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“What the hell is your problem?” she asked.
“You freaked out in college when I tried to introduce you to kink.”Freakedwas an apt descriptor; she’d started shaking and stared at him like he’d gone crazy.
“Things have changed. You need to get that through your head.” She rubbed her fingers over her forehead.
“You were gone for over three years. Things don’t change that fast.” It could have been thirty years as far as he was concerned. Dani was Dani. She couldn’t have changed that much.
Dani blew out a breath. “Gabriel, if I had asked you to play with me tonight, would you have?”
He didn’t even hesitate. “No.” She didn’t belong in the lifestyle. She was afraid of it.
“And there you have it. We’re not compatible. Never have been. We have nothing to say to each other.”
“I think we have a lot to say to each other.” What was going on with her? This wasn’t the Dani he knew. Yes, she had always been spunky; she’d speak her mind, but the only time they’d really had an argument was when it came to kink.
“No, we don’t.” She started to walk around him, and without thinking, Gabriel grasped her arm. “Red!”
Gabriel dropped his hand in shock. She’d used her safe word? Max and Damon were at her side in an instant.
“That’s it,” Max said. “This conversation is over. Gabriel, if you can’t deal with Dani being here, then you need to leave.”
Gabriel ran a hand over his face. “I’m sorry, Dani,” Gabriel said. “I don’t know what came over me.” He knew better than to grab a sub. Any sub in the club. Dani was right to call her safe word. But that didn’t make him feel any better.
“It doesn’t matter.” Dani glanced up at Max. “May I go back to Austin now?”
Max nodded.
“May I escort you?” Damon asked holding out his hand.
“Thank you, Master Damon.”
Gabriel watched Damon escort Dani back to where Austin waited, his stomach still churning and anger at himself bouncing around in his head.
“Are we going to have any more problems?” Max asked.
“No, Max. We won’t.” Gabriel walked away from Max and to the bar. Since this was a members only party, Max was allowing alcohol, but only if you weren’t going to play. “Whiskey. Neat,” Gabriel told Noah.
“Certainly. I have to give you another wristband.”
“Not a problem.” Gabriel held out his arm, and Noah slipped a magenta band around his wrist. It was like one of those hospital bands you weren’t going to get off without a pair of scissors.
A minute later, his whiskey was placed in front of him. Gabriel picked it up and knocked it back. He set the empty glass down before he turned and walked out of the club. There was no way he could stay and watch Dani play. But they were going to talk. He would make sure of it.
* * * *
“Thank you for escorting me back, Master Damon,” Dani said as they reached the stage.
“You’re welcome.” Damon left her with a grin, and Dani turned to the stage.
Austin was there, squatting at the edge of the stage. “Are you okay?”
“I’m not.” While she wanted to play, her gut clenched, and her hands were shaking. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do this right now, Sir.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. None of this was your doing.” Austin looked over her shoulder. “Your friends are looking very concerned. Why don’t you let them know you’re okay. We can play another night.”
“Thank you, Sir.” Dani turned and made her way back to the quiet area. Austin was right. They could play another night. She was too rattled from Gabriel’s anger to enjoy anything at the moment. Why had he reacted like that?
Sierra, Crystal, Tessa, and Allyson were sitting on the edge of their seats, their gazes glued to Dani’s face.
