Page 34 of Burn With Me

I turned to face her, and her eyes glared holes into me. I knew she was going to hit up one of the clubs and get herself hammered. She had that look on her face that she got whenever she wanted to act out.

“Is that what you think you are? A victim? If you’re a victim, Britnay, then you’re a victim of your own actions, not from anything I’ve done. I truly wish you well.”

She began to cry, but I walked away, ready to deal with the next angry-looking woman. This lovely day did not turn out as I hoped it would.

Vi had already packed her bag and had it slung over her shoulder.

“I’m really sorry about that, Britnay is my ex in a way and…” I started to explain.

Vi held up her hand to stop the rest of what I was going to say. “You know what, Asher, it’s fine. I’m just not into drama. In fact, I kind of despise the entire three ring circus thing. Besides, even if she is your sorta ex, I’m pretty sure I don’t want anything to do with whatever that was.”

She motioned toward the lifeguard house. I was shocked by how calm and aloof her voice was, and I really didn’t like it. Usually, I’d be all for the lack of any sort of attachment, but Vi was metaphorically slamming the door in my face, and it was not sitting well with me.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure all that has something to do with what you mentioned earlier and the whole ‘you’re not ready’ thing.” She shook her head and quickly looked at the spot where Britnay and I had been speaking. “If what I just witnessed is someone ‘ready,’ then I’m never going to be. I’ll catch an Uber home.” She went to walk away, and I almost grabbed her arm to stop her. My heart was beating much faster than normal at the thought of her leaving and not seeing her again.

“Vi, please let me explain,” I asked, surprising myself.

“The thing is, I don’t want to know. As I said, I don’t like drama and wasn’t looking to date someone at all let alone one with a stalker ex and a lifestyle I’m not sure I want anything to with. That is…not my idea of a good time. I really shouldn’t be here anyway. I need to focus on my cases. Thanks for all your help, and it was fun today until…well, just until.”

She gave me a weak smile and pulled out her phone as she walked away. I watched her back retreat until I couldn’t see her anymore along the boardwalk.

What the hell just happened?

* * *

Violet

Beck picked me up a couple of miles down the road from where I’d left Asher. Her face was worried as I got in and closed the door.

“Okay, what’s wrong? What did he do?”

“Nothing, really. It’s hard to explain, but I don’t thing I’ll be seeing him again,” I said, my mind already working to push the hot Captain from my mind.

Work, that was what I should’ve been concentrating on and not some guy. So why did I feel so disappointed? Leaning my head back into the seat, I could feel Beck staring at me, and I knew she was refusing to move until I gave her more information.

Sighing, I collected my thoughts. “The date started out fine. Then when I asked him to tell me something about himself, he blurted out that he’s ‘a dominant person in all aspects of his life, including the bedroom.’ ”

Beck’s mouth dropped open. “Is that exactly what he said?”

“Pretty close. Why?”

She squealed and bounced around in her seat, which was not the reaction I’d been expecting. People stared as they passed along on the sidewalk, the strange squealing drawing their attention through the open windows.

“Oh my god, Vi!” She grabbed my arm, her eyes wild with excitement. “Please tell me you know what that means?”

I lifted my shoulder in a shrug. “Sorta.”

“Of course you don’t. You spend way too much of your time working to know.” Beck looked around like she was about to tell me state secrets before lowering her voice. “It means he’s a Dom, and from what you’ve already told me, he’s a real one, not one of those guys that toss around the word Dom but really is just an asshat.”

“Yeah, okay, you’ve lost me again,” I said and then cringed as she shrieked again and clapped her hands together.

Beck pulled away from the curb, smiling wide. “Oh I have so much to explain to you,” she exclaimed.

“Do I want to know how you know so much?”

Had this been a lifestyle that my best friend and been living and didn’t tell me?

“Girl, how do you not know? I mean, it’s empowering and erotic. It’s all about owning your own sexuality and learning to let yourself trust or to be trusted.” She tapped the steering wheel as we turned onto the highway. “Let me start at the beginning.”