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“I’ll tell you why.” Chantelle squatted beside her cousin, her pencil skirt tightening across toned thighs. “It’s because Master Cooney is skillful in reading a submissive’s body language. Unlike Stephen, who likes to play at being a Dom, Master Cooney knows how to turn a woman on with the gentlest touch, a single whisper—”
“Fucker!”
“—and give her the release her body has been denied her whole adult life.”
“I never fucking denied her!” Stephen’s cheeks mottled, his eyes bugging like a goddamned lunatic on the verge of heartache.
I wouldn’t have minded watching his eyes roll back as he dropped dead to the floor.
“Master Cooney is not an abuser using a title to satisfy his own sick desires,” Chantelle continued, not paying the Dom wannabe any attention.
“Why you cock-sucking—” Stephen leaped up and took two barreling steps toward Chantelle, arms outstretched.
Titus tackled him from behind.
The two men landed on the carpeted floor with a grunt.
Chantelle didn’t flinch as Stephen screamed every explicit word imaginable, promising to kill her. Becky. Me.
“I’ll cut your fucking balls off, Cooney, and shove them down your throat!” he screamed.
My brow raised at his outrageous claim, but I didn’t reply. Didn’t even bother fisting my hands should the fucker get free and attempt to take me out. Titus matched me in size and strength. Stephen didn’t stand a chance.
The bouncer yanked Stephen to his feet, both arms behind his back as he continued to spew nonsense.
“Becky,” Chantelle said, gaze on her lowered head. “I think it’s best for your own safety if you don’t go home with Stephen.”
“The fuck she won’t!” Stephen fought to free himself, but Titus didn’t budge.
“Becky?” Chantelle asked for consent to her plan.
Becky hesitated—but nodded.
The breath I hadn’t realized I held left in a rush.
“She belongs to me!” Stephen hollered, yanking against Titus’s hold. “She’s mine and does what I say!”
“Not tonight, Stephen.” Chantelle stood and turned to finally face him. Her chin tilted up as she stared down at him from the six-foot height her stiletto heels gifted her. “You are going to leave without Becky. You are going to exit this establishment, and if you cause a problem, I’ll be more than happy to call the police.”
He glared at her but didn’t say a word.
“You’re both going to have some alone time to calm down. Understood?”
Chantelle nodded toward the door, and Titus dragged Stephen along.
“Becky needs her locker key,” I said before they reached the door. “It’s in his front pocket.”
The bouncer by the door fished the key free from Stephen’s pants and handed it to me.
“Titus,” Chantelle said without looking away from Becky, “see Stephen to his car and make sure he drives off. If he comes back around, you know what to do.”
“It’d be my pleasure. Let’s go.” Titus pulled Stephen out the door, and the second bouncer followed on his heels, shutting us in quietness.
Chapter 12
Becky
I wanted to sink into the floor and suffocate on the carpet’s navy blue fibers. Heat filled my face, and tremors owned my body as I cowered on the chair, arms wrapped around my middle.