I’m speechless.Of all the things I expected her to say, this isn’t one of them.
She fills my bewildered silence.“And this…thischildyou’re dating?Gage, think.The optics are terrible.”
“I don’t care about optics, Nic.I care about Leah.”
She sniffs.“You’re breaking my heart, Gage.”
Impossible.She doesn’t have one.
“Gage.I know we ended on rocky terms.But we had so many good times, too.Can’t you give us a chance, for that?I’ve been missing you.”
I can’t believe a word that comes out of her mouth.We had good times, sure, but when it ended, she painted the entire relationship with a dark brush, rendering me an abuser.
“Tell me something,” I say.
“Anything.”It’s incredible—she sounds so sincere.Anyone else would probably believe her.
“How did you find out about Leah?”
“Don’t be mad.”She gives an awkward laugh.“I hired someone to see what you’ve been up to.”
“Nic.”I squeeze my phone so hard, I fear it’ll break.Forcing my grip to relax, I take a deep breath.“All of this effort?To rekindle an ill-advised romance from nearly twenty years ago?”
“Ill-advised?”Her breath catches like a sob.She sniffles.“Gage…that hurts.”
Our last argument echoes in my mind.Nic’s face blotchy and tear-streaked as she accused me of cheating, as she accused me of wanting to hurt her, as she accused me of loving my reputation more than I loved her.
And then the final, parting shot:“You never cared!You only pretended to!Is it any fucking surprise I turned to him?”
“Itwasill-advised.We were children.We were bad for each other.”I don’t want to argue, but I need her to see the relationship for what it was: a broken attempt made by broken people.Hollywood wasn’t kind to us.Billings wasn’t kind to us.We weren’t normal, and we hoped that by acting hard enough, we would be.
“We wereperfectfor each other.Our kinks align so well, Gage.I’m a natural submissive, you’re a natural Dominant.I crave your control.I know how to give everything over to you.Leah’s so young, she must be a baby in the lifestyle.”
Nic is right about that, but I don’t mind training Leah, teaching her.In fact, Leah’s delight at every new experience is part of my pleasure.
Not only that, I’m falling in love with her.Even if Leah hated my kinks, I would still pursue her.Nothing Nic says can erase my feelings.
Nic goes on, “She can’t possibly know how to work with you.But I was created for your pleasure, Sir.”
I recoil, disgusted.“That honorific is highly inappropriate.For someone so involved in the lifestyle, you ought to know that.”
Her soft gasp carries through my phone.“I’m sorry.”
She’s playing a part.Even now, she’s adopting the role of my submissive.I won’t allow it.I don’t want it.I don’t want her.
Speaking quietly into my phone, I say, “I want one thing from you, and one thing only.”
“What is it?”
“Get on PhotoGram, VideYou, everywhere else, and take it back.”
“I can’t.I mean it, Gage.I want you back.I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get rid of your current toy.I’ll call you back when you’ve had more time to think about it.”
Before I can respond, the call ends.Nic hung up.
The room is too bright, too warm.I’m too exposed.
I close the curtains, shrouding Leah’s room in darkness.
