“I’m sure things will be fine. He’s probably just a little freaked out. He’ll regret taking off like that.” The lie was polite, and they both knew it for what it was.
“This never should have happened.” He poured himself another drink. “Eight years of friendship, then he shows up here with you and I lose all of my self control.”
He sat heavily in one of the wingback chairs, hand on his chest, as though in pain. “If he ever speaks to me again it’ll be a fucking miracle. Fuck.”
The word was on repeat in her head too. No other word had the versatility to express everything she was feeling.
“I’m sorry. This is my fault.” Minnow pushed back her hair, running her fingers through the snarls he’d put in it. Rodrigo’s hands had felt so good controlling her, and the memory of him forcing her down on Severin was still hot, even though she was upset about what happened afterward.
“It’s not your fault. I got caught up in the moment. The worst part is, even knowing how things turned out, I can’t say I wouldn’t do it again. I’m no saint.”
Minnow sat across from him. “If he didn’t want you involved, he should have pushed you away. You honestly think he’s too polite to say no?”
“You don’t understand. He’ll never trust me again. I betrayed him.”
“Yeah, I can see how helping him get a blowjob is at the top of a list of reprehensible acts.”
“Whether he seemed into it at the time is irrelevant.”
“Maybe the orgasm will put him in a forgiving mood. I can attest to the fact that your participation didn’t turn him off any. I wasn’t prepared for a drink from the fire hose.”
Rodrigo laughed as though in spite of himself. “I hope I didn’t wreck things between the two of you. So many times I’ve offered to arrange women for him, but he’s so fucked up he can’t even accept temporary physical relief.”
“I hope he doesn’t stay mad at you,” she said honestly. The poor man seemed just as upset as Severin was. As she was.
“Yeah.” He sipped at his whiskey. “So is it the money?”
“The money for what?” she asked blankly.
“Is that why you’re interested in hi
m?”
The shock in her expression must have said everything he needed to know because he his smile turned more genuine.
“Have you met the man?” She shivered. “I tried to keep things professional, but between how he looks and how he looks at me, I was shit out of luck.”
He barked a laugh. “Just try not to break him too bad when you leave him.”
“Despite what happened earlier, our relationship isn’t your business.” She smiled when she said it, but the last thing she wanted was this man meddling in things, even if he was Severin’s best friend.
“It’s hard not to overstep myself where he’s involved,” Rodrigo admitted. “I’m overprotective.”
“And I seem dangerous to you?”
“Submissives are the most dangerous creatures on the planet. You convince a dominant that you’re theirs, and then when they finally trust you, you destroy them.”
“Spoken like a man who’s had his heart broken.”
“I’m irrelevant. Severin is the one who needs protecting.”
“Oh? Are you in love with him or something?”
He coughed, his brows raised in surprise. “Just friends, little girl.” He shook his head in teasing disapproval. “Typical female.”
“I’d watch.”
“...and dirty!”