“You didn’t try to stop her?” Beck gaped.
“I wasn’t sure she’d actually left until Seth came in cursing. He told me she’d gotten a text, read it, then pulled a Cinderella-style exit.”
Beck mulled that. He’d seen Heavenly texting someone when he’d caught her alone, too, but she’d never used an incoming message as a smokescreen to escape him. What had Seth done to make her bolt, try to haul her up to one of Raine’s guest rooms and leave the aftermath of her innocence all over the sheets?
“Did she tell Raine why she left abruptly?”
“She called this morning to apologize. Said that ‘a friend’ needed help.” Hammer shrugged.
Friend? She’d never talked about any fucking friends. Well, besides him.
Beck needed answers from her. But first, he intended to make a few things clear to Sir Dick-for-Brains.
“Thanks,” Beck snapped as he shouldered his way past Hammer and barreled toward the bar.
Hammer yanked on his arm. “Don’t be stupid. And don’t make me kick you out of the club.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.” Beck jerked free and stormed into the bar.
“You could keep all five of us in your thrall at the same time, couldn’t you, Sir Seth?” Kristen, a curvy sub with pink hair, purred.
“I’m sure he could,” Eden, a very active sub, offered with a sensual purse of her lips as she laid her hand on his thigh. “You’re so good one-on-one, and we’d be happy to let you try us together.”
Kat, Vinyl, and Glitter all nodded enthusiastically.
Beck shook his head. This guy got more ass than a toilet seat.
Seth plucked up Eden’s wrist and lifted her hand from his leg. “Maybe I could have you all panting in less than ten seconds. If I wanted to.”
Yeah, because you’d only last ten seconds…
At the chorus of eager female coos, Beck wanted to puke.
Seth merely grabbed his bottle. “Tonight, I’m just enjoying my beer, ladies.”
Beck forced an affable smile as he approached. “Sorry, girls. You’ll have to Top Master Seth from the bottom another time. I need to talk to him.”
The subs’ expressions ranged from guilt to disappointment as they scampered away.
Seth turned to him with an annoyed glower. “Hi, Beck. You’re as welcome as poop in a punchbowl.”
“Yeah? I wish like hell your parents had practiced birth control, but since they didn’t do the world a favor and we’re both here, you and I are going to have some words.”
“Why are you up my ass? Didn’t slicing Chastity open with a whip soothe your savage beast?”
His lack of satisfaction was none of Seth’s business. Making the asshole back away from Heavenly was. “What did you do to Heavenly at Raine’s party?”
The bastard sent him a smug grin. “We…talked.”
“Is that code for getting her drunk and trying to take her to bed?”
“Is that what she said? I guess you two chatted over lunch since she told me you’re great ‘friends.’”
Beck seethed. He didn’t need a fucking reminder that Heavenly had labeled him a pal. Knowing she’d told Seth only chafed him more. “Back off.”
“Why? You don’t have any claim on the girl.”
“The last thing she needs is a player like you. I’ve spent time getting to know Heavenly. If you’d bothered to do the same, you’d know how innocent she is.”
“Oh, I know. And last night proved she’s ripe and more than ready to give away her sweetly guarded virginity.”
Beck’s gut churned. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“She begged me to tell her what I’d do to her if she were mine. So I gave her every dirty detail of the things I’d do to her body with my fingers, my cock, and of course, my tongue. That woman has the most beautiful blush from head to toe when she’s aroused.”
Beck’s blood rushed and pooled like a living volcano about to erupt. He didn’t know what he wanted more, to knock out the prick’s teeth or eviscerate him with the bar knife. “I’m going to kill you.”
“Don’t blow an artery, Doctor. I didn’t touch her…yet,” Seth drawled. “But I damn well intend to drag her beneath me and take every bit of her soft, lush innocence. Just so you know.”
“Have some fucking decency. If you do that and run back to New York, you’ll leave her in a million shattered pieces. She doesn’t need that. She doesn’t need you.”
“And you think she needs you?” Seth cocked his head toward Chastity, who still lay curled on the sofa, glowing ass lined in angry red welts. “Do Heavenly a favor and fuck off. We both know she needs a man who can be gentle, and that’s not you.”
“I can be fucking gentle!”
“Don’t kid yourself.”
“You know what? I admit it. I’m all wrong for her. But have you looked in a mirror?”
Seth scowled. “You don’t know me.”
“Oh, please. You’re as predictable as a B movie. And as one of Heavenly’s friends, I intend to protect her from assholes like you. And if you hurt her, I will make you suffer. I know how.”