Dungeon Games(58)

Derek had somehow become her friend. Derek had somehow become her partner, despite the fact that he had serious issues.

So did she. What if they could work it out?

“Karina? Are you okay?” Terry was staring at her.

Derek was, too, but he looked more curious than worried.

“I’m fine.” She shook off her worries. It would do no good to dwell on them. She couldn’t figure anything out tonight. She needed to let it go or she would end up in a bad place. She needed to get through the night at the club with Derek and then she could ask Li to take her to a meeting. She would let Derek believe anything he liked.

Or she could try to talk to him. She could see if he could understand.

Terry slapped the counter. “You’re more than fine, sweetheart. You’re great.” He stood up and gave her a long look. “I have to get out of here. I’m meeting a friend for dinner. You probably won’t be able to get that package until Monday.”

He was right about that. “Sunday is the manager’s day off. I’ll pick it up Monday morning.”

“Then maybe we can have dinner Monday night.” Terry walked around the bar and gave her a hug. “It would be good to catch up. If you’re not doing anything, of course.”

“Absolutely.” There was something odd about holding him. Maybe he was thinner than he used to be, but something about his arms around her felt off. She couldn’t put her finger on it. It didn’t matter. Just being around Terry made her feel guilty. Made her worry she didn’t think enough about the family that had helped her.

He stepped back and nodded. He frowned Derek’s way and then made his way to the door, opening it with his right hand and leaving.

And she was alone with Derek.

She stopped, afraid to turn around because she didn’t want to start the fight again. She couldn’t go back into this with him. Not tonight. She needed calm.

His hands came on her shoulders. “So you talked about lasagna?”

“Yeah.”

She felt him kiss her hair. “That sounds great.”

He stepped away and then she heard the TV come on and when she turned, he was sitting down and a baseball game was on. He sat down but even from where she stood she could see the tension in his shoulders.

They were both wary, both hurt. She’d been hurt by his words and he’d been hurt because she wouldn’t talk.

They had hours to get through before they were supposed to take on their roles, but maybe they didn’t need to wait. He’d offered to top her. She didn’t want to play anymore. She wanted something softer.

She had a choice to make. She could rail at him or she could take the peace he was offering.

Karina left the kitchen and walked to her temporary Dom, to the man she was pretty certain she would mourn as surely as she mourned her husband.

He looked up at her. “Ba…Karina, it’s all right. I’m not going to push you. You’re safe.”

She was safe because she was with him. She sank to her knees and let her head rest on his lap. “Can we order pizza? I would rather sit with you.”

His hand was in her hair, smoothing it, petting her. “Yes, of course.”

She listened as he called their order in. It was all right. Derek would take care of things. For now.

That was all that mattered anyway.





Chapter Ten



Derek didn’t like the way Master Will looked at Karina. Of course, he didn’t like the way any of them looked at Karina, but he had to get a freaking handle on that. They looked at her because she was gorgeous and wearing very little clothing. He stared at her as she stood at the bar, getting them both drinks. There wouldn’t be a lick of alcohol in them. They were working. He could use a beer, but he suspected he was going to cut back heavily on his drinking.

He was going to change a lot of things because nothing, nothing in the world had ever felt as good as that moment when Karina sank to her knees and laid her head on his lap. Nothing. No sex, no triumph, no promotion had ever made him as peaceful, as complete as having her trust him.

One day she would tell him what he already suspected, but if she never did, he would be content with the Karina he had now. He’d seen her, really seen her, and that was all he needed.

“Are you going to kill the doc?” Sean stood beside him, his blue eyes wary as he looked across the room to where Karina was waiting on the other bartender to finish their drinks.

“Only if I have to.” He wasn’t sure about the doc. He’d read through the files Liam had sent him as Karina and he had eaten a quiet dinner. Will Daley was a liar, but was he a killer? “What does Eve say about him?”

“Adam hacked into the hospital network and got some of the depositions about his upcoming trial.”