Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 60105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
“Girls, bring Andrea in here first. She should meet the associates before we eat.”
My heart leapt into my throat as Lila and Lydia exchanged knowing glances. Gently, they guided me toward the dining room, their hands at my elbows as if they sensed I might bolt at any moment.
As we entered, I felt the weight of six male gazes upon me. Devin sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding even while seated. The other five men were spread out around the long table, each one studying me with varying degrees of interest.
“Andrea,” Devin said, his voice firm but not unkind, “these are my associates. You’ll be seeing a lot of them, so best to get introductions out of the way now.”
He gestured to a solidly built man with sandy brown hair and warm eyes. “This is Bill, Lila’s accepted suitor.”
Bill smiled, his gaze flickering briefly to Lila before returning to me. “Welcome to Cato, Andrea,” he said, his voice deep and resonant.
Next, Devin indicated a man of average height with short brown hair. “This is Hank, Lydia’s approved suitor.”
Hank nodded politely, his expression friendly but reserved.
“Travis,” Devin continued, pointing to a tall, lean man with dark hair and sharp features.
“Ethan,” he said, indicating a muscular blond man who looked to be in his early thirties.
“And finally, Dylan,” Devin concluded, gesturing to the last man at the table.
I felt my breath catch as I met Dylan’s gaze. He was strikingly handsome, with dark, wavy hair and penetrating hazel eyes. There was something in the way he looked at me—a mixture of authority and empathy—that made my heart race.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Andrea,” Dylan said, his voice low and smooth.
I felt my cheeks flush as I mumbled a greeting, suddenly very aware of my body in the modest yellow dress. The room felt stiflingly warm, and I could feel beads of sweat forming at the nape of my neck.
Just as I thought the introductions were over and I could escape to the relative safety of the kitchen, Bill spoke up, a mischievous glint in his eye.
“So, Andrea,” he said, his tone light but with an undercurrent of something that made me shiver. “I hear you’ve got a date with Devin’s palm after dinner.”
I felt the blood drain from my face as Bill’s words sank in. My legs trembled beneath me, and I was grateful for Lila’s and Lydia’s steadying hands on my elbows.
“I… I…” I stammered, unable to form a coherent response. The room seemed to spin around me, the faces of the men blurring together.
Bill chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “No need to be shy, sweetheart. We’ve all been there before—well, not me personally, but we’ve seen our fair share of naughty girls get what’s coming to them.”
Travis leaned forward, a predatory grin spreading across his sharp features. “I, for one, am looking forward to the show,” he said, his words full of lust. “Nothing quite like watching a pretty young thing learn her place.”
My breath caught in my throat, a wave of dizziness washing over me. The whole household? They were all going to watch? The persistent, impossible-to-suppress thought of being bent over Devin’s knee with my bottom bared for all to see threatened to overwhelm me. I swayed on my feet, feeling as though I might faint at any moment.
Just as I thought my legs might give out entirely, Dylan’s voice cut through the haze of my panic.
“Come on, guys,” he said, his tone firm but gentle. “Let’s not make this harder for Andrea than it already is. She’s new here, and I’m sure she’s nervous enough without all this teasing.”
I blinked, focusing on Dylan’s face. His hazel eyes met mine, filled with a warmth and understanding that made my heart skip a beat. In that moment, I noticed again just how handsome he was—the strong line of his jaw, the subtle curve of his lips, the way his dark hair fell in soft waves across his forehead.
A sudden surge of affection welled up inside me, catching me off guard with its intensity. Dylan’s kindness, his willingness to stand up for me in front of the others, touched something deep within me. It was a small gesture, perhaps, but in that moment, it meant the world.
“Th-thank you,” I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible.
Dylan smiled, a gentle quirk of his lips that sent a flutter through my stomach. “Don’t mention it,” he said softly. “We all had to adjust when we first came to Cato. It takes time.”
I nodded, grateful for his understanding. But even as I basked in the warmth of Dylan’s kindness, I couldn’t shake the dread that coiled in my gut. Much too soon, the mental image would come true: I would be over Devin’s knee, my backside burning under his palm—and everyone in this room would be watching.