Chapter 8
Dmitri
I haul everything from the dock back to the house. My heart thuds heavily in my chest. I don’t know how to make this better. I don’t know how to help Leah get over Gage’s past.
A part of me doesn’t want to help.
I meant what I said—I’ll share Leah if that’s how I can have her. But what if I didn’t have to share? The idea is tempting, tantalizing.
As soon as I go inside and see Leah sitting at the base of the stairs, knees tucked to her chest and arms holding them in place, my fantasy melts away. I can’t stand to see her hurting, and this is tearing her apart.
She’s happier with Gage. That doesn’t mean she isn’t happy with me. But she wants him, too. Can I live with that? Yes, I fucking can. Because in the end, I want my girl to be the happiest she can be.
I kneel in front of her.
She sniffs and blinks, holding back tears. “I’m sorry I’m an asshole.”
“You’re not an asshole. But you shouldn’t give up. Fight for the people you want.” I stare into her troubled blue eyes.
“I don’t think he wants me back.”
“The fuck?” Leah’s one of the smartest people I know. She has to know he wants her. “He’s been blowing up my phone, pestering me for updates. He seems all tough, but baby, for you he’s a simp.”
“Really?” She brightens. “Like, he’s been contacting you?”
I unlock my phone and show her the missed calls and voicemails. “I haven’t told you because you haven’t wanted to know. But he’s even texted a few times.”
Her lips part in surprise. “I shouldn’t ignore him. It hurts so much, though, seeing what happened before.”
“He would never hurt you on purpose.” I grin. “At least, not in ways you don’t want.”
She offers me a weak smile.
I get up from the floor and sit with her on the first step. “He wanted me to tell you that. Seriously, Leah. He would never hurt you.”
She leans her head against my shoulder. I breathe in the fruity scent of her shampoo and the sweet scent that is all Leah.
“Don’t let bullshit from the past steal your happiness.” I hold out her phone. “You deserve so much more.”
After a moment’s consideration, she takes the phone. “I’m calling him now. That stupid video doesn’t change anything. I miss him. I want him and you.”
I kiss her forehead and wait while she hits the call button. The ringing tone fills the room—she put it on speaker.
Gage answers. “Leah.”
“Hi.” Her eyes flick to me, then back to the phone. “I’m sorry I haven’t called sooner.”
“You said you wouldn’t run.” A thread of anger moves through the words, but he mostly sounds tired.
“I know. I’m sorry for that, too.”
“At least you’re with Dmitri.”
“He’s here right now.” Leah takes my hand. “You’re on speaker with us both.”
“Hello, Dmitri.”
“Hey.” I squeeze Leah’s hand. I’m glad she mentioned me so I don’t feel like an intruder. It’s a relief to have all three of us talk at the same time—I’m not passing messages between them. Everything will be out in the open.
“I don’t like talking about that period of my life.” Gage pauses. “But with you two, I’ll answer any questions you have. Would it be better to put me on a video call?”
Leah pushes a button, requesting video. He must accept, because his video turns on. His face is partially in shadow. The black walls and artwork in the background tell me he’s in his office at the club.
“It’s good to see your face, little girl.” Gage sounds—and looks—relieved.
Leah offers him a small smile. “It’s good to see you, too.”
“You have questions, no doubt. Ask me anything.”
“The things you’ve done with me…” Leah trails off, her gaze meeting mine before moving back to Gage. “They were the same as what you did with Nicola.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “Everything I do with you feels new to me. I have certain preferences, certain kinks. Seeing a woman on stage, pleasuring herself, is one of my preferred scenes. The desk was our version of a stage. But the scene is never the same, no matter how many times it’s played out for me.
I liken it to sexual positions, although that’s perhaps too simple a comparison.
It isn’t the ‘same’ every time a man gives you head, is it? ”
“No. I see what you mean.”
“You are unique to me, Leah. Singular. The only you there is. Anything I do with you is new because it’s with you. Even if I’ve seen a thousand naked women—and given my place of work, I likely have—it will never be the same as when I see you.”
Leah nods. Seems like she’s satisfied, but I know her brain is working overtime. She’s soaking everything in and matching it with the video and article. Then she’s taking the info and siphoning it through what she knows of Gage.
“What about consent?” I ask the question even though Gage already talked to me. I’m reassured that he was new to the scene and made a mistake, but Leah hasn’t heard this yet. “If everything is so bad like Nicola made it out to be, you should’ve stopped.”
Gage says, “She had a safe word, but I think she was too proud to use it. I should have read her body language better, and checked in.”
“Maybe you should have.” Leah tenses against me, sitting up straighter. “But that doesn’t give her an excuse to spread lies. I bet that sex tape wasn’t leaked by accident.”
“I’ve wondered that, more than once.” Gage looks down, then back at the screen. “I try not to think too much about it, because the damage is already done.”
“There are laws against revenge porn,” I say.
“Yeah, if we track down the source, we could prove she did it.” Leah’s face is pure vengeance. Her ferocity reminds me of Danica. “She’d have to pay the price.”
“I’ll look into it.” Gage tilts his head to the side. “Leah. Your eyes are red. You were crying.”
“I’m not crying anymore. I’m sorry I let her—or whoever that was—get into my head.”
“I wish I could hold you.”
I tighten my arm around her. “I’ll hold her for you.”
His expression shifts, like he just had a new idea. “What else can you do to her for me?”
* * *
Gage
Leah’s breath catches. Interest flares in Dmitri’s eyes.
This situation is dangerous for me. I’ve never offered to do a video call with anyone. Cameras, being watched—it makes my skin feel too tight, my heart beat too fast. My brain is telling me to turn everything off and hide in the dark.
But I can tell Leah needs comfort. I can’t be there to offer it, to make her lose herself in pleasure.
I can, however, direct a scene.
“Stand up, sweetheart.” My voice is rough, like I’ve swallowed rocks. “Let me see you.”
The view changes—she gave the phone to Dmitri. She stands in front of him. Cut-off jean shorts, a large T-shirt that no doubt belongs to Dmitri. Her hair is in short, braided pigtails. It’s an adorable look on her, making her more of a little girl than ever.
I’ve missed her. The ache in my chest intensifies.
I grip the phone, wishing I could reach through the screen to touch her. “Clothes off.”
She removes the shirt first. Her breasts are hidden behind a plain, light-blue bra. I recall packing that for her, along with matching underwear. With her eyes on the phone, staring directly into me, she unbuttons and pushes down her shorts.
The underwear is light blue, silky soft. I want to run the fabric over my cock.
Recalling where I am, I reach behind me and lock my office door. “Dmitri, do you have a condom?”
He doesn’t remove the camera’s view from Leah. Smart man. “No, but I can get one.”
“Give Leah the phone. She can point it at her cunt while she gets herself ready for you.”
“Fuck. I’ll be right back.”
Leah points the phone at her face. Those beautiful blue eyes spear me. “What do you want me to do, Daddy?”
“You heard me. Slide those panties to the side and play with yourself. Show me on the phone. I want to make sure you’re doing a good job.”
“I’ll do my best, Daddy.” She nods seriously.
The view switches to her panty-clad mound. With teasing fingers, she moves the fabric aside, revealing herself to me. My mouth waters and my hand strays to the front of my pants. I press against my hardened shaft, trying to ease the ache.
She slides one finger over her folds.
“Are you wet for Dmitri?” I ask.
“I’m wet for both of you.”
Perfect girl. “That’s right. He’ll take you right there on those stairs while I watch. And you’ll scream both our names, baby girl.”
“Yes,” she moans. “Dmitri’s back.”
“Good.” Anticipation spikes through me, hardening my cock.
Dmitri says, “Oh, Leah. You’re making a mess of those panties.”
“I can’t help it—Gage is telling me to touch myself. He wants me to be wet for you.”
Dmitri chuckles. “You’re always wet for us, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
I hear the sound of foil tearing. He’s putting on the condom, not wasting any time. Good. I know I won’t find relief until I’m safe in my room tonight, but the tension is mounting. As soon as this scene is over, I’m going home early.
“Bend forward and brace yourself on the stairs.” My voice is so raspy and low, it’s a miracle they can hear it.
Leah does as I ask, giving me a view of her braids dangling forward. The upper halves of her tits spill out of that flimsy little bra.
She smiles shyly at me. “Like this, Daddy?”
“Yes. Now pass the phone back to Dmitri, sweetheart. I want to watch as if I’m him.”
The phone changes hands. Now I’m looking at Leah from behind. A visible wet spot darkens the blue fabric of her underwear.
I wish I was there. I wish it was my cock pummeling in and out of her cunt.
Again, I press against my cock. This is exquisite torture. “Dmitri’s going to take you now, Leah. Are you ready for us?”