotted, and she barely held in a sob.
She'd thought she would have more time with him, that she could build up memories with him before he left her. How had everything gone so wrong so quickly?
"If you want to bail, there's the door." Tate's face had gone harder, his eyes downright stony as he glared Kellan's way.
Kell rolled his eyes. "Stop being a drama queen. I wasn't talking about leaving. We're going to shove a plug up her ass. Don't you think I'm staying around for that? I was talking about this whole 'Sir' thing. She ruined it for me." He pointed at her. "Now when the word comes out of her mouth, it's like she's addressing that little rat-thing that hikes its leg and pees on my shoes."
A great well of laughter burst from Belle. She tried to press it down, but couldn't. Her reaction might annoy him, but she couldn't stop it, especially not when he looked so righteous.
Even Tate cracked a smile. "How about Master? Except we haven't earned it."
"I can call you Master," she interjected quickly.
It felt right, like a formal admission of their sexual relationship. They would be her Masters … for now.
"I like the way that sounds. Hands and knees, baby. Let's get the rough part over." Eric moved to the dresser where someone had lain a plastic bag. He retreated to the bathroom, and Belle heard the water begin to run.
Rough part? They were really going to impale her backside with a foreign object. She wasn't entirely sure how she should feel about that, but she'd seen Kinley blush and stutter when the subject of anal anything came up. Belle didn't have any hang-ups about it being "weird." It was simply new, but she wanted to know what it meant to be in between them, to have them love her all over. If she had to allow them to plug her before that could happen, she'd manage.
Belle leaned forward, placing her palms on the carpet. It was plush against her skin, between her fingers.
"She needs a safe word." Kellan sank into the chair opposite her, obviously preparing for a show.
"Belle, select one," Tate commanded. "Make it something you wouldn't typically say during sex."