Chapter 12
When awareness seeped back in, Emily found herself cradled in Alec’s lap, strong thighs beneath her, his arm steady behind her.
His fingers stroked gently through her hair—tender, grounding.
But the murmurs around them weren’t his voice.
They were other people’s—low, amused, curious. Too close. Too many.
“We’re not alone anymore, are we?”
“No,” he replied quietly. “They heard us and came to see.”
She groaned and buried her face in his neck. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
His lips brushed her forehead, softly reassuring. “There was only a handful watching,” he soothed. “If you stay at Devil’s Pointe long enough, you get used to being watched. Half the magic here is exhibition or voyeurism.”
She stiffened. A cold thread of worry curled through her. Was that it? Was it the thrill of being seen—not Alec—that made her come undone tonight?
Why else had his tender kisses at his house felt nice but not earth-shattering? What if she only burned for the kink, not for him?
His arms tightened, protective. “Talk to me. Something shifted. I felt it.”
“It’s nothing,” she whispered—but her voice wavered.
He helped her sit up but kept her caged against him, gentle but unyielding, and eliminating any hope she had of escaping.
“Em. I’m not new to this game,” he warned her, voice edged with tension. “When a woman goes from relaxed and sated to stiff as a board, something’s wrong. Don’t shut me out.” He caught her chin and tipped her face up to his. “Let’s try again. Tell me what’s wrong.”
She gestured to the room, and the torchlit patio beyond. “What if it’s the club and the kink I crave? What if that’s what pushed me over the edge?”
“Then you’re in the right place.”
“You didn’t let me finish. What if it’s not…”
All at once, he stiffened. “Not what? Me? Are we circling back to ‘boring vanilla dude’?”
“I never called you that!”
“Do you really think what and where rather than who, made you scream as your body convulsed in orgasm?”
“Please don’t be offended. You insisted—”
“I did, didn’t I?” He lifted her off his lap, set her on her feet, then rose to tower over her.
“You’re angry,” she whispered, looking down at her hands rather than seeing the hurt on his face. “We should have left it at nothing. I knew this was a bad idea. Friends to lovers never works. No matter how fiercely both parties swear not to let it ruin things, it always does.”
“Is that why you’re here tonight? To test your theory?”
“Yes... No…” She shook her head, and whispered, “I don’t know.”
“Which one is it?”
“Julia said maybe I needed a comparison. Without sex!” she added when his eyes flashed with indignation. “I wasn’t planning to sleep with anyone. I just needed clarity.”
“And your plan was to get it with someone else?” His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut. “How disappointed you must be that I interfered.”
“Alec, don’t be like this. I’m sorry. It’s possible I’m incapable of normal intimacy. Which is concerning.”
He pulled her up on her toes and kissed her—possessive, masterful. She was gasping for air when he released her minutes later. “I don’t think intimacy is the problem.”
“That proves nothing. We’re here. Everything feels different.”
“Different how?” he pressed. “Not boring, you mean?”
She closed her eyes, teeth catching her lip. Julia’s label had really landed, and he’d latched onto it with maddening tenacity.
“Sorry,” he grunted. “I said I’d drop it, but you’re murder on a man’s ego.”
He looked away for one long, controlled breath before meeting her gaze again, something raw flickering in his eyes. “You want clarity? Fine. Let’s go get some.”
He dropped her chemise over her head and caught her hand, towing her toward the patio. She was still shimmying into the garment while hurrying to keep up.
“Where are we going?”
“You came here chasing comparisons.”
“And that means…”
His jaw flexed. “You’ll see in a minute.”
She had to jog to keep up with his long strides as he crossed the patio. He stopped abruptly in front of a group of doms relaxing in the outdoor lounge, and she nearly collided with him.
Alec pulled her in front of him, hands curled around her shoulders. “This is Rhys,” he said, voice clipped. “He’s British. His accent alone drives the subs crazy.”
Rhys came slowly to his feet with a hint of smile that said Alec wasn’t exaggerating.
He was tall, lean muscle beneath his fitted shirt and trousers, silvered blond hair catching the patio lights.
His steel-blue eyes swept over her—not leering but assessing—as if he could peel back all her layers in a single glance.
“An introduction?” he drawled, voice smooth as dark liquor. “Regrettably, my lovely, I’m past my two-drink limit for the night. I’ll be sure to abstain on Wednesday night, however.”
“She’s not looking for a dom,” Alec ground out, tension radiating off him in waves.
Rhys blinked once, brow creasing. “I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I,” Emily muttered.
Alec ignored her except for his fingers flexing, a clear command to stay silent. “I need you to settle a disagreement,” he told Rhys. “Kiss her.”
Rhys’s brows rose. The reaction wasn’t shock—just mild, pointed disbelief. “I beg your pardon?”
Emily’s protest overlapped his. “This isn’t necessary—”
“To put your doubts to rest once and for all, I think it is,” Alec insisted.
Rhys slid his hands into his pockets, the picture of patient skepticism. “You’re going to have to translate, Yarborough. I’m in the dark here, old man.”
“She thinks it’s the kink,” Alec snapped. “That any dom will get the same reaction.”
Rhys’s gaze sharpened, flicking between them. “And you want me to play the role? Interesting.”
Emily’s stomach knotted. Rhys was certainly attractive, but also a complete stranger. The knot tightened from humiliation, and the cold realization Alec had brought her here not only to be tested but to prove a point.
“Kiss her,” he pressed, “and let’s see if any dom will do.”
Rhys looked at her. Sympathy softening his eyes. “I’m happy to assist in the name of research, love. If, and only if, that’s what you want.”
He didn’t reach for her. Didn’t move closer. Didn’t assume.
And that made everything worse.
She didn’t want another dom. And it stung that Alec would offer her to another man. Even for a test. Even for just a kiss.
Anger came next—hot and scorching.
“Red,” she said clearly, loud enough to carry. “I’m not playing this game.”
Rhys stepped back at once, expression cooling into professional neutrality. A dom honoring a stop without question.
Behind her, Alec went absolutely still.
She pushed by him and stomped toward the house.
After two steps, he caught her arm—not to control but to stop the damage from spreading. “Wait, Em.” His voice shook with regret. “Where are you going?”
“To get my things and call an Uber. I’m going home.”
“That will cost a fortune from here,” Alec ground out. “I’ll drive you.”
Emily shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, considering.”
“Considering what?”
She rose on her toes, face inches from his. “Considering I’d like to punch you—sir.”
“Tensions are high,” Rhys interjected. “Maybe I should take her home.”
Alec shot him a glare that could cut steel. “Don’t. Even. Think about it.”
He read the line and didn’t cross it. Smart move. It was almost comical. But she was in no mood to laugh.
To keep the peace, however, she relented. “Alec can take me home.”
“Alec?” someone asked.
“We’ve known each other forever,” she explained.
There were nods of understanding. This wasn’t a hookup gone wrong—it was history unraveling.
Alec had calmed but remained tense when he led her toward the sidewalk that wrapped around the house, past the maze, and eventually to the front parking lot. Naturally hands-on, he usually guided her with a touch. Not this time. Smart man.
“Dammit,” he uttered, stopping short. “I need to get my keys. Wait here while I get them.”
When she nodded, he frowned, something he was doing a lot of around her.
“I need your verbal agreement.”
“I won’t go anywhere without you.”
He turned then swung back, something raw in his expression. “Emily, I owe you an apology. A real one.”
Startled, she asked, “What did you just say?”
“It’s not as if I’ve never apologized,” he grumbled then took a breath.
“I didn’t handle tonight well. I got jealous and reacted and did something unforgivable.
” His hand slid behind her neck, not with dominance but tenderness.
“I shouldn’t have dragged Rhys into it. I shouldn’t have treated you as some test to run.
It was wrong. You said ‘red.’ I heard it loud and clear. And I’m listening now.”
“You hurt me,” she whispered. “Not the kiss. Not Rhys. You. You made me feel... interchangeable.”
Alec flinched as if struck.
“This is all new to me, and very confusing. And yes, I still want to punch you, sir.”
He pulled her close. “If that clears the air between us, go for it.”
A little laugh slipped out, and she drawled, “Sorry, but that’s not my kink.” Then, more serious, “I’m not sure what is.”
“This was your first night. No one has it all figured out on day one. But that’s why you have me.
” His hand cupped her cheek, and his pitch dropped to a stirring baritone.
“I know—without a doubt—you’re wrong. Any dom won’t do for you.
Only I will.” He pulled her into a kiss that was dark, possessive, and hungry.
Her knees went weak, and she not only believed him—she forgave him.
Long moments later, when he let her up for air, he rested his forehead against hers. “Don’t worry, baby. We’ll figure this out.”
When he left to retrieve his keys, Emily was grateful for the moment alone to collect herself.
The cutting words coming out of the shadows robbed her of that.
“He’ll dominate and fuck you, but he’ll never be yours.”
She whirled to find a tall blonde leaning against the labyrinth fence, arms crossed, bitterness sharp in her eyes.
“Were you talking to me?”