Page 36 of Mob Knight

If she were a man, I’d shoot her. Instead, I swallow my sigh.

“Congratulations. Excuse us.”

I feel Joey stiffen, shocked at my rudeness. Normally, I wouldn’t be, but I’m not in the mood for Deirdre’s theatrics. She’s trying to fuck things up with Joey, and I won’t allow it.

“Cor, don’t?—”

“I’ve never allowed you to address me by my name. Just because we’re through doesn’t mean you get to now. Goodnight.”

Both women stare at me agog. If I don’t adjust my attitude, I’ll ruin things with Joey. I care way more about that than Deirdre’s feelings. I didn’t think I was bitter. I thought I was indifferent after we ended things. I guess three years of amazing sex with someone I wasted my time and effort with left me more jaded than I realized.

“Sir—”

“I’m not your Dom.”

“Then what am I supposed to call you?” Deirdre’s getting as testy as I am.

“Nothing. Excuse us.”

“How can you be like this when I tell you you’re going to be a father?”

Rage. Pure, unadulterated rage.

“Deirdre, I discovered how big a liar you are when we ended things, but this is beyond even what I thought you were capable of. I never once fucked you bareback, and no, you can’t claim the condom broke. I always checked, and I never once used one you offered. I knew better than to trust you implicitly. You’ve proven I was right. I doubt you’re pregnant. If you think this’ll win me over long enough for you to get pregnant and trap me, you don’t know me at all. If you think you can string me along only to be accidentally mistaken or to claim you lost a baby, you’re wasting our time. Move, please.”

“But—”

“Do you wish to be banned?”

That makes Deirdre freeze, and I didn’t think Joey could go more rigid than she already was. I refuse to entertain Deirdre’s claims, but the longer we stand here arguing, the worse things will be with Joey when I explain.

“You wouldn’t.” Deirdre’s defiant, but it’s only a whisper.

My eyes narrow. It’s an expression she knows well. She can be bratty. Sometimes it made our encounters fun. But plenty of times, it annoyed me to where I wouldn’t punish her. I’d leave.

“I know you just got a new Dom. Would you like me to talk to him about this stunt?”

She leans toward me, thinking it’s seductive. “You asked about me.”

It’s not a question. It’s an assumption.

“No, he asked if I was cool with it. I told him you’re not part of my life anymore.”

“But—”

Joey steps between us. I flex my fingers, trying to keep her from moving, but she ignores me.

“Back off.Cormacand I have plans, and I’d like to enjoy them before dawn. He said the baby isn’t his, and I believe him. He’d never be that recklesswith you. He won’t let you touch him, but he is touchingme. I don’t share. Believe me, my bite is far worse than my bark.”

She reaches back to take my hand, and I don’t hesitate to give it. Deirdre seethes when I don’t correct Joey for using my name and for any kind of display of affection—even one as simple as holding hands. I never did that with Deirdre. To me, it implies a level of intimacy and equality in dynamics I never felt. It’s a girlfriend thing, not a sub thing to me.

Joey’s hand in mine feels perfect.

That’s something to consider later. I’m into her, and I wish I could offer her more. But she agreed to being my sub—or at least trying it out. She didn’t reject it because she wants something else. After Deirdre’s bullshit and how she’s acting now, it makes me wary of any kind of relationship.

Liar.

It makes a girlfriend more appealing.

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