“Restrain me?” That shouldn’t have made me hot.
“Yes. So you won’t steal my fine china,” he added.
He was joking. Master Parker was actually joking.
Wonders never ceased.
“You don’t have fine china,” Master Snowden noted, his words directed to Master Parker, but his attention was on me. “But it is a formidable plan.” He grinned wickedly. “You staying at his apartment, that is. Not the restraining you part. What do you say?”
Maybe it made me as pathetic as Josh accused, but I wasn’t above accepting a free meal at the very least. I had absolutely nothing to my name aside from the clothes I’d left in my locker when we arrived tonight. I knew that Josh was already tossing my shit in the trash, perhaps even setting it on fire as he did.
God, I hated starting over. Again.
On the other hand, maybe I could take them up on the offer. I didn’t have a place to stay and the thought of walking into the shelter made my stomach churn. But we could start with food and perhaps they’d come to their senses after that.
“Would you mind if I speak to Master Edge first?” Although I appreciated everything they’d done, I wanted to get Master Edge’s thoughts on the two men. Sure, they were members here, I’d seen them around, and I’d heard some rather sordid stories about them, but I still didn’t know them.
It was probably a good idea to let someone else know in case I disappeared forever.
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t,” Master Parker said. “Now, let’s find Greg so we can get out of here.”
With that, they led me out of the room, through the dungeon, then up the stairs. Thankfully, the place had cleared out somewhat, so the pitying stares were few. But they were there. I could feel eyes tracking me and they were likely thinking I was a pathetic mess, just like Josh had claimed.
Yeah. I was ready to go.
It didn’t take long to locate Master Edge. He was talking to one of the DMs near the bar. Master Parker interrupted him, then informed him of my request for a tête-à-tête.
“We’re going to change,” Master Parker said after Master Edge agreed to talk. “We’ll wait for you by the bar.” His eyes narrowed. “Should you decide to bolt, have enough respect to let me know. Understood?”
There was a sincerity in his gaze that made my decision for me. “I won’t bolt.” Not tonight.
“Thank you.”
I turned to Master Edge.
“Go get dressed, then meet me in my office.”
“Yes, Sir.” I hurried toward the locker room pretending people weren’t still watching my every move.
The room was empty, and wanting to keep it that way until I was done, I rushed to pull on my panties, giving my ass a quick once-over as I did. Most of the marks were gone, as was the pain. I could still see a few welts, but hopefully they’d be gone by morning.
After pulling on my bra and my shorts, I yanked my Guns n’ Roses T-shirt over my head, then crammed my feet into my bright pink Converse.
All dressed up and nowhere to go.
Well, actually…
Five
ADDISON
TIME TO FACE THE MUSIC.
After grabbing the small wallet that had my ID and my social security card, along with the library book I’d checked out last week, I shored up my nerve and walked out of the locker room with my head held high. That didn’t last long, because as soon as I approached Master Edge’s office door, the muscles in my shoulders tensed and I found myself staring at the carpeted floor.
I tapped on the door with one knuckle.
“Come in, Addison.”
The second I stepped inside, my mouth opened and words came tumbling out. “Master Edge, first of all, I’d like to apologize for what happened tonight. I am so sorry that I allowed that to—”
One big hand lifted, halting my bout of verbal diarrhea.
Master Edge’s electric blue eyes focused intently on my face. “It wasn’t your fault, Addison. No one here believes that, so why should you?”
He motioned me inside, then pointed to the single chair across from him.
Keeping my hands in front of me, I eased down onto the edge of the seat. “Because I’m the one who brought him here.”
“All members are vetted,” he countered, some of the heat disappearing from his tone. “So it’s as much our fault as it is yours.”
“I really don’t—”
“Now’s the time for you to stop,” he insisted in that unflappable Dom voice of his. “Is that what you wanted? To apologize?” He leaned back in his chair. “Because it isn’t necessary.”
I sighed, then managed to relax somewhat. “No, that’s not why I’m here. I really just wanted to ask you if there was anything I should know about Master Snowden and Master Parker.”
Master Edge’s dark eyebrows darted low, as though he was confused.
