*
“It’s alright,” Taryn said, aiding Nicki as they attempted to pull a nearly hysterical Rebecca away from the fray. “It’s tradition.”
“It’s insane!” Rebecca cried.
“That it is,” agreed Maggie, laughing. “But boys will be boys. Come, have a drink with us and we’ll fill you in.”
Rebecca looked at her as if she was crazy, too, then extended that look to Taryn, Nicki, and Lexi as well, forming a protective circle around her. The sounds of a great struggle continued only a few feet away as the “boys” attempted to wrestle Kane to the ground. The snap of handcuffs and the feel of cold steel around her wrists only reinforced that thought.
“Awesome,” breathed Taryn, staring at the shiny cuffs with undisguised envy. “You carry those with you all the time?”
“Yep,” Nicki said with more than a little pride. “Although I’ve never used them on anyone besides Sean.”
The women broke into gales of laughter, and even Rebecca had to smile a little.
“Come on, girlfriend,” Lexi said. “Or should I say, sister. Tonight you will be inducted into our super-secret society. Let us further enlighten you on the bunch of crazies you’ve married into.”
Several margaritas later, Nicki finally released the cuffs. Kane had been dragged off quite some time ago, kicking and fighting all the way, even as he was trussed and carted away. He struggled so much, in fact, that he managed to break free once, hitting the hardwood floors with a resounding thud. None of his brothers seemed all that sorry about it, though.
“So let me get this straight,” Rebecca said, the warmth of the alcohol flowing through her veins, but it was the warmth of the women around her that she felt most keenly. For perhaps the first time in her life, Rebecca didn’t feel like an outsider. These women were treating her as if she belonged, and the strangest thing was, she felt like she did, too. “They’ve taken Kane back to the Pub, where he will remain under guard until the wedding tomorrow?”
“Yep,” Maggie said, nodding vigorously. “Except he thinks it’s his job to try and escape and find his way to you.”
“And that it’s our job to keep you hidden,” Lexi giggled.
“Except that we don’t exactly play that way,” Taryn chimed in.
“You don’t?” Rebecca asked. The tingle of excitement, the hint of naughtiness in their eyes and knowing smiles was infectious.
“No. What actually happens is, the groom gets manacled to the bed so it’s impossible for him to escape. And our job is to sneak you in so you can have your wicked way with him.”
Rebecca’s eyes got as big as saucers. “Really?”
“Absolutely. This, sister, is our gift to you. A night of total dominance over your alpha male.”
“And Kane knows none of this?”
“Nope. Only the ones already married know what’s coming, but they won’t say anything.”
“We have Taryn to thank for starting this great tradition,” Lexi said, raising her glass in toast. “She was the first to discover the secret dumbwaiter, sneaking in to her alpha to piss off his brothers.”
Taryn checked her watch. “Almost time to get ready. Nicki, did you bring the gear?”
“Gear? What gear?” Rebecca asked with a nervous giggle.
“Oh, nothing too much. Some leather, some chains...”
“Whips, lube, ...”
Rebecca paled, even as Lexi shoved a book in her hand. “Here, read this. It’s got some great ideas.” Rebecca looked at the book, turning it over. “Salienne Dulcette?” Amazingly, the gorgeous man on the cover looked very much like one of the Callaghan men.
“She’s a goddess, and for tonight, this is your bible.”
“Read it, love it, live it,” nodded Maggie with reverence.
Chapter Twenty-One
By the second page, Rebecca was hooked. She found she couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, refusing to put the book down even as the others dressed her. Maybe that was one of the reasons she was so shocked when she finally got a good look at herself right before they left.
“Oh, my.” She blushed to the roots of her hair at the sexy negligee and matching sheer covering. “Do you think he’ll like it?”
“Trust me, sweetie, he will love it. Submissive, yet sexy. Gets ‘em every time.”
“Especially the night before the wedding, when they’re all tense and anxious...”
“Amen to that, sister,” said Nicki fervently. “The night before my wedding had to be one of the best fu-”
“I think she gets it,” Maggie laughed.
“Not yet,” Lexi winked. “But with our help, she will.”
“Okay, take off the coat and get in,” Taryn instructed. They’d snuck Rebecca in the private back entrance to the Pub, prowling quietly to the hidden dumbwaiter in the far reaches of the ancient kitchen.
“Are you sure about this?” Rebecca said, biting her lip.
“Oh hell yes.”