Page 184 of Devil's Bargain

“What do you mean,built on it?”I ask, watching him pace.

“Well, think about it. Most people wouldn’t think to hit a woman or strangle her with their belt unless she asks for it, and April has never asked for something like that. Not when she was with me. At every turn, Scott and Jared took things one step further. They knew they had a client who wanted a girl to be sexually submissive. He especially wanted a girl that enjoys humiliation, so they eased her into it. Broke her down mentally.”

“No!” I growl. “You can’t talk about her like this! There’s nothing wrong with her desires.”

“You’re right,” Steph agrees, “but it needs to be done with boundaries and with someone she cares for. Not against her will or for money to help her escape a difficult situation.”

I feel terrible now for the things I said to her. She’s not cold. She’s been in survival mode this whole time.

“Who knows what’s been done to her this past week,” Nina whispers, wiping her wet cheeks.

We listen to the shower run.

“Does Emily know about you and April?” Dallas asks.

I shake my head.

Ben exits the bathroom, and Matt goes to have a shower.

“You look fantastic!” Dallas says, suppressing a laugh, gesturing to Ben’s clean clothes.

He gives her a dry look. “It’s the only time you’ll see me in a button-up shirt.”

“But it’s checkered.” Her smile widens.

He does a twirl. “Do I suit blue Levi’s jeans?

“It’s weird seeing you in colors,” Nina admits.

“You think I can catch a ball now by default?” He picks up a football from the floor and attempts to spin it on his finger.

He fails miserably.

It lands on the floor, so I pick it up and show him how it’s done.

He rolls his eyes, but I don’t miss how his lips twitch. He runs a hand through his hair and takes a seat on my bed.

“You’re up, Josh!” Matt says, rubbing his wet hair with a towel.

Ben looks at my trophies in the glass cabinet. “No wonder the women dig you!”

I smirk. “Jealous?”

He scoffs. “Swag comes naturally for me. I don’t need to throw a ball to get women to fall to their knees.”

Dallas makes a noise in her throat. I can’t decide if it’s a laugh or a scoff. “Don’t let him fool you. He’s whipped now that he’s in love.”

Ben gives her a look. “I’m not fucking whipped!”

Nina sits on the bed and blows out a breath. “This isn’t awkward at all.”

“Why?” Dallas asks. “Because we resemble a sexual tapestry? Rick fucked me and April. Emily fucked Rick, Ben, and me. April fucked Rick and Matt. Steph fucked Matt and Josh. Ben fucked me and Emily. Did I miss anyone?”

We all burst out laughing.

Josh exits the bathroom and gives us a questioning look. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Dallas replies, wiping tears off her lashes. “Only that our sex lives can be likened to a soap opera.”

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