Page 120 of Playing For Keeps
In an instant, my core boils up all my anger about how Aiden is reacting to my relationship with Dori. He’s purposely trying to sabotage us.
I hiss out my annoyance. “I bet he left out the part that I had nothing to do with that happening.”
Her head snaps up with her brows drawn together. “You didn’t?”
“No. It happened at one of Mateo’s clubs.” I push off thebed, about ready to call his ass and give him a piece of my mind. “Your brother was there, but I’m sure he left that out too.”
I storm into the bathroom to give myself some time to cool the fuck down. This doesn’t land on Dori, so she doesn’t deserve to deal with my hostility.
I get to the sink and grasp the edge of the counter, bending over and staring at the floor to get my thoughts under control.
Why is he being such an asshole? He knows he’s been brainwashed, yet he’s still trying to provoke Dori and break us apart.
Dori tiptoes in behind me. “I’m not angry, but I would like to hear the rest of the story. Could you help me understand?”
My gut reaction is to say no and deal with this on my own, but she’s my partner now and has begged me not to shut her out. She needs complete transparency.
I suck in a breath and turn to her. “We were at one of Mateo’s clubs one night. There was a guy and two girls doing a Shibari session. They were creating a scene and putting on a show for everyone to see. Your brother was there watching, just like I was. End of story.”
“How did her shoulder get dislocated?”
“The guy she was with must have had the rope pattern positioned wrong, so when she was suspended, her shoulder popped out.”
“Oh. That sounds nothing like Aiden made it out to be.”
I place a hand on my hip. “Yeah, I know. That’s why I’m mad. He’s making it out that I’m going to hurt you, and I won’t. That’s why I was adamant that you communicate with me during that kind of activity.”
Her stance softens. “And that’s why you were upset when you saw the marks on my back. You thought I wasn’t being truthful about my discomfort and putting myself at risk.”
“Exactly. I’m not even into suspension. I like to be able to touch you and give you pleasure.”
“Truthfully, when I heard that, I was a little scared.” She runs her hands up and down my biceps. “I know you’d never want me to feel any pain.”
“Good, because I’m not into that part. My interests are all about pleasure and pushing your boundaries sexually by experiencing new things together.”
She nods, but something in the mirror catches her attention. “Jami, what happened to your shoulder?”
CHAPTER 28
DORI
My curiosity takesmy mind off our discussion and right to the clear bandage over the scar of his gunshot wound.
“Jami, what did you do to yourself?”
He peeks over his shoulder and glances at the bandage. “That’s just something I had done yesterday after you left.”
“What is it?” I turn him around so I can get a better view.
It’s a new tattoo, but the protective covering is making it blurry so I can’t read it. He reaches for it and tears it off.
“It’s early to be removing this, but I’ll just keep putting ointment on it and keep it clean.” He throws the bandage in the trash. “Do you like it?”
I study it for a moment. There’s a silver bullet heading directly into the scar of his wound, leaving particles and swooshes behind it. They blend into the family crest as if the shot came from behind it.
Where the bullet is entering his scar, there are lines and marks that make it seem like the skin and muscles around it are puckering and being pulled into the scar.
Red blood drips from the place of entry, making hearts at the end of the streams of blood. Above and below the bullet hole are words.
