Page 108 of Danger and Dominance

“I could walk if I needed to, but I don’t think I need to go to the bathroom.”

“I’m just asking because I need to go to the bathroom,” Jennifer said.“So if you did need to go… you could go with me.”

“I don’t need to go.I just need some water.”Naomi was still scowling, but maybe a little less than she had been a minute ago.“Honestly, I don’t really want to get up and walk.I just want to sit here and wait for Da— ah, Drew to get back with my water.”

Cassidy wasn’t sure what Naomi had been about to say before she switched to Drew’s name, but she had a suspicion she’d been about to call him ‘Daddy.’

“I need to go,” Ashley offered up.

“So do I,” Cassidy said, though she didn’t stop rubbing Naomi’s back.She wasn’t sure if she should leave the other woman.“I can wait, though.”

“No, go,” Claudia said, shifting closer.“I’ve got her.”

Nodding, relieved, Cassidy slid off her barstool.Ashley and Jennifer were already on the other side of the table, waiting for her.They grinned as she approached.Ashley turned away, then squeaked as Lincoln leaned over to swat her backside.She shot him a look over her shoulder as Cassidy joined them, giggling and taking Jennifer’s other arm.

None of them were drunk enough that they were swaying or anything; it was just for companionship.

“So, really, how was your date with Richard?”Ashley asked as soon as they were out of earshot of the tables.“How much of that was made up?”

“Not much,” Jennifer admitted, sounding conflicted and also a little frustrated.“It really was an amazing date.I like him a lot.I’m just…”

“Still lusting after Jensen?”

“Yeah, but what’s the point if he’s never going to make a move and shuts me down every time I start to?I’m tired of being rejected.It’s nice to have a guy actually want to be with me.”Jennifer sighed.“Richard doesn’t think I’m too young, too inexperienced, or too innocent.”

“Is he kinky?”Cassidy asked.

“Yes, but he’s not a member of the Outlands, which is good because that means Uncle Gavin isn’t going to be able to intimidate him.He does house parties.Like me.That’s how I met him, actually.We’ve scened together a few times, platonically, then he asked me out on a date.”

“Well, then either Jensen will come around or he won’t, but you’ve got options.”Ashley bumped Jennifer with her hip, causing her to bump Cassidy, making all three of them giggle just as they reached the bathroom.Two of the stalls were full, and somehow, Cassidy ended up taking the third.

By the time she finished and washed her hands, a few more women had come in, and it was a little crowded.Rather than making the situation worse, Cassidy quickly called out that she would meet Jennifer and Ashley in the hallway and scooted out the door.

The hallway had four doors—the two restrooms, a door to the kitchen, and the emergency exit.A man was standing next to the emergency exit, head bent over his phone.Uneasiness skittered up Cassidy’s spine.He was wearing a hat, and she couldn’t see his hair or his face, but she tried to shake it off.

There was no reason to let her paranoia freak her out.

She shifted over to the side, so she wasn’t blocking the door to the ladies’ room for the next person who would need to exit.Her heart started beating a little faster when she saw the man’s head tilt toward her, though he didn’t look up from his phone.

It’s nothing.Stop freaking out.

Noise to her left made her turn her head.Another man was coming down the hall, headed toward the bathroom, though he stopped when he saw her there.

“Hey, pretty lady.Waiting for me?”The man winked at her.He was good-looking, maybe an inch or two taller than her, very cute in a boyish way, and if she wasn’t already involved with David, she might have been attracted.

She laughed, only a little nervous.The flirting seemed ingrained in him—see woman, flirt—just like Ian.It wasn’t personal or threatening, though that didn’t mean she fully relaxed, either.

“Sorry, no, just waiting for my fri?—”

Her words were cut off as someone grabbed her from behind, yanking her back.Fingers dug into her arm hard enough to bruise, and her mouth opened to cry out, but not a sound emerged.

“Stay away from my girlfriend, asshole!”

Her breath caught in her throat, choking on her scream.

NO.

But it didn’t come out.