Page 66 of Salvage Him
"After I found out she was a sub, I told her if she ever needed . . . a release, strictly platonic, I would keep her safe. I would protect her. I wouldn't cross any lines." I looked up and then back down, hit by their disapproving eyes. "I know. It was astupididea."
"Really stupid,"Justinsaid.
"I know," I yelled. I slammed my hand on the table. I took a breath and continued. "She showed up last night. She was wound way too tight. She needed something. She came to me. What was I supposedtodo?"
"So you did what exactly?" Sethasked.
"I took her into a room. I tied her to a bench and spanked her." I stared at my hands. I could feel her skin on my palm. "She subbed out, and I thought it was over, but then I took ittoofar."
"You fucked her?"Sethsaid.
Justin hit him on the shoulder, and herubbedit.
"Not exactly." I blushed thinking about her screamingmyname.
"We don't need to know the details, but it went too far?"Justinsaid.
"She asked me to." I looked up and saw what I expected, disbelief. "She begged for it, and I could have been the stand-upguy—"
"Like you said you would—" Justininterjected.
"I know. You don't have to remind me I fucked up. I know I fucked up.” I rubbed my face. “She'll never trust meagain."
"What does it matter? She's not yours. She's married,"Sethsaid.
I stood up, and the chair went sliding backbehindme.
Seth stood up with his hands in frontofhim.
"I'm not trying to be an asshole. I'm just stating the truth." Seth stood hisground.
"Fuck the truth." I steppedtohim.
He steppedtome.
"Enough," Justinyelled.
We both continued to stare each other down. Justin stepped between us and pushed me toward the door. "Let's go to myoffice."
I followed Justin but kept my eye on Seth as I walked out the door. The little prick was getting to me. This whole situation was gettingtome.
I relaxed when we were safe behind Justin's office door. I flopped on the couch near the huge picture window overlooking the courtyard. I designed the desk in his office and the built-in bookshelves, too. I wondered if he bought them because we were friends or if he actuallylikedthem.
"What are you doing?" Justin broke thesilence.
"What? SethandI—"
"I'm not talking about you and Seth." Justin sat on the edge ofhisdesk.
"I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't know why I let her get to me like this, but you know what it feels like when you meet the person you know was created especiallyforyou."
"Yeah, no, Idon't."
"Well, neither did I before I metBrooklyn."
"Why is she so different?" heasked.
I looked up as if it was the stupidest question intheword.
