Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
NORTH CAROLINA
S eth hovered in the front drive.
Adria tried to be patient with him.
“Seth, you are going to have to get used to being seen in public with your Dom. Your buyer might want to bring you places.”
He didn’t respond, instead his eyes and body shifted back towards the house. Like an invisible tether was pulling him.
“I’ll bring you back in one piece,” Adria joked.
The look he gave her made her realize his concern.
“I’m not trying to get rid of you,” she said, and when he didn’t look convinced, she put her right hand in the air. “I swear to bring you back.”
She kissed her ring finger, sealing the deal, ignoring the pain that panged in her heart when he visibly relaxed.
“All right,” he said.
She waited at the car door. “We could add the plug, if you think it will make you move faster?”
That got his tight little rear in gear.
Eric drove, and the two of them sat in the back seat.
Adria hadn’t anticipated the tension that fell around her. Sexually frustrated, she had resorted to masturbating multiple times per day. But even that hadn’t alleviated her appetite. A fact that was becoming abundantly clear as she sat in the back seat, so close to Seth.
If she had been horny in the car with Cole, she simply would have hiked up her skirt and put him to work.
“Have any experience with this?” she asked, hoping to ease the tension.
Seth looked at her like she was crazy.
“Driving in a car?” he said.
“No,” her tone was sharp, “going on dinner dates with women.”
His eyebrows raised.
“With women,” he repeated back to her, and the sultry look he hit her with caused heat to rise in her gut.
She fought to keep her blush under control. This was one time she wished Eric wasn’t there.
“Yes, I’ve been on dates with women. Many times,” Seth said.
Adria took a steadying breath, trying to ground herself.
Kaydon and Seth had an effect on her—one she didn’t want to acknowledge, one that made her grip on reality feel dangerously thin. She needed a car with a larger back seat because the proximity to Seth was unraveling her in ways she wasn’t prepared for.
She turned slightly, catching Seth’s profile as he stared out the window. His face was unreadable, but she knew better than to think he wasn’t processing her every word.
“I guess I assumed you guys didn’t date,” she murmured.
Before he could respond, the car jerked to a sudden stop, and she pitched forward.
Her arm shot out instinctively, catching Seth mid-motion.
His hand landed on her forearm, his touch light but lingering. Normally, Adria despised uninitiated contact. It was intrusive, unwanted—a violation. But Seth’s touch was something else. It didn’t burn. It didn’t make her want to recoil. Instead, it sparked something unsettlingly warm deep inside her.
A slow, simmering awareness.
“Sure, we date,” Seth said, his hand still on her. His voice was smoother now, almost teasing. “Nothing serious, but sometimes we venture.”
The word— venture —felt loaded, and she wasn’t sure she liked the weight of it.
Reluctantly, she pulled her arm back to her side, forcing the moment to pass. But Seth’s gaze never wavered. He was watching her. Measuring. The three of them were always doing that—dissecting her, watching for a crack.
The ride stretched between them, the air thick.
Adria shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The normalcy of it—the close quarters, the steady hum of the road beneath them—it felt intimate. Too intimate. And Adria didn’t do intimate.
“What kind of things can we expect?” Seth asked, his voice cutting through the tension. “Like when we go out?” He jutted his chin forward, feigning nonchalance.
Adria clung to the question like a lifeline. This she could handle. She could talk logistics, keep it professional.
“They might want to take you shopping,” she blurted out.
Seth let out a sharp laugh. “Really?”
She smiled despite herself. “Yes. A lot of Doms enjoy taking care of their subs.”
The good ones, anyway.
“They might want you to look nice and accompany them to a function as arm candy,” she continued, keeping her tone even.
Seth pressed his lips together, nodding, his mind clearly working through the information.
Does Bryson take you shopping?
The thought crept in before she could stop it, unwelcome and bitter. Adria hated that she was thinking like this. That she was comparing herself to him. It was ridiculous. Weak. And yet, the idea stuck.
She forced her attention back to Seth, to the present.
They sat in silence.
This—just sitting in a car together—was the most normal thing she had done in months.
And yet, it felt like the most dangerous.
Adria watched Seth’s mouth open and shut. She could practically hear the gears turning in his mind.
After several attempts, he finally asked, “Will they want us to do stuff—in public?”
It was a normal fear submissives had. They liked the threat of a public show but didn’t want to be embarrassed. She shook her head. “Usually no. There are clubs. That is probably as close as you would get. Most people are pretty private.”
When he didn’t respond, she said, “We could go to a club sometime. Practice.”
When he didn’t respond, she amended, “If any of you think it would be useful.”
She wanted to slap herself. What was she doing? Was she asking him out?
His eyes caught hers. There was that curiosity again.
She wanted to tell him, when you figure me out, will you let me know?
When the car finally slowed to a stop, Adria jumped out immediately instead of waiting for Eric to open the door.
Heels underneath her and the fresh air cleared her mind.
Pull your shit together .
Seth stood casually near the car, hands in his pocket.
Adria moved to stand by him. Her hand trailing down to the small of his back, and her fingers looped into the back part of his belt.
“Take your hands out of your pockets and walk me in before I take this off and use it on you in front of everyone.”
It was an empty threat; he knew it, but he moved. Ushering her to the door, he opened it and followed her in.
Two glasses of wine later, Adria found it easier to feign enjoyment. She and Seth were seated in a booth at the back of the restaurant, while Eric kept a watchful eye on her from the bar.
After her second glass, Adria could feel Eric’s eyes warning her to slow down.
Too bad.
If Eric wanted her to go through with his plan, the least he could do was let her have a little fun. She had been confined to the house for over five months. She needed a break.
When the check came, Adria bounded up.
“I’d like another drink,” she said.
Not waiting for Seth to respond, she moved in brisk fashion to Eric.
“We are ready for our next stop,” she said.
Eric gave her an appraising look, but she ignored him and continued moving towards the door. She left with a smug self-satisfied expression, knowing most of the restaurant was watching her and the two beautiful men trailing behind her .
The second part of the plan was to go to a bar down the street.
“Ma’am, I’ll need to drive around the block to park,” Eric said. “Wait here for me.”
Adria felt light from the wine. Not wanting to wait, she draped her arm around Seth. “I’m sure we can handle ourselves for a few minutes.”
Adria pushed through the thick crowd, the bass thrumming deep in her chest. Saturday night, and the place was standing-room only. The air smelled of sweat, beer, and cheap cologne, a chaotic blend of bodies pressed together in the dim, flashing lights.
As she wove her way toward the bar, a loud cheer erupted to her right. A group of rowdy patrons—half-drunk and reckless—shouted over a game of darts. She barely spared them a glance, instead leaning against the bar, arching her back just enough to make her presence known.
Lifting two fingers, she caught the bartender’s eye. “Two IPAs, please.”
She turned to Seth, catching his hesitation before he nodded.
The beer was ice cold, the carbonation burning as it slid down her throat, but Adria drank anyway. Seth took a cautious sip, eyes taking in the room.
Leaning in, she brought her lips close to his ear, her voice just loud enough to be heard over the music. “When you go out with these women, do you ever have fun?”
Adria wanted to blame the alcohol. But the truth was, she was actually relaxed.
Seth’s fingers brushed her neck.
The warmth hit her instantly, seeping through her skin, and then—before she could react—he slid his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her closer .
His lips grazing her ear, his breath a whisper of heat. “Why? Are you looking to have some?”
She felt his body against hers, his presence swallowing up everything else. Blue eyes flicked across her from beneath thick lashes, his expression unreadable. The moment stretched between them, the pounding music only amplifying the pulse between them.
“Hey there, beautiful, can I buy you a drink?”
The words were slurred, barely comprehensible, but she caught the intent.
Adria barely turned before dismissing him. “No, thank you.”
She shifted her body away, already done with the interruption—until a hand clamped down on her arm, jerking her back.
“I’m talking to you.”
His grip tightened.
He reeked of stale beer and cigarettes, his black T-shirt stretched over a lean, unshaven frame.
Adria’s instincts kicked in. Her body tensed, her mind already calculating how best to make him regret this—her fist, his throat, one well-placed strike and he’d be gasping for air.
But before she could react, two things happened at once.
A force yanked her back, pulling her away from the man.
And in her place, stood Seth.
Thinking the confrontation was over, Adria let herself relax.
She should have known better.
The man muttered something to Seth—low, taunting.
Seth’s fist snapped forward, and even over the loud music, Adria heard the crack of impact. The man went sprawling onto the floor .
Adria barely had time to process before Seth pounced.
His second punch landed squarely, sending a spray of blood from Blue Jeans’ nose.
Chaos exploded around them. Three men materialized from the crowd, grabbing for Seth, but he wasn’t done. He twisted violently, driving his fist into the gut of the biggest one. The man doubling over.
Then, with ruthless precision, Seth spun and drove his foot between the legs of the second man.
The third lunged, and Seth squared up, colliding with him full force.
They crashed to the floor, rolling, limbs tangling.
Adria’s pulse slammed against her ribs. “ Seth, stop! ”
But he didn’t hear her.
Or maybe he just didn’t care.
By some miracle, he landed on top. But then Adria saw it—the flash of metal.
And all the blood drained from her body.
Seth had a knife pressed to the man’s throat.
The entire bar had gone silent, the music long since cut off.
The man beneath him—scraggly beard, twice Seth’s size—went rigid, his chest rising and falling in sharp bursts.
Seth’s voice, low and deadly, cut through the quiet.
“Try me.”
Then— click.
Her stomach dropped.
The bulky man Seth had punched in the gut had recovered. And now, he stood behind him, pressing the cold muzzle of a 9mm to the back of his head.
The air in the bar turned razor-sharp.
“Get off him,” the man growled.
Seth didn’t move.
His grip on the knife never wavered .
A slow smirk curled his bloody lip.
“You first.”
“What the hell is going on in here?” Eric’s voice boomed into the room. Relief flooded over Adria, who, beer still in hand, was still stupidly standing frozen on the dance floor.
“This guy is starting fights,” the man holding the gun said.
Eric pushed the gun aside. “Seth, get your ass up.”
“Eric, you know this guy?” the man asked.
Eric hauled Seth up and shot a glance at Adria. “Go to the car.”
Adria willed her legs to move. Putting her hand on Seth’s bicep, she led him out of the bar. Leaving Eric to deal with the fallout.
“Eric knows those guys?” Seth asked, checking over his shoulder.
Adria kept moving, glancing along the road, searching for her car.
“He knows the owners, that’s why he feels comfortable bringing me there,” she responded robotically.
“Well, he shouldn’t have left you in there alone,” Seth said.
She rounded on him. “And you shouldn’t be popping off whenever your fists feel like it. Maybe use your head once in a while.”
He stood there, and she took a second to really look at him.
“You’re bleeding,” she said, running her fingers along his side.
His white shirt was stained with blood; some of it belonged to the other men, but the bright red crimson that oozed out his left side, that was all Seth.
“Fuck, hold some pressure on it,” she said, moving his left hand to cover it .
“Suddenly you care about me,” he said with such an amused tone that Adria thought he was actually laughing.
“Do none of you three take anything seriously?”
“Kaydon mostly.”
“Maybe that’s your problem,” she mumbled to herself, spotting the car.
“Sit.” She pointed to the curb behind the trunk.
Moving quickly, Adria retrieved Eric’s first aid kit and went to Seth’s side. Rolling up her sleeves, Adria inspected the wound. She was relieved that it wasn’t deep.
“I don’t think you need stitches,” she said, fingers running over his ribcage.
Spraying the wound out with saline, she said, “This might sting,” before dabbing him with the Bactine.
Her heart squeezed when Seth’s eyes closed, but he didn’t flinch.
Not wanting to prolong his discomfort, she pressed a large square of gauze to his side. A sharp breath escaped him, but he held firm, jaw tight, body still.
She had to give it to the Winters boys—they were tough.
“I have to hold pressure until the bleeding stops,” she murmured. “Then I can add the Steri-strips.”
Seth let out a small huff of acknowledgment. “Who taught you all this?”
“Eric, mostly,” she said. “And my father.”
Something flickered across his face, but he didn’t press.
Instead, he sighed. “I’m sorry if I messed up your guys’ spot. That guy, he was, ah…being rude.”
Adria laughed, shaking her head. “And you thought breaking his nose was the answer?”
Seth’s muscles tensed beneath her hands. His jaw clicked shut .
“No. I just don’t like it when guys talk to women like that.”
A pause.
“Or grab them,” she added softly.
His gaze lifted to hers, and for a moment, something unspoken passed between them.
Adria nodded. “Well, I appreciate the effort.”
Her hand still pressed against the gauze, but her fingers curled slightly, brushing his side. His skin was smooth beneath her fingertips, pale and warm.
She could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong. Probably still elevated from the fight. From the adrenaline. From the moment five minutes ago when he’d nearly slit a man’s throat.
A shiver rolled through her. Then another.
She let out a breathy laugh. “It isn’t even that cold.”
Seth’s brows knitted together. He covered her hand with his own, his touch solid, grounding.
“It’s the adrenaline,” he murmured. “Violence can be hard to see, especially when you’re not used to it.”
Her lips parted before she could stop herself. “No, I’ve been exposed to pl?—”
She cut herself off, realizing she was about to say too much.
Seth didn’t push. If he noticed, he let it go. Instead, he leaned into her, resting his head lightly against her shoulder.
“Thanks for patching me up, boss,” he murmured.
She felt the weight of him, solid and warm against her side. And God, she was so tired .
Slowly, hesitantly, she let her head rest against his.
His hair smelled like rain. Fresh and clean, despite the night’s chaos.
They sat there, holding each other up as the sun dipped lower, waiting for Eric.
Back at the house, Adria tried to sleep.
Tried, and failed.
She tossed and turned, the full moon casting shifting patterns across her ceiling, shadows dancing with the restless storm of thoughts in her mind.
Finally, she gave up.
Shrugging into a robe, she padded down the hall and pushed open Eric’s door.
His room was a study in discipline—plain, stripped of anything unnecessary. No decor, no distractions. Just a twin bed, an end table, a lamp, and a single chair. The adjoining bathroom led to a first-class workout facility, but that was as indulgent as he got.
She let the door slam shut behind her. “Well, that went about as well as a rock trying to fly.”
She expected to find him in bed. Instead, he stepped out of his closet, barefoot, wearing only black sweats.
His defined muscle, sharp lines and Punisher 6 tattoo were stark against his skin, just like the brand she’d put there herself.
Her gaze flicked up. His hair was damp, beads of water still clinging to his collarbone.
“Did you just shower?” she asked.
“Just finished a workout,” he said, pulling a black T-shirt over his head like it was an afterthought. His voice was even, unbothered, as if he hadn’t just spent the last hour pushing his body to exhaustion.
Adria crossed her arms. “You think tonight was a success?”
He smirked, rolling his shoulders. “He protected you. A little overzealously, sure. But what do you expect?”
His sharp eyes flicked to hers.
“He’s a hothead. ”
“What happened to your face?” she said, getting a good look at him. There was a bruise under his left eye.
“Zameer clocked me for not warning him about the kid’s abilities,” he said. “Those guys were retired Navy Seals. I think he impressed them all.”
Adria put her hands on her hips. “I wasn’t aware he was going to be put in a position that would be impressive. He was stabbed.”
Eric shook his head, a soft smile playing on his lips. “No, he stole Will’s knife. Will was trying to keep the situation from going bad to worse.”
“Thankfully,” he continued, “no one got hurt.”
Adria stepped closer to him.
“Seth got hurt.” Her voice shook.
This whole thing was her fault. She listened to Eric instead of her gut.
“Who cares if the kid got hurt?” Eric said, waving his hands dismissively.
“I care,” she said, her voice soft.
She thought about how quickly Seth had jumped in to defend her. And about how small he had looked in Kaydon’s arms when she had tucked him in earlier today.
Thank you for taking care of him.
Kaydon thought she was taking care of him. He thought that because Seth was doing everything he was supposed to do, he deserved her protection. She had been careless with him. The blood on his shirt flooded into her mind. If things had been different. If Eric’s man had gotten his aim just a bit wrong.
“I CARE,” she shouted into the space.
Eric moved towards her, matching her energy and tone.
“Well, you better figure out a way not to care. Christ, Adria, you have to sell these three in six months. You can’t go and catch feelings. ”
A laugh bubbled up in her. She felt raw and uncentered.
“What now?” he said, eyes narrowing.
“Catching feelings…” the bubbling turned into full-blown laughter, “you’re too old to say stuff like that.”
He smiled, letting out a breath.
Her laughter continued until she felt wetness on her face. Eric’s eyebrows bunched together as he pulled her into an embrace.
“It’s my fault,” she said, tears falling freely now.
“Oh, hun,” Eric said, his voice barely a whisper. “Seth’s fine. I checked the wound myself. The guys at Calhan’s are fine. Everything is fine.”
His beard brushed against her forehead as he kissed the top of her head. She leaned into it, allowing herself a moment to feel safe.
But things were far from fine.