“I was invited.” Danny shoved the Domme none too gently back toward Paul. “I’m a business associate of Arty’s.”
“A business—” Paul started, his eyes widening as he looked toward the open door. Arty was standing there, along with a group of other curious bystanders, which meant Danny made a scene before he found Paul. “This is not happening.”
“The feeling is entirely mutual.” Danny’s gaze ran over Paul, the shock and horror evident in his dark eyes. Then his attention darted to the Domme. “Unlock him. Now. Don’t make me ask again.”
“Is he your Master?” she asked Paul, looking unsure.
Paul was silent, not knowing how to answer that question, and still fighting off the shock of Danny being there. Paul’s shoulders ached when she used a key to open the padlock holding his leather cuffs together. He usually loved that feeling, the surge of sensation that ran up his arms once he was freed, but this time he didn’t have time to savor it.
The Domme glared petulantly once Paul was freed, but obviously felt too intimidated to argue now that Danny had announced he was a business associate of Arty’s. None of them said it out loud, but they all knew what Arty’s business was. It was why his parties were ideal for people like Paul, who needed someone who wasn’t too concerned about legalities.
“You didn’t tell me you belonged to someone,” she went on, something in Danny’s look and presence answering the question for her.
“Slipped my mind,” Paul said, his eyes on Danny, whose mood was unpredictable at best. He got to his feet, feeling a wave of dizziness he ignored as he tilted his head toward the door. “I guess you wanna take off.”
“You think?” Danny asked curtly then started unbuttoning his white shirt that looked very out of place amongst all the dark clothing and leather. He slipped out of it and handed it to Paul. “Put it on.”
Paul took it, slipping into the shirt rather than argue, feeling the silk material stick to his bleeding back. It was too small on him to button, so he didn’t bother. He turned to leave, knowing he needed to get Danny out of Arty’s as quickly as possible. He was thankful the subspace and adrenaline rush from the pain was letting him ignore the horror of knowing what Danny had seen. It was a small blessing right then, but a blessing nonetheless, as he made his way past the group of people gathered around the door.
“I told ya he was a freak.”
Paul frowned, seeing Tony for the first time. Having only met him once, Paul wouldn’t have recognized him in the leather pants and long-sleeve black shirt if he hadn’t called attention to himself. At least now he knew where Danny found out about everything. Paul was kicking himself because he knew Tony was shady. It made sense he knew Arty.
“Don’t start,” Danny said with a glare at Tony. “Really, I’m in no mood for your shit.”
“You’re not even gonna let me tell ya I told ya so?” Tony asked, his eyebrows lifting in amusement. “You owe me that.”
In the blink of an eye Danny was on him, slamming Tony against the wall hard enough to leave him winded. Everyone else gasped and backed up, but Paul jumped forward, grabbing Danny’s arm before he could punch Tony.
Tony gave a wheezing laugh, gripping his side as his eyes danced in amusement. “All for love. You stupid asshole, I’ve seen arrows more bent than him.”
“I will fuck you up, Ton,” Danny growled, his voice low in warning. “I’m not kidding.”
“Relax.” Another bark of laughter slipped out of Tony. “I ain’t no snitch.”
Danny’s breathing was labored as if he were silently debating with himself. A considerable crowd had gathered and there was a pulse of excitement in the air that told Paul many were disappointed he had stopped Danny from laying into Tony.
“Come on.” Paul tugged on his arm, desperate to distract Danny, not knowing what Tony was really capable of. “I’m dizzy. Gimme a ride.”
Danny turned, his eyes still narrowed, but some of the tension seemed to slip out of his shoulders as he studied him. Paul breathed a sigh of relief when Danny left Tony leaning against the wall, a grin of amusement plastered on his tan face as if the spectacle Paul and Danny had created was the most amusing thing he’d come across in a long time.
“I quit,” Danny said, his voice still low and furious as if he were barely containing his temper.
Tony snorted. “Sure you do.”
*
His worlds had collided in a spectacular explosion of fury and disappointment and Paul was floundering in the aftermath. The shock of Danny showing up unexpectedly allowed him to make it out of there with some dignity, but now that he was crashing from a truly spectacular adrenaline rush, he was battling to stay clear-minded past the haze of sexual longing and pain. The subspace didn’t want to ebb just because his best friend’s vanilla freak-out ruined an awesome evening.