“As you probably know, Meagan and I were together for a short period of time several years ago.” He stopped, trying to decide how much he wanted to share and making sure Meagan wasn’t within earshot. “We’ve been working together on a project of mine, a BDSM-themed, erotic photography book, and we ended up going beyond the original agreement.”
He wasn’t going to tell them about the blackmail. He glanced over to Fritz and the man nodded, his indication that he would play this conversation however Luke wanted.
“The short of it is, we were right all those years ago to end it. We aren’t good together.”
“If you ask me”—Cole watched him carefully—“I say you both looked miserable just now. In fact, I recognize the expression you both had.”
“And what was that?” Luke asked.
“It’s the same look I had when I was trying to convince myself I didn’t need my Sasha.” Cole shook his head, remembering. “I only made us both miserable.”
“I remember,” Nathaniel added. “That night at the New York club, when you said it was too soon for either of you and that anything beyond her training wasn’t in the plan.”
Fritz laughed. “Cole told me the same thing. ‘Fuck the plan,’ I told him.”
Cole pointed at the other Dominant. “You can stop right there, Fritz. You’re a fine one to talk.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, really?” Cole looked as if he was having too much fun teasing his friend. “Do you think it somehow escaped my attention that you have a thing for my ex?”
Fritz didn’t deny anything. “You know I would never do anything to take your slave away from you.”
“Of course I do. But she’s no longer my slave and yet, here you sit, not having made any type of move.”
“The time isn’t right.”
“The time will never be right.” Cole’s eyes widened and he snapped his fingers. “I know. Sasha mentioned hosting another tea party. I can invite you and Kate over.”
“Seriously?” Nathaniel chimed in. “Your collared submissive serving tea to your ex-slave? That takes balls, man.”
Cole thought for a minute. “Yeah, Sasha would probably have my balls. But don’t worry. I’ll think of something.”
Luke was thankful the conversation between Cole and Fritz kept everyone’s attention away from him, but as soon as Cole stopped talking, they all looked at him.
“No. Never,” he said. “Meagan and I are finished. Forever this time.”
* * *
Thankfully, the office Abby led Meagan to was far enough away from the men that they couldn’t hear their conversation. Why did it seem as if every time she visited Abby, he was there?
“I’m so sorry,” Abby said as soon as they were in the office and the door closed. “Did you and Luke split? I didn’t know.”
“It’s much worse than that.” Meagan knew she needed to say the words, but they wouldn’t come.
“He found out.” Abby said them for her.
“Worse, he only had an idea something was going on and he set up an interrogation scene with Brose out there.”
Abby shivered. “Damn. I don’t even want to think about that.”
“Believe me, it wasn’t much fun doing it.”
“What did he say when he found out?”
Meagan closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to spill. “He told me to get the fuck out of his studio and out of his house. He wouldn’t listen to me or let me explain.”
Abby leaned forward and took her hand. “I was afraid it would come to this when you didn’t tell him. I’m so sorry.”
“There’s no way to get him back, either, is there?”
“Trust once lost is difficult to get back.” She squeezed her hand lightly. “But it is possible. I know it is. But I don’t want to give you false hope. I think that’s worse than no hope.”
“I just wish I knew what to do.”
“Have you been in contact with whoever is blackmailing you?”
“No, not yet. He gave me more time with this. I have until the end of the week.”
“What are you going to do?”
Meagan thought about what she wanted to do: curl up in a ball and cry, lock herself in her house and never come out. But those weren’t options. She had a life and she had to live it. Even if that life now stretched out before her, looking more and more lonely every day. “Maybe I’ll get a dog,” she tried joking. “Surely, I can’t mess that up.”
“Seriously, though.” Abby’s voice sounded soft and soothing. It was a balm after Luke’s tirade.
“I’m thinking about going to the police and telling them everything. Then I can contact the blackmailer and tell him to fuck off.”
“Or if you go to the police, you could give them the details and let them go after him.”
Meagan thought about both possible options. While there would be satisfaction in telling The Taskmaster what he could do with himself, she knew deep down that it would be for the best if she let the police handle it. They were more capable than she was, and in doing this she could wash her hands of the entire situation.
“Yes,” she said, agreeing with Abby. “I should probably go to the police. My one big concern, though, is whether he has any more naked pictures of me. I feel so . . . violated. I’d hate for one of those to get out.”
“If you go to the police, and give them all the information you have, maybe they can take care of it for you.”