Owned (Office Intrigue Book 8) Nicole Edwards (classic english novels TXT) 📖

left or they’re already estranged because of their … desires.” I glanced at Gideon. “I can take it from here.”

“Sure. I’m on my way to meet with Zion and Ransom shortly.” Gideon looked at Braelyn, extended his hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you. Feel free to let me know if you have any more questions.”

“Thank you,” she answered kindly, shaking his hand.

When Gideon left, I took Braelyn’s hand once more, led her out of the gym and down the hall to one of the lounge areas.

“The Owners’ Retreat is divided into sections,” I explained. “The main floor is reserved for guest check-in and concierge, the rest entirely recreational. The second, third, and fourth floors are split between guest quarters and those specified for the trainers and possessions. The trainers are divided, one on each floor, and with them, they keep the possessions they’re in charge of. We’ve got intake holds for new possessions, plus a fully equipped medical facility. The possessions also have their own common areas separate from the main spaces for downtime.”

“What do they do in their spare time?” she inquired, her gaze continuing to skim as we walked.

“Whatever they want. Read, watch television, play video games, go to the beach. We haven’t dehumanized them. They merely have responsibilities to others that come before all else.”

“How did Gideon come to be here?”

“He was a potential Owner. While he tried numerous times, he didn’t find a possession that suited him. It was actually his request to be given the opportunity to spend more time with the possessions. After some careful consideration, I opted to give it a shot.”

“How long’s he been here?”

“Two years. I officially hired him a year and a half ago. Memphis has been here three months, Zed two. They can’t stay more than six.”

“Have either of them been successful?”

“No,” I told her, not bothering to mention that Memphis had been successful but not in the way she was thinking. Although he thought he was being sly, I was aware he had a secret tryst going with Tiegan.

“Is that another service you offer?” Braelyn asked.

“I don’t invite potential Owners to live here as a rule. I merely assess the situation as it arises and make my decisions accordingly. It’s a very fluid business we’ve got here. Try as you might, you can’t simply box people in. In my experience, it never works out well.”

“Do you pick from this pool? I mean, for your personal use?” she asked, grinning. “I’m sorry, but that still sounds weird.”

I liked that she was honest with her thoughts. “I have, yes. After the first three, I found it worked well for me.”

Braelyn paused in the library, glancing at the books on the wall. “Are many of the possessions gay?”

“Why would you ask that?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess, I figure … since yours are gay.”

I grinned. “What gives you that impression?”

Her eyes never met mine when she said, “It seems a safe assumption since … you know.”

“You know what they say about assumptions. We can test the theory if you’d like? The way we tested the theory on whether or not I was gay.”

Her breath hitched. “I thought you didn’t share them.”

“With you…” I pressed a kiss to her lips. “Let’s just say I’m willing to make exceptions.”

When I licked her lower lip, Braelyn’s lips parted, a sigh escaping. It was then I realized she had both hands on my hips, as though she was using me to stabilize herself. I liked that she touched me without me having to give her permission, that she didn’t need me to give her orders. It spoke to the other side of me, the side that had longed for someone who would tempt me to go against my very nature, someone who could curb the needs of the man versus the needs of the Dominant.

I kissed her then. A gentle mating, my tongue sliding sensually against hers. She kissed me back, her fingers clutching more firmly at my hips, her neck straining as she sought more of what I was offering. She was so fucking sweet, but I had expected she would be.

I would’ve kissed her for eternity, but Braelyn was the one to pull back. She was breathing hard, her golden eyes glittering with lust but also uncertainty. I respected that. She knew so little about me, and what she did know, she didn’t understand.

But she would.

“So what now?” she asked.

“I figured you’d like to relax for a while. Maybe spend some time at the pools. Then, later tonight, I was hoping I could indulge you with dinner.”

“I’d like that,” she said, the words coming out on a soft whisper.

“I would, too.”

TWENTY

RANSOM

After my brief morning tour with Talon and a couple of hours spent going over details of the Owners coming to visit the island next week with Zion and Tiegan, I spent the majority of the afternoon getting familiar with the grounds. Now that I had, I felt far more comfortable knowing my way around and having a better understanding of which buildings functioned as what. That was the bodyguard in me, I figured. I didn’t like surprises, and being in a new place tended to cause unnecessary stress.

I was also lucky enough to talk to my sister, who’d evidently gotten a tour of her own. To my surprise, she’d been rather blasé about the whole thing. Why I thought she’d be rattled, I wasn’t sure. I should’ve known better. Braelyn was open-minded, something I’d tried to teach her growing up. That and she had a huge heart, always giving people the benefit of the doubt.

It hadn’t been until I’d asked her about Talon that she made an excuse to go back to her room. She probably didn’t realize it, but that had been an answer in itself. There was something going on between Braelyn and Talon. Part of me wanted to know what; the other wasn’t sure I could handle the truth. I trusted my sister, and I