Page 75 of Hurt for Me

“Me too.” She usually kept her cards close to her chest, afraid of being rejected if she came on too strong with someone she was interested in, but she couldn’t help flirting with Dayton when he seemed to enjoy it as much as she did.

A server came by to take their drink orders, and Rae used the moment to shift her mind away from the lust trying to sidetrack them both.

“So, what’s this idea you have that you’re not sure I’ll like?” she said.

“Well, considering my superiors have no interest in airing the Coulters’ dirty laundry, I thought maybe we could let the media do it for us.” He saw Rae’s confusion and continued. “We send the major outlets the footage I took at the party and some other key information about Felton Holdings and Pearson’s association with the Coulters. Anonymously, of course. It could pressure my chief to look into it further and get the subpoena for the offshore account.”

Rae crossed her arms, feeling abruptly chilled. “You’re right. I don’t like it.”

“I get it,” he said. “It’s a big risk. The media could do nothing with it. Same with my superiors.”

“And meanwhile, the Coulters and that Pearson guy could send people after us in retaliation and make sure we mysteriously OD. Besides, I’m in the video.”

“We could edit you out.”

The server dropped off their cocktails. Rae took a sip of her jalapeño-laced drink as she thought over his idea more. “I think it’s too much of a risk. Don’t you know any hackers who can tap into Pearson’s offshore account? Avoid the subpoena altogether?”

“I hate to say it, but for it to be used in court, the information has to be obtained legally.”

Instead of loudly cussing, Rae downed more of her drink. “So, basically use the illegally obtained footage to get legal evidence? No wonder the police never get shit done. Too worried about stepping on rich people’s toes.”

Dayton looked down at the twisted orange zest floating in his old-fashioned. “Trust me, I wouldn’t suggest this if I had a better idea.”

“I need to think about it.”

“Okay. I know it’s not an easy thing to agree to, but we can’t sit on it for too long.” He looked at the bookshelves next to them and pulled out a thick volume Rae recognized as one of the nude photography booksshe and Angel had ogled during their visit. “What do we have here?” He opened it and landed on a page displaying a muscular man who was stupid-level hung. “Goddamn. This book might give me a complex.”

Rae laughed. “As if you have anything to worry about.”

He gawked at the photo some more. “At least I don’t have to worry about finding pants that fit.”

“As long as you fit me, what does it matter?” she said, feeling every bit of her drink. She couldn’t believe she had just said that cheesy-ass line to him.

He ran his fingers over his smiling lips. “You certainly have a way with words.”

They finished their cocktails, and Dayton paid the server. He walked her to her car, the slight breeze feeling good against her skin.

“I’m curious,” he said as they took their time getting to where she parked. “Has anyone ever tried to dominate you?”

“Some have tried.”

“God rest their souls?”

She smiled. “Have you? Dominated someone, I mean.”

He thought about it for a second. “Does choking count? I once dated someone who was into that.”

Rae tried to picture him choking her, and the idea wasn’t completely unappealing. She’d had fun with breath play countless times, although she was usually on the giving end. “Yeah, it counts.”

When they made it to her car, Dayton turned to her. “Can I ask you something else?”

“Sure.”

“Did you choose your work because it gives you control with men after what you went through?”

Rae fiddled with the silver watch on her wrist. There was so much she hadn’t told Dayton yet, including about Viv and how she was murdered, and she knew she would eventually, but for now, she simply said, “In a way, yes. But I don’t do it as a form of revenge or anything againstmy male clients. I do it because I enjoy it, and I love giving my clients pleasure in being themselves. A lot of people feel shame about enjoying pain or even giving it, and it shouldn’t be that way if it’s between consenting adults.”

Dayton almost appeared diffident as he said, “I don’t want you to think I’m not open to new things, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t uneasy about what you do. About what you like. But it also intrigues me. The idea of giving up control to someone else.”

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