Page 31 of Hacker Auction

The waitress returned with our drinks. She handed me mine and turned to Bentley. “Sir.”

He gave her a smile I bet melted most women. “Yes, Roxy?”

“I was wondering if we could play?”

He took a sip of his wine and looked around the room. “Master Liam isn’t here.”

The woman’s lips trembled, and I wanted to wrap her in a hug. “No, he’s on deployment. We haven’t spoken in three weeks. I keep watching the news.”

Anger washed over me that this woman went to another man while her husband was serving his country. My fingers wrapped around the glass, and I was surprised it didn’t break under my hold.

“Find me after your shift. One condition.”

She wiped the tear from her eyes. “I already talked with her. We have a session set for tomorrow. I know I shouldn’t have waited.”

He nodded, and she turned her back.

Part of me wanted to get up and walk away from the man who could sleep with this woman when he knew she was connected to another man. But if I got up, Wes would see me, and I wasn’t sure I could handle talking to him with another woman by his side or if he ignored me.

“You don’t hide your distaste very well. This is why I told you that you need a therapist in the lifestyle. If not me, I can find you another one. But you jump to conclusions really fast without the full story.”

My eyes swung back to the bar as the woman poured drinks. Her blonde hair bounced as she grabbed another bottle of liquor. “She’s with a man and asked you to scene with her. He doesn’t even know.”

“Look at me.” His deep voice drew to something deep inside of me, and I stared into his blue eyes. “Her Master knows exactly what she needs. Roxy’s story is not mine to tell, but her husband found her on a mission. He’s on an elite SEAL team. Roxy has gone through years of therapy, but she still gets into her own head. When that happens, it can send her into a spiral even send her back to where she was held in her head. Liam and she found the lifestyle as an escape to pull her out of these times. But when he’s gone, she can consume herself in worry because he’s taking down the scum of the earth. This sends her into a spiral, and he’s not home to watch her.”

“I still don’t understand.”

Bentley took a deep breath. “She needs a scene. Roxy might get naked mostly because when I use a whip on her, I don’t want the fabric to cause an issue. I’ll give her a session that will send her to a place where she can cope. Roxy isn’t doing this as a way to cheat on her husband. It’s a form of therapy for her. Each person deals with things differently. When he’s gone, it also makes her feel closer to him. Because the session I put her through is one I’ve done with her husband next to me.”

He was right; I’d made an assumption as I did with Wes. My grasp on the lifestyle was still so new, but I also knew I couldn’t watch Wes with another woman. They hadn’t scened yet, only walked from section to section, his arm possessively wrapped around the woman. Paxton had an arm around Mia, but her head kept swiveling like she was looking for someone.

“I did jump to a conclusion. It doesn’t matter after tonight; I won’t be back here.”

He rolled his eyes. “Why be so dramatic? Or is it about the tall Mercenary? Don’t think I didn’t notice you not answering the question.”

“There is nothing there. He’s a one night type. We had our one night, and even if I wanted more, I messed up, and two days later, he’s at the club with a new woman.”

Bentley stood, “how about I show you around the club. You can’t make your decision based on sitting in the corner hiding. I know a few Dungeon Masters who can give you a taste of the lifestyle. Suppose you don’t like it. Then you can choose not come back again, but don’t let that one man stop you from experiencing something you might need or want.”

He held out his hand, and I laced my fingers with his. He pulled me to my feet. We walked next to each other through the crowd to the first station. I had to blink twice to realize what I was watching. Samantha was bent over a sawhorse. Kaeden stood behind her, his hands roaming over her ass. His attention was only on her when he leaned forward and whispered in her ear. Samantha’s head bobbed. And he smiled as he reached for his bag. Inside he pulled out a flogger.

He didn’t immediately bring it down on her ass. Instead, he ran the ends across her skin. Samantha was begging him to start, but he continued to run his hand and the flogger over her body. Kaeden brought his arm back, and the leather straps threaded against her skin. I expected her to scream in pain. Except she moaned and wiggled her ass.

Bentley pulled me close and whispered in my ear. “He is a master with a flogger. He can either make it very pleasurable or punishable. Watch how he brings the flogger down and adapts to her movement. If he wants, he could make her come very soon just from flogging. He could also keep her on edge. Now, doesn’t that sound like fun?”

His finger brushed over my skin, but it didn’t give me goosebumps like Wes did. “I’m not sure.” I sighed and took a little step to the side. The feeling of someone watching me had me on edge. I glanced to the side to see Wes’s eyes on me. His jaw clenched, but his arm was still wrapped around the woman who was leaning into him.

Bentley chuckled next to me. “He doesn’t look happy about you here next to me. You sure he doesn’t want another shot?”

He made it perfectly clear when he stormed out of my office they would never be together. If that wasn’t enough evidence, the fact he wouldn’t answer my calls was. “He made himself clear. I’m going to go get a glass of water.”

“I’ll come with.”

I stepped a little further back. “I don’t need a babysitter, Bentley. I’m sure you didn’t plan to spend the night talking to me and not doing this.” I waved my hand to the scene.

“Find me later if you change your mind.” He grabbed my wrist and pulled me close. His lips were close to mine, and I swore he was about to kiss me before he took a step back. “I would love to spend time with you. But if we play, you will have to find a different therapist.”

“You’re not my therapist, and I’m not playing tonight.” I patted his chest. “Have a good night, Dr. Bauer.”

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