Cherished (Masters and Mercenaries #7.5)(35)

“It’s not any of your business, Bridget. I’ll handle it.”

She shook her head. “She said she’s your sub. I think that makes it my business.”

His lips quirked up in a big jerk smile. “She lies. Now step aside. I won’t be more than ten minutes.”

“You won’t be anything at all if you don’t talk to me.” She was screwing this up. “I’m sorry. I need to know.”

“Are you giving me an ultimatum?” He wasn’t looking at her. He was staring at the hallway, likely at his door, as though his whole being was already in that room with her, with Starr.

“I need to know. Please talk to me.” She could deal with it if he was honest with her.

“You don’t need to know. I’ve told you everything you need to know. I wrote it all out in that contract. If you’re worried I’m going over there to f*ck her, you can rest assured I wouldn’t touch that woman with a ten-foot pole. I will handle the situation and come back to you and we’ll eat dinner and get ready for our flight tomorrow.”

“You have got to be kidding me.” He couldn’t expect her to ignore what had happened.

“Bridget, move out of my way and do it now. I’m talking to you as your Dominant partner. Either stand down and let me deal with this or break our contract right here and now.”

She stepped back, allowing him access to the exit. Her heart was thudding in her chest, but she was pleased with the even tone of her voice. “Now who’s giving out ultimatums?”

He turned at the door. “Bridget…”

Now he wanted to talk? Oh, he’d made himself perfectly clear. She held up a hand. “No, please. Don’t let me keep you.”

She slammed the door in his face as the tears began to fall. There was a hard thud against the door like he’d smacked it in frustration, but then she listened and heard him take the necessary steps, heard his door open and close.

Before it could escape, Bridget shoved her hand over her mouth, stopping the sob that wouldn’t stay inside. Tears blurred her world as the truth hit her. She was in love with a man who couldn’t even be bothered to explain why another woman had shown up at her door.

He really did view her as a good time. He might stay around. He might honor that month-long contract he talked about, but he would never love her. He would never want forever.

She locked the door and then turned the dead bolt it so he couldn’t use a key to get back in. He’d made himself plain. She was good for sex and fun and she had no place in his real life. A woman like Starr had. When the good doctor settled down—and she had no doubt that he would eventually—it would be with someone gorgeous and deeply submissive. It wouldn’t be with a girl who everyone knew was a brat.

When the pizza came, she slid two twenties to the delivery boy and asked him to give the pizza to the first homeless man he came to and then locked the door again.

Oddly, she’d lost her appetite.





Will closed the door behind him and wondered how he was going to get back into Bridget’s place. His brat had undoubtedly dead bolted the door, and she would likely do anything to keep him out.

He couldn’t let that happen. He also couldn’t let her know about Starr. God, what the hell would she think if she knew what an idiot he’d been? The object of his idiocy sat on his sofa with her legs crossed, looking every inch the lady when he knew damn well she was so much more. Liar. User. Accessory to murder.

“I don’t want you here. Please leave and don’t return.”

“You quit your job in Fort Worth,” she said, her voice quiet. She always talked in that soft voice. At first he’d found it haunting and peaceful that she never raised her tone. Now he found it annoying. How the hell was he supposed to know what she was feeling? Bridget always let him know. Usually with force.

But she should trust him enough to deal with this. What the f*ck was that ultimatum? She wanted to give him ultimatums? He didn’t deal well with them.

Of course, he’d then thrown one in her face, and he kind of got the feeling she didn’t deal well with them either. Damn it.

“Master?”

She was still here. He hoped if he ignored her she would disappear, but the world wasn’t that kind.

“Don’t call me that. How did you find me?”

“There was a nurse at the hospital who told me you’re working in Dallas now. I had a friend look you up. You were on the white pages on the Internet. I didn’t do anything illegal, Mast…Will.” Tears clung to her eyes, perfectly placed and perfectly f*cking fake like the rest of her.

He bet if Bridget cried she would get red and blotchy and he would have to soothe her. He would have to hold her to calm her down, but only after he’d protected his balls because his Bridget got angry first.

When had he started thinking of her as his? When had he started spending large parts of his day plotting how to get her in the right mood, how to make her happy or to calm her down when someone cut them off on the freeway or to soothe her when she read something crappy about her books?

He’d never had to do that with Starr. Nope. She was always right there to please her Master. Never said a harsh word until he found she’d been lying to him the whole time. “Why are you here? The last time we talked I believe you called me a freak who abused you.”