Page 20 of Mastered By Lust

Leah. With Gage.

I guess that’s how it’ll be now. The girl I want is dating my boss, the sadistic puppet master.

I’m not sure what makes my feet change direction and deliver me to Leah and Gage’s table. But here I am, smiling a fake smile, holding out my hand to shake Gage’s, and telling Leah she looks nice.

Nice.

She looks like sex and sin. She’s the succubus to Gage’s incubus.

“What a surprise.” Leah sends a quick look to Gage, as if wondering whether he arranged this.

“Yeah.” I can’t stop staring. Her lips are tinted darker than usual. Her bruises are gone, or at least well hidden by make-up.

Her dress looks new. Sexy as fuck. A rich brown that complements her hair, makes her skin glow.

Goddamn, I want her. I want her.I want her.

“You know,” I say, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. It’s totally fine if you want to come back to my place. That hotel can’t be comfortable.”

She sends a panicked look to Gage. Suddenly, I know what she’s going to say before the words leave her mouth. “Actually, I’m, um, I’m staying with Gage now.”

“That’s great.” I force a smile, my insides emptying inward like my heart is a black hole. “I’m sure you’re more comfortable there.”

But would she be more comfortable in my arms? With someone she knows? I know her, inside and out. I could love her better.

An awkward quiet descends. Thankfully, Patrick comes up to the table. “Leah, hey.”

“Hey, we keep running into each other.” Looking relieved at the interruption, Leah gestures between him and Gage. “Gage, this is Patrick Aseyev-Hodgkins. Patrick, this is?—”

“Gage Hawthorne.” Patrick’s eyes bug out of his head.

Of course he recognizes Gage. One summer, Danica, Patrick, and I watched several seasons of the show together at my family’s cabin. Rachel was too young, and threw fits about being left out, but that didn’t stop our enjoyment.

“Holy fuck. I mean, nice to meet you.” Patrick stumbles over the words. “Sorry, I recognized you immediately. My little sister is obsessed with your show. Sorry they killed you off.”

I should be happy that Gage looks so uncomfortable, but I’m inwardly cringing. Patrick is a shining example of why Gage never goes out in public.

I nudge Patrick to make him shut up.

Gage pretends to be grateful Patrick recognized him. He talks about how the show is bigger than any one character and it was a privilege to work on it. Blah, blah, blah. Public relations bullshit he was probably coached on after his time with AoG ended.

“So, Leah.” Patrick turns toward her. “Looks like you’re all safe and sound now, huh?”

Her brow crinkles in confusion. “Yeah?”

“And you’re out on a date.”

She frowns harder. “Um, yeah.”

“It’s good to know you’re being taken care of, so Dmitri doesn’t have to worry anymore.” He’s speaking to Leah, but the words are for me.

“Okay, Granddad’s waiting.” I put a hand on Patrick’s shoulder, adding enough pressure to make him step back. “We’ll stop crashing your date. Have fun—it was good to see you two.”

Their server chooses that moment to swoop in and deliver their check. I drag Patrick toward Granddad’s table and whatever bullshit they’re going to try to talk me into.

My stomach is a mess of writhing ropes, and I can barely eat my steak. I keep looking over at Leah and Gage’s table long after they leave.

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