Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Aidan was now staring his fiancée’s way. “Since when? I was joking about the whole masquerade thing. You know we’ll be talking about last night until the next time. The club runs on gossip. Gabe texted me in the middle of a session to ask me if getting beer in his eyes could make Seth blind, and he was not texting for my medical advice.”
“Who was she?” Nate didn’t care about what had happened last night in any room other than the one where he’d made love to the most gorgeous submissive he’d ever seen.
“There’s a reason we wear masks.” Carys’s pretty face went stubborn. “She has a right to privacy. If she’d wanted you to know who she was, she would have hung around.”
“Or she’s a scared little sub since something’s happening to her at the club,” he replied. He’d thought a lot about this.
“What do you mean?” Aidan asked, all of his focus on Nate again.
“I watched her when she walked out. I didn’t like the way some of the Doms treated her.” He’d been up early this morning, the problem grinding through his brain. He’d arrived at some conclusions. None of them made him feel better. She’d been happy when they were playing. It had been the minute they were done with the initial sex that she’d gotten anxious. Like she’d needed it so badly, needed the affection and pleasure he’d lavished on her, but when it was done the real world had rushed back in.
“How they treated her?” Aidan looked concerned all of the sudden. “I’m going to need some names. If we’ve got assholes mistreating the subs, I will handle it. I’m having a hard time believing one of our tops would abuse a sub. They’re all well trained, and we have some very specific rules about how to behave in the club.”
“She told me she’s looking for a new club because she doesn’t feel welcome at this one,” Nate pointed out.
He’d come to the conclusion she might have been shamed for her sexuality. It was an awful thing to think about since the club was exactly the place where she should feel free to explore. He would bet it was about jealousy. She’d likely had some kind of relationship with one or more of the Doms, and they didn’t like the fact she didn’t want them now. He’d seen it before, and he didn’t intend to let it happen to Dee.
He didn’t give a bloody hell how many blokes she’d been with. As long as he was the last.
Aidan pulled his cell out of his pocket. “I don’t want anyone to feel run out of The Hideout. That’s not happening on my watch. I’ll call Gabe. We’re in charge while Cooper, Tash, and the twins are out of pocket. And Dare. I can call him in. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“I think Gabe is one of the problems.” He hated causing trouble when it wasn’t necessary. Drama tended to be a thing he avoided, but this was wrong. He’d seen how hurt Dee had been. “He was one of two tops I saw make her uncomfortable.”
Aidan stopped as though the thought didn’t quite make sense. “You’re telling me you saw Gabriel Lodge abuse a sub?”
He was stepping in it now, but he had to speak up. “Well, he wasn’t physical with her. I’m not saying he hit her or wouldn’t honor her safe word. They were on the dungeon floor. I was watching from the lounge, but I know whatever he said hurt her feelings. And when we went up to the privacy rooms, there was some weird interaction with the monitor. Like he wasn’t going to let her go back or something. I couldn’t hear everything she said to him, but it felt like she had to force him to let us go back. Again, I feel like whatever he was doing hurt her.”
Carys put a hand to her forehead like she had a headache. “Or maybe it was a misunderstanding.”
“What kind of misunderstanding could there be?” Aidan was scrolling through his contacts. “I assure you Gabe knows how to communicate, and I know who was working the desk last night. Hunter is about to get a hearty fucking lecture.”
“Please don’t call him,” Carys said, the tight set of her jaw proving she wished she wasn’t having this conversation.
A suspicious brow rose over Aidan’s eyes. “Why wouldn’t I, baby?” His voice had gone Dom deep. “Are you trying to tell me my friend is lying?”
Damn. When Aidan wanted to top a girl, he knew how to do it. Nate felt a little bad for Carys. “I’m not lying.”
Carys took a long breath and turned Nate’s way. “No, but you also don’t understand what’s going on. I do know the sub, and she’s got a reputation.” She shook her head. “Not one she’s earned.”