Page 8 of The Sadist and the Brat

What the fuck did he think she was doing here, knitting a tea cozy? “Nikki’s my friend. Of course I want to help.”

“Good.” His smile turned sharp. “You can do it.”

“She can?” Rebecca said, shocked.

“You can?” Nikki squealed in excitement.

“I can do what?” Sadie asked, then the hammer fell. “Wait, what?”

“This is a perfect solution,” Rebecca enthused, and Sadie swung around to stare at her friend.

“I don’t know about perfect,” Sadie began, narrowing her eyes at Rebecca.

“Sure it is,” Rebecca said, completely unaffected by Sadie’s death glare. “You’re comfortable in front of an audience, and an experienced submissive. You’re probably already familiar with everything Jack’s going to use in the demo.”

“Well, I do have some surprises,” Jack put in drily, his eyes all but dancing now. “But none of it too advanced.”

“And with you filling in, Nikki can leave with a clear conscience and get some rest,” Rebecca continued, and aimed a gleeful look at Sadie. “Which is what we all want her to do.”

I hate you, Sadie thought, and only resisted sticking her tongue out at Rebecca because Jack was there to see it.

“Would you, Sadie?” Nikki asked, and Sadie stopped shooting daggers at Rebecca long enough to look at her. She had her hands clasped between her breasts, her eyes shining with hope. “I’d feel so much better about going home if I knew Jack didn’t have to cancel.”

Shit.Sadie forced herself to smile. “For you? Of course, I will.”

“Oh, thank you,” Nikki gushed, and wrapped her arms around Sadie in a grateful hug. “I can’t tell you what a relief this is.”

Shit, shit, shit. “You’re welcome.” Sadie patted Nikki’s back. “Just promise me you’ll take a pain pill and elevate that ankle, okay?”

Nikki pulled back, beaming. “I promise.”

Shit.

“Then it’s settled,” Jack said, and he sounded so satisfied that Sadie had to bite her tongue to keep from sticking it out at him. “Sadie and I will handle the demo, and you handle getting better. All right?”

Nikki nodded, looking much calmer than she had a few moments ago. “Yes. Thank you, Sir.”

“You’re very welcome,” he replied, and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “Now. How are you getting home?”

“I got her a ride.” Sadie ignored Jack and his very un-Jack-like expression—why was he still smiling?—and watched Nikki’s face go bright red when Kody stepped up next to Rebecca.

The smile she aimed at Kody was so full of naked longing that Sadie wasn’t surprised to see an answering flush on Kody’s cheekbones.

They cleared their throat. “Ready to go?”

“Ready, Your Grace,” Nikki said and started to push herself up.

Jack let out an exasperated huff and scooped her up. “I’ll carry you out to Kody’s car.”

“Um. Okay.” Nikki put her arms around Jack’s neck, her eyes wide. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said with a gentle smile before aiming an arched eyebrow at Sadie. “Sadie, we’ll talk when I get back. Stay here.”

Sadie opened her mouth to answer, but he was already gone, striding for the exit like he was carrying a pillow instead of an full-grown person. She watched for a moment—she was only human, after all—then aimed a glare at Rebecca. “Just what the hell did you think you were doing?”

Rebecca dropped onto the sofa next to Sadie with a grin. “Helping?”

“You and I,” Sadie declared, “are no longer friends.”

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