Page 70 of Lesson In Faith

“Yes.”

“Lucky bastard.” Fordham grimaced when Violet jammed her knuckles into his upper arm. “Ow! What was that for?”

“Read the room,” she snapped, then glowered at Merrick. “Be careful what you say next. If it’s anything other than asking for advice on how to make that girl’s first time the best damn time, we’re going to have a bigger fucking problem than the one you’ve already got.”

Well, he’d never heard that tone of voice from the Mistress before; she wasn’t kidding around. He really didn’t want to piss off a southern Domme who occasionally delighted in torturing her sub’s testicles until he was hoarse with pleading, but he wouldn’t let her threaten him.

“That’s exactly what I’m doing, Vi. I can’t be the one who… not the first time. I’ll hurt her—don’t give me bullshit about how it always hurts or that it doesn’t have to—and that’s what I won’t tolerate.” He smacked his hand on the table when Violet opened her mouth. “I know what I’m fucking talking about, and so do you. She’s tight, Vi. I’m too big. That’s the be all and end all of it.”

“Wait, wait.” Fordham held up his hand. “That’sthe problem?”

Merrick nodded curtly.

“And you wantmetofixthe problem?” Snorting, Ford shook his head. “Yeah, right, Merrick. I see the way you’re watching that girl even now, and there’s no chance you’re letting another guy fuck her. No way you’re watching her walk away with another Dom, knowing that when she comes back, he’s had his hands all over her, his dick inside her.”

That gave him pause. Shit, he’d been so focused on the goal, he hadn’t thought about the finer details.

“She trustsyou, Merrick.” Violet said gently. “She wants you.”

“She trusts me not to harm her, and I can’t guarantee that. Fuck’s sake, Vi, she’s young and in the prime of her life. One bad experience now will ruin her.” He caught Liam’s wave from the corner of his eye and cursed. “Look, she’s heading back. Fordham, I’m asking you as the only fucking Dom I trust with her to consider doing this. Because I don’t know how to do it without damaging her.”

Fordham’s head turned toward the bar, his mouth twisting pensively. “Can’t tell you it’s the right decision, Merrick, and you’re going to regret it if you go through with it, but… yes, I’ll do it.IfTamsyn consents, andifyou promise not to break my neck.”

Violet growled and threw her hands up in frustration. “Just make her orgasm five or six times until she’s soft and pliant, you idiot.”

The subject of the conversation was following Liam like a lost lamb through the tables. They only had a minute or so before she was within listening range.

“Tomorrow night,” Merrick stated, needing to lock it down. “Got plans?”

“No. I keep Valentine’s Day clear on principle.”

“Not this year. Tomorrow night, nine o’clock, upstairs.”

“What, here?” The look of distaste on Ford’s face matched Merrick’s knotted gut. “What about the cabin?”

No.

Merrick’s jaw tightened. He might have to sacrifice his claim on being Tamsyn’s first, but he wasn’t tainting their bed, the memories they were already making there, with another man.

But, a little voice niggled at the back of his mind,wouldn’t she be more comfortable in familiar surroundings? Her own sheets, her own bed, everything where it should be in her ordered world.

Wasn’t that a betrayal of her private space? A breach of her sanctuary?

“Why don’t you come over to my cabin tomorrow night?” Fordham asked loudly. “Bring this sweetheart with you and we’ll continue the discussion then?”

A tray of drinks thunked onto the table between them, and Liam lifted an eyebrow. “Never been called sweetheart before, Ford. Didn’t think you’d missed me that much.”

Grateful for the distraction, Merrick held his arm out as Tamsyn skirted around the bartender and all but dove onto his lap. She burrowed into him, trembling lightly, and he couldn’t help breathing deeply into her hair—he loved smelling his shampoo on her.

“Always a travesty when your pretty face isn’t where it belongs.”

“Yeah, well, this pretty face didn’t win over a certain little sub.” Liam chuckled and tipped his head toward Tamsyn. “I think she thought I was trying to kidnap her to my lair behind the bar. Took me a minute or two to realize she’s mute. You finally decided to keep one, Merrick?”

“All mine,” he agreed.

“Good for you. I noticed Ford and Violet joined you, so I added their drinks to the tray.” He tapped his fingers to his forehead. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, guys. Nice to meet you, little one.”

“It is lovely to have him back,” Violet commented, reaching out to take one of the glasses of wine. “Sierra is positively radiant, and Mack resembles the cat who ate the cream.”

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