Griffin gave him a sidelong smile. “What? You never pulled the ponytail of the little girl you liked on the playground? This is his playground,” Griffin said, sweeping his arm out to indicate the bar and the writhing pit below. “He’d never allow anyone but him to own her. So if she wants to play on his playground, she does it as a Domme. He doesn’t like it but he won’t stop it. Still loves her too much.”

Zach turned his head and saw the young woman in the pale pink collar return to her master. With her eyes and head lowered she presented him a glass of wine. The man set the glass of wine aside, took her by the hair and pulled her face between his legs. Zach tried to look away but found he couldn’t. The man leaned his head back in arrogant bliss as the girl wrapped her lips and tongue around him.

“God, I love it here,” Griffin said, and Zach could hear arousal in his voice. “I’ve gotta get a sub.”

Zach tried to ignore how aroused he was becoming by watching the girl. The man dug his fingers into the back of the girl’s neck as his hips twitched. Zach wrenched his gaze away as he finally let the girl go.

“Nora and Søren were just like that?” Zach asked, still in shock.

Griffin shrugged indifferently.

“Nora says he’s a great priest.”

* * *

“So what do you want to talk about? We’ve been having the same fight for five years. I guess we can have it again. Yes, I miss you. Yes, I miss it. No, I’m not coming back.”

“You would assume this was all about you, wouldn’t you?” Søren said.

“If it isn’t, then what?” she demanded, angry at herself for still being so affected by him even after all this time.

“I told you when I saw you again we would discuss Wesley.”

Nora took a step back.

“No, not him. He’s not on the table. He’s not up for negotiation.”

Søren’s eyes flashed at her. “Fitting as I do not negotiate.”

“I’m not giving Wesley up.”

“He’s not one of us, Eleanor, and you know it. You never should have allowed him into your home. This is a dangerous game you are playing and one or both of you will be deeply hurt by it.”

“Wes isn’t a game. He’s my best friend. Jesus, Søren, he’s my only friend.” Nora hated admitting it but she knew it was true. Everyone in her life—Zach included—she’d either slept with or planned to.

“Friend? He’s your pet and you are using him. A game is only fair when both parties know they are playing it.”

“You don’t know anything about us. You haven’t even met him.”