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A firm hand lands on my shoulder and squeezes. “What are you up to, Gav?”
Oak’s voice holds a hint of suspicion as I glance toward him and shrug his hand from my shoulder.
“Getting a drink. What does it look like?”
His eyes narrow. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you follow Camilla out of the bar.”
My friend has always been very perceptive. I shrug. “I went out for some air. Is that a crime?”
His jaw clenches. “Don’t take me for a fool, Gav. I see the way you look at that girl.”
I face him. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’m suggesting that you’re walking a dangerous line.” He runs a hand across the back of his neck. “There’s a difference between Archer sleeping around with students and you.”
I narrow my eyes. “And what difference is that, exactly?” I know what he’s saying. He knows my tastes in sex aren’t vanilla. In fact, they’re pitch fucking black and sadistic and that’s why he’s worried, but I don’t like being called out by him.
“You know the difference. Do I need to remind you how we met?”
It feels so long ago that it’s easy to forget that Oak has seen the extent of destruction that my tastes can cause. Especially when I’m out of control. When we met, it was at a strip club just south of the Canadian border. I’d been getting pretty hot and heavy with a few strippers, who I’d told about my tastes. They were up for anything as long as the price was right, but unfortunately there’s nothing safe about breath play and it went too far with one girl, until she didn’t wake up again. The other two girls freaked out and said they’d call the cops, and I saw red. I still have flashbacks of their blood painting the walls in the rundown motel room.
Oak helped me cover up my sadistic crimes, as if he could see something good in me. God knows why. And that’s when he offered me a job at the academy that night, telling me it was a place for troubled people like me to find somewhere to belong.
“I’d never forget that night.” I’m pretty sure Oak saved me from a life in prison that day. To be honest, it’s sick that the girl’s accidental death never made me feel guilty, as it’s one of the perils. It’s what I did after that. When I lost control entirely and tore those two other girls apart, that haunts me. That wasn’t an accident. It was a savage and brutal murder spree.
The blonde clears her throat, eyeing Oak. “Can I get you anything?”
Oak shakes his head. “No, put this drink on my tab. Oak Byrne.” He brushes her off and I grab my drink.
Her face falls as we both walk away from the bar.
“All I’m saying is tread carefully. She’s a student and I can’t deal with any more fallouts right now.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I pissed off enough of the parents by marrying one of my students. I don’t need some kind of sadistic act going wrong and killing a student on my watch.”
I clench my jaw as the fact is I’m more in control now. That day at the strip-club I was spiraling with no purpose in life. “Things are different now. I don’t take crazy risks with my sub’s lives.”
His brow hitches. “Are you saying Camilla is one of your subs?”
Not yet.
I shake my head. “Of course not. We’ve flirted harmlessly, that’s all.” It’s a lie if ever I’ve told one, but I can’t bring myself to tell Oak the truth for fear he’ll try to stop me. Now that I’ve stepped over the line with Camilla, I fear nothing can stop the beast inside of me from laying his claim on her.
Oak doesn’t look convinced. “Just be careful, alright?”
“Do you really need to tell me to be careful? When have I ever crossed the line with a student?”
“I apologize. You are right, you’ve never crossed the line before.” He claps me on the shoulder. “Let’s enjoy the rest of the evening.”
I don’t say another word as we return to the table and I sit next to Camilla.
Instantly, I feel her gaze on me, but I don’t meet it. Not right away, as I know Oak will watch carefully, looking for any signs that I am indeed in a sexual Dom and sub relationship with Miss Morrone.
Adrianna shakes her head. “Quit now, Daniels. No one can beat me at drinking games.”
“It’s true,” Eva says, leaning forward slightly. “She beats all the guys at beer chugging.”
Archer’s brow furrows and the look of determination in his eyes if enough to make me want to run for the hills. This bar may be upmarket, but if these two are going to chug beer, we will bring the place down a notch. “Challenge accepted.” He calls over a waitress. “Two large beers, please.”
She nods and scurries off to get their order.
