Chapter Eighteen

Alex

My mate had a great business. Emile might have sucked the big one as a mate—my words not West’s—but once I showed West how to run it, he showed a real talent. Apparently my late friend had failed to give him the tools he needed. My mate was very smart and savvy and creative. My business and the club were also rocking, and all that was great, but it was making it hard to spend as much time together as I wanted.

“Come to the club tonight.” I’d called him before leaving my other office. “I’ll stop by and pick you up, and we can have some fun.”

He snorted. “I’m afraid I have outgrown all my club wear.” He had stopped by every so often, and although we enjoyed watching others together, he’d gotten pregnant so early that we had not managed to do any kind of real playing. But he had worn some great outfits before his belly got too big to fit in them. “You have fun. I’ll be at home.”

“You know I don’t have fun without you.” And if he didn’t, I was doing something wrong.

“But you do need to be there, and I am so huge, they’d need to widen the doors just to get me in.”

“That’s it. Nobody is allowed to talk like that about my lovely omega. I’ll be there in a couple of hours so I won’t have any work hanging over me. We can grab a bite on the way.”

“Fine,” he grumped. “But don’t blame me if everyone points and snickers.”

“Still talking like that? The spanking bench awaits.”

“Like I’d fit on it.”

Which he of course did not, but it didn’t matter at all because I needed a plan to make him realize how lovely he truly was, and I thought I knew what it would be. A pregnant omega needed to be treated gently, but a master could make it work. He’d been more and more into one particular art as we visited the club, and I’d taken advantage of my evenings there to up my game with a future demo in mind. After the baby came.

But the more I thought about it, the more I recognized that he needed to know how beautiful he was and to do it publicly. I only hoped he wouldn’t hate me for it.

“Dinner was great,” he said, sitting back in the passenger seat and sighing. “But my belly is even bigger now.”

I bent over and examined it. “Maybe a little. Looks great to me.”

He shook his head. “You’re prejudiced.”

“Probably, but everyone in the club is going to take one look at you and be jealous.”

“I would argue but you told me not to put myself down.”

I gave him a big kiss on the lips before starting the car. “And you remembered this time.”

“Ha ha. I always remember, I just don’t usually agree.”

With no further discussion, I drove us to the club where we entered and paused to chat at the front desk for a few minutes. West turned over his phone. Being my mate did not protect him from having to follow the rules. Rules that included restrictions on what a pregnant omega could do. So, no whip for sure. Only light impact play. But what I had in mind?

Perfectly fine.

We strolled around, seeing what was going on, but I gradually steered him toward the station I’d reserved for us. It stood open when we got there.

“Oh, no.” West’s disappointment was palpable. “Maybe someone will show up soon. I was looking forward to this.”

I bit my lip to suppress my smile. “Then you’re in for a treat.”

“There will be a demo? Or at least a scene? Did you look at the schedule?”

“There will be a demo slash scene, yes. And I didn’t have to look at the schedule to know that.” Cupping his chin, I brought his lips to mine and kissed him deeply. “Undress.”

He stumbled back. “No, you can’t mean…you don’t…that is, I can’t be naked in front of all these people. Besides, you are a whip guy and this is the shibari station.”

“I’m well aware, omega, of what this station is. I’ve been practicing here every afternoon for two weeks. Now…are you going to undress?”

“Who were you tying up?” He was jealous?

I was very glad I could reply, “I’ve been working with the dom and his omega who were kind enough to tutor me. Now…strip.”

His cheeks flamed and he planted both palms on his belly. “You don’t have enough rope for this.”

“There will be a spanking in your future, omega. I warned you not to speak that way about yourself. Now, I have plenty of rope. While you get ready, I have someone bringing a chaise lounge for you to lie on.”

“What if I say no?”

“If you don’t want to proceed at any point, use your safe word.”

He chewed on his lower lip, watching two security guys carry in the lounge. “And if I do, I won’t be in trouble?”

“No. I’ve explained how safe words work. If you use it, everything stops, and it’s all fine.”

He stiffened then relaxed, his lips curving up in a small smile. “In that case, you’ll have to help me get my shoes off.”

I’d never wanted to take pictures of anything more than my omega in the coils of rope. I’d learned how to use the ropes to enhance the beauty of his pregnant body without putting any strain on him. The omega I’d practiced on was not pregnant, but we used a pillow and a belt, and everything I’d learned carried over. My trainers were present in the watching crowd, and as I coiled the rope and tied them in what was not nearly what they were capable of, the magic of the process was deep in my soul. I’d never have tried it if not for West’s interest, but I was very glad I had.

When we finished, I sat on the edge of the chaise and drank in what the ropes only framed. And the comments of those around us were nothing but complimentary. West was deep in sub space—another reason I’d have to learn more and use this art on him often, but I would be sure to remember and repeat what those watching had said.

They were in awe of him.

As I was every day.