Page 67 of Dominate Me

My head jerked back at the mention of the women.

“What? Where?”

I took a step toward her but stopped at her expression.

Cold. Scared.

Pissed-the-fuck-off.

“I’m trying really hard to trust you,” she said, her lips shaking as she spoke. “But I really need an answer. I mean, they’re beautiful, so beautiful, and they knew you.”

“How did you meet them?”

Meredith enjoyed spending time with those who were weaker than she was. It was most likely the only reason she and Courtney were ever friends to begin with.

“Does it matter?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Yes, it does.” The room seemed to tilt as I walked to her, anger simmering in my gut. The way she looked at me like she doubted me. Like I hadn’t been completely honest with her. I’d done everything I was supposed to do as Haley’s Dom, including being honest when I wanted to change the rules.

That was the most important part about a BDSM relationship beyond being safe, sane and consensual. Communication, openness and honesty. Those three words should be written immediately under any BDSM website, or fuck...hung on the walls in every sex club.

I’d done my part, and this woman, who claimed to trust me, was now doubting me.

“It matters, Haley,” I said, lowering my voice so she knew I was serious. “Because you just came in to my office, my place of business, and you seem to have your head clouded and twisted with bullshit that has nothing to do with us or what we’re building.”

Or what I thought we were building, because damn...this hurt.

“Go sit,” I commanded. Her eyes flashed defiance and spurred my anger. “And tell me what happened. Let’s talk about this before you begin throwing accusations at my feet.”

“I’m not playing this game today, Jensen.”

Her back straightened and fire lit in her green eyes.

And hell if it didn’t make my dick go hard in my pants. I bit back a groan, seeing her all fired up and pissed off. I’d seen Haley scared. I’d seen her nervous. I’d seen her throw her head back and laugh with unbridled joy, but never had I seen this side of her.

If asked, I couldn’t deny that seeing her this pissed off made me want to fuck it straight out of her.

Ignoring the impulse, I leaned forward and showed her how serious I was in my expression and my voice. “Go. Sit. Down.”

That fire in her eyes burned brighter. Her jaw clenched and for a moment I thought she’d refuse. I almost wanted her to try to turn away from me, just so I could toss her over my desk and give her the spanking that she wouldn’t only enjoy, but would release all her anger so we could discuss this rationally.

Right before I could reach for her, a bit of that anger receded and her chin dipped in submission.

“Fine,” she mumbled. She moved toward a set of chairs I had set up around a small office-sized conference table.

It was usually where I met with Ron and Amy, my assistant, and was currently covered in case files I was avoiding.

I followed her and took another chair, pushing far enough back, and tried to plaster on a neutral expression, but I didn’t want to hide the hurt. I wanted to quit hiding. I had done nothing wrong in this and she was the one who had explaining to do. I gave her a moment to calm down even though my heart was racing.

“Start at the beginning.”

She didn’t look at me when she spoke. That small distance unsettled me more than her anger. As if she’d already checked out.

“Gabby and I met for coffee this afternoon at Madcup downtown.”

“You and Gabby?”

She shrugged and fiddled with her purse she’d set in her lap—keeping it close to her like she didn’t plan on staying long. My teeth ground together until pain radiated through my jaw.

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