Page 124 of Their Naughty Student (Office Intrigue Duet 6)
When everyone had left except for Cav and Jamie, I joined them on the far side of the room. Perching on the edge of the table, I glanced between the two of them. Cav was leaning casually against the wall, Jamie kneeling on the floor.
“I’m sure I can restructure the—”
“Shut up,” Cav snapped, pushing off the wall.
Ouch. Looks like he’s taking the reins.
Anger flared hot and bright, setting my defenses in place. I swallowed my own damn pride, then got to my feet. “I know our personal issues have no business here.”
“What are you talkin’ about?” Cav shot out, moving closer. “No business here? As in that’s completely separate?”
“Yes.”
“How do you figure? I thought you were a Dom outside these walls, too? A man who’s aligned his life to mirror this lifestyle? Isn’t that what all this is about in the first place?”
I squared off with him.
When Jamie had left my bed early Monday morning, her exit hadn’t gone unnoticed. I’d been awake and not that far behind as she slipped into the hall as silently as possible. Although I had wanted to go after her, to make her face the issue, I’d done the opposite, running from it myself. My half-ass apology to Cav seemed to have disappeared right along with everything else that had transpired in the past week.
“I’m not playing a game,” I assured him.
Oh, but you are. You just won’t accept it.
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“Look,” I bit out with a hefty sigh. “I know I fucked up. I apologized. I won’t blame the two of you if—”
Cav cut me off, stepping into my personal space. “Shut up while you’re ahead, Edge.”
I glared at him, unable to come up with a rebuttal.
“Is that how this works?” Cav asked, waving around the room as he paced away. “You stand up here, tell the submissives what they should and shouldn’t do, what a Dom should and shouldn’t do, but you don’t heed your own advice?”
“I—”
Cav spun around and pointed at me. “I said shut up.”
I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him this pissed off before.
You bring out the best in people.
“We’re here tonight because we want to be here.” He shot a look at Jamie, who was still kneeling, her head down. “Not because we’re obligated.” His gaze cut to mine. “You, on the other hand…”
“I’m not obligated to do anything,” I countered.
Unless it’s in the plan. Then it must be followed. Right?
“You’re the teacher, Edge. The professor. Tell me you don’t have an obligation to this class.”
“Sure, I do, but—”
“You’re always spoutin’ shit about how communication is key,” he continued, speaking over me. “Yet you’re the fucking worst at communication.” He paused, swallowed. “The other night, you decided to control the situation, to mold it the way you expected it to play out. Without bothering to find out what we wanted.”
I didn’t argue. That much was true.
Because it’s always true.
“And now you’re gonna realign the class, to push us away because what? It’s the easy way out?”
“Fuck you,” I hissed. “I don’t take the easy way out.”
He barked a laugh, his eyes hard. “You’ve always taken the easy way out, Edge. You’ve got this idea of what perfection looks like. The perfect submissive, perfect Dom. Hell, the perfect relationship. And if it doesn’t conform, if it’s not simple, you avoid it. Not just in your personal relationships, either.”
“Bullshit.”
He cocked his head. “Have you given Parker an answer on becoming partner?”
“That has nothing to do with this.”
He snarled. “It has everything to do with this. If it’s too much of a complication, you nix the idea. If there’s the possibility of confrontation, you avoid it. If it’s not easy, you go the opposite direction. Hell, if I had to guess, you’re considering quittin’ either the club or Chatter because it’s too much for you.”
Damn, he’s got your number.
I focused on breathing. In, out.
“Well, I don’t much care for easy,” he said, his tone softening somewhat. “What I do care about is you and Jamie. That’s why I’m here. Not because of your stupid fucking training. I know what I need to know. And to be honest, Jamie doesn’t need formal training. This lifestyle you’ve focused on … it’s not who you are, but somewhere along the way, you lost sight of that.” He walked over to Jamie. “Stand, cupcake.”
Jamie took his hand, allowed him to help her to her feet.
“Tonight, we’re gonna take a page out of your book, Edge. We’re gonna show her what it means to tackle the hard things, to step out of your comfort zone.” He placed a hand on the small of her back and urged her toward the door. “And I hope like fucking hell you learn something.”
When he walked out, I remained where I was for a moment.
Don’t you dare let them walk away. You’re a fucking fool if you do.
