Page 5 of Until I Own You

“What are…what are you doing here?”

Seth glances down at the dungeon master, a pretty redheaded sub, then back to me. “What does it look like?”

My heart drops into my stomach or my stomach leaps up into my chest. Not sure which. All I know is that my insides are in chaos. Part of me is jealous because Seth feels so free to express his sexual desires as to make appointments in the Underground. The other part of me is jealous because…

Because some other woman gets to be with Seth that way.

God, what is wrong with me? I have no right feeling like this. This is wrong on so many levels.

“Right, well, that’s nice for you.” I nod. “I should be going now.”

I start to step past him, but his hand whips out to grab my arm.

His grip is tight but not painful, which sends my head further into a tizzy. “Bridget, were you in there alone? Did you…?” He shakes his head and takes a deep breath.

His eyes rise to glance at the door to the private viewing gallery me and Sonia just exited. “Were you watching?”

“What does it matter to you?” I jerk my arm out of his grip.

“I texted you,” he says. “Didn’t you get it?”

I swallow. “I haven’t checked my phone.”

Seth’s expression betrays not a single one of his thoughts. “Because you were distracted.”

“I don’t owe you anything, Seth.”

“I’m only trying to make sure you’re safe.”

“No, you’re not. You are trying to undermine me at every turn.”

It’s always been like this. Since we met. I thought it would be fun to have a sibling, even if we were a bit too old to enjoy the antics of childhood together. But from the very first time we met, Seth has been controlling, argumentative, and a downright pain in the ass.

Makes my attraction to him all the more complicated.

“Guess what, Seth. I’m a grown woman.”

Something flashes in his clear blue eyes. “You don’t have to remind me.”

The quality of his voice renders me mute. It’s not just the deepness that’s increased as he’s gotten older. It’s the acknowledgment that I’m a woman.

What gave that away? The age on my birth certificate? Or the way my body has –

Don’t go there. You know you can’t go there.

“Answer my question, Bridget. Were you watching?” His leaning in is hardly more than a hare’s breath, but I almost feel it on my skin.

“You didn’t answer my question. It’s a double standard to expect answers from me when you’re so cagey about everything.”

Seth doesn’t respond right away, sizing me up with those intense blues.

It’s always a conflict with him. Always picking a fight, always pointing out something I’m doing wrong.

He nods. “Fair enough.”

Talking to him is always an ordeal and my breathing has become labored, as if I’ve just been running. Or…doing something else. “Anyway, have fun, I guess.”

I give the dungeon master another look.

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