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The wave of tormented relief that washed over Markus’s face was telling. “Oh, thank God. I should be pissed… but I’m not. I’ve dreaded you getting here with signed papers. I know it’s what I asked you to do for me, but it guts me just thinking about losing her. I know you’re gonna give me all kinds of shit for being a pussy for feeling like this after what she did, but I can’t help it. I love her so much it hurts, man.”
Lukus looked away. He should have been relieved and happy that his best friend was smart enough to fight for his marriage, but until that very minute, Lukus hadn’t been willing to admit that a sliver of himself had hoped Markus would still want out and leave Brianna available, for him.
Don’t be an asshole, Mitchell. They love each other. Back the fuck out of this.
Lukus countered defensively, “Hey, I’m not going to say jack shit. In fact, if you hadn’t woke up to realize what the hell you’re losing by now, I was coming out here to bang some sense into you.”
Markus managed to sit up, but he snapped his eyes closed, still looking queasy as Lukus continued. “I really like what you’ve done with the place. You know, you’re gonna have seven years bad luck from the broken mirror.”
Markus finally reopened his eyes. He was more focused and turned his sights on his best friend. “Cut the damn small talk. What happened last night and how is she doing?”
Lukus didn’t reply right away. Instead he walked over to the stereo and shut it off before heading to a chair opposite the couch and sitting down. The sudden silence felt like a wedge between the men. Lukus tried to delay. “Why don’t you go take a shower and we’ll talk after. I’ll make you some food.”
“Stop stalling. What the hell happened to my wife?” Markus’s tone had an accusatory edge.
Lukus couldn’t help but get defensive. “Hey, nothing happened to your wife you didn’t ask to happen and don’t forget that. You left her there—alone—with two men who were going to whip, paddle, and humiliate the shit out of her. How could you do that to her knowing what the hell she’s been through in the past? The least you could have done was warn me.”
At Lukus’s angry words, Markus’s previously green hue grew pale.
“I told you everything you needed to know. You didn’t need to hear about all the Jake shit. If she was so traumatized by what that asshole did to her, she should have called the police when he showed up at the salon, not jump in a car to meet him and fuck the afternoon away.” The torture in his voice was evident.
Both men were silent for a moment while Lukus chose his next words wisely.
“You really screwed this up, Markus. I love you like a brother, but from the minute you met that woman you’ve done one wrong thing after another to fuck things up and I’m done letting you get away with it.”
“What? You’re saying it’smyfault she cheated? Jesus Christ, Lukus! How the hell did she get you wrapped around her little finger so fast? Wait… I forgot. That’s what she does. She cries that soft, vulnerable cry and blinks those big brown eyes, or laughs that cute little giggle of hers and it melts your damn heart. I should know. I’ve seen her do it to every man I’ve ever introduced her to.”
“Is that why you never let me meet her before? Why you didn’t even invite me to your wedding? We were like brothers, Markus. Do you know how ridiculous it is that I just met her for the first time last night?”
Markus stumbled to his feet to walk towards the wet bar across the room. He threw his next insult over his shoulder. “Oh, for Christ’s sake. Are we gonna have this argument again? I had my reasons for not introducing you. I thought you understood that.”
“I never understood… at least not until today. Would it have killed you to explain it to me back then? It took all of ten minutes of talking with Bri to figure it all out. I would’ve understood.”
“Yeah, right. You were already so angry with me for the way things had ended with Georgie that I knew you’d give me grief over what I had to do to get Brianna to trust me.”
Lukus was relieved when Markus grabbed a bottle of water from the small refrigerator in the bar area instead of more alcohol.
“I resent that,” he said. “What have I ever done to make you think I wouldn’t have supported you marrying Brianna?”
“Are you kidding me? After all the shit you gave me after Georgie left me? You can’t help yourself.”
“That’s completely different. You crossed the line with Georgie. I did to you what I would have done to any Dom in the club who had done what you did. You blew through her safeword—not once, buttwice. You hurt her, Markus. Were you really surprised she left you?”
Markus took a seat at the far end of the couch away from the foul-smelling mess on the floor. He appeared defeated as he sat quietly, unable to look his friend in the eye. When he finally did, Lukus worried Markus might cry. “I regret losing control that night more than you’ll ever know, but Georgie didn’t leave me because I blew through her safeword. She was ready to leave me long before that. That was just the final straw. I’ve been thinking about it all night.” He took a swig of water. “I finally had to take a fucking Ambien just so I could finally shut my brain off.”
Markus shook his head before continuing. “It’s so damn funny, you know? I lost my first wife—a professed submissive when I married her—because I was too dominant for her. I demanded her submission in all things because when we met, that’s what she said she wanted. But when it came down to it, she was a part-timer who couldn’t live the life. Then I fall in love and marry her polar opposite—a woman who’s afraid of dominance, a woman who needed to be protected and pampered. Brianna wanted all the things Georgie never did. I’ve been like a damn puppy dog with her. Anything she’s wanted I’ve given her. And you know what? I loved every single minute of it. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Brianna. But after all that, she ends up hurting me worse than Georgie ever did.”
Lukus was furious, shouting in the new silence. “You’re such an ass, you know that? All these years, you haven’t been paying attention to me at all, have you? I’ve been trying to guide you, but you just had to do it your way. I thought after Georgie left, you’d finally wised up, but you didn’t get shit. You’re still clueless about what it takes to be a Dom.”
Markus’s face was beet red as his defensiveness kicked in. “Oh, do tell me, Master Lukus. I don’t recall you being with the same sub for longer than three months at a stretch…ever. So, what the hell makes you some relationship expert?”
Lukus was up on his feet, closing the distance between them in just a few seconds. He grabbed Markus’s shirt and pulled him close. “You listen here. I don’t know jack about being married, but I know everything there is to know about what makes a good Dom. And buddy, I hate to tell you, but you suck at it. You’re truly no better than Jake is and honestly, right this minute, I think Brianna deserves better.”
Markus’s face clouded with anger. “Fuck you, Lukus. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not her Dom. I’m herhusband. There’s a difference.”
“For some people, maybe, but not for men like us, Markus. Briannaneedsa Dom. Shewantsa Dom and you totally let her down.”
Markus shoved Lukus until he had to release his hold on his still seated friend. “That’s bullshit. You should have seen her shake just thinking about what that asshole did to her. Even months later she was still a nervous wreck. We didn’t even have sex for the first two months we dated—which is a lifetime for me. I waited for her to be ready because she was special.”
