Page 22 of Fallen Dane

“Jesus, Caroline.” Margo laughs. “You can’t just ask that.”

“Why not? We are all adults here.” Caroline turns back to me. “Well? Does he?”

I think about last night. About Dane tying my wrists to the headboard and edging me for an hour before he finally let me come. About the way he made me count each time he did it and slapped my pussy when I didn’t say the number loud enough.

“He’s dominant and intense.” I point my fork at each of them. “And that’s all I’m going to say.”

“Fine.” Caroline sits back in her chair with a dramatic sigh. “Keep your secrets. But just know that we are all insanely jealous.”

“Agreed.” Liz raises her glass. “To Whitney and her sexy, dominant new husband. Thank fuck Gerald did you a favor so you can finally enjoy decent sex.”

I stiffen at the mention of Gerald’s death, hoping that the others don’t notice. The women raise their glasses, and I do the same. We clink them together, and we all drink.

“Speaking of husbands,” Margo starts, her voice lowering. “I think Richard is having an affair.”

The table goes quiet.

“What makes you think that?” Caroline asks.

“He has been ‘working late’ three nights a week for the past month. He’s constantly on his phone with a love-struck look on his face. And he’s suddenly very interested in going to the gym.” Margo takes a long drink of her wine. “I’m not an idiot. I know he’s fucked other women from time to time, but this feels different.”

“Have you confronted him?” Liz asks.

“Not yet. I want to know who she is before I decide what to do about it.”

“Smart,” Caroline says. “You need leverage.”

It’s the way of many Raven men. Gerald fucked anything with a pulse under the age of twenty-five.

I knew about it, but I never cared. It meant he left me alone.

I grip my knife so tight my knuckles turn white. The thought of Dane sleeping with another woman makes me physically ill. He will learn what punishment from me means if he even thinks of sticking his dick somewhere it doesn’t belong.

“Whitney?” Caroline is looking at me. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Just thinking.”

“About whether Dane would cheat on you?” Margo asks.

Damn them. They know me too well. “No.”

“Liar.” Liz grins. “But even if he does, you never cared when Gerald did it. And now you have the Sinclair name and money to spend.”

I want to argue. I want to tell them that Dane isn’t Gerald, and that it’s different now.

But I can’t find the words to explain how it’s different. That I feel things I never felt with Gerald. So I just smile and nod and pretend their words don’t bother me.

“Oh, that reminds me. Did you all hear—” Elizabeth starts, but she’s cut off by a voice behind me.

“Whitney.” The voice is male and familiar. “A word?”

I know that voice before I even turn around.

It’s Harrison Lockwood. I turn to look at him over my shoulder. His silver hair is perfectly styled, and his smile is pleasant and entirely fake.

The women at my table go quiet. They all know who Harrison is, and they know he bid on me. Everyone knows. Word travels fast among the Ravens.

“Of course.” I stand and smile. “Excuse me, ladies.”