BREAKAWAY (The Dartmouth Cobras) (42 page)

"And what's right?"

"Admit that it's not just me and you."

"It's just me and you, boo." Luke slid forward and cupped her cheek. "Or it's nothing."

She pulled away and stared at the ice. "Then it's nothing."

"Got it." He let his hand fall to his side and turned away from her. His voice carried across the rink. "Sucks because I really need a date tonight."

Good luck with that, asshole.

Snow sprayed up Jami's legs as Amy skidded to a stop beside Luke. "I'm putting on a show tonight, but if it's early enough, I'm free. Make me an offer."

Luke smiled and whispered something in Amy's ear. The bite of the
tawse
, which Luke had regretted so much, was nothing compared to this. Jami hadn’t felt the leather cut her flesh. But Luke hitting on Amy—of all people—sliced straight to the bone.

Amy bit her bottom lip, gazing up at Luke with pure worship. "Oh, you're bad. I don't know. You could totally ruin my reputation."

"I plan to." Luke gave Amy a heady lidded look. "Is that a yes?"

"Yes." Amy pressed her breast against his chest and gasped. "I just hope you won't take advantage of me. I have to admit, I'm a big fan. I cried when I saw Bower holding your bloody face after that skate cut you."

"Why, because you knew my face would be even more messed up?"

"No. I find scars hot." Amy simpered. "I just didn't like seeing you hurt."

“I’m fine, sweetheart,” Luke said. “But it’s nice to know you cared.”

Jami blinked and circled away from them blindly. Someone grabbed her and through a blur of tears she made out Akira's face. She gulped back a sob as Akira led her off the ice. Akira knew everything. She didn't have to hide how she felt. But she tried because there were so many people around. People who would make something of her falling apart.

"Mi cielo, look at me."

Akira had handed her off to someone, and Jami could tell by scent alone that it was Sebastian. This was why he'd disappeared from the stands. He'd come for her.

 
"We don't need him, Sebastian." Jami rubbed her face against his shirt to dry her stupid tears. Luke wasn't worth getting upset over. He could be replaced. Her throat locked as she pictured someone else coming between them. Someone else that would want to tear them apart. They didn't need that. Why not find someone easier to handle? Someone fun and uncomplicated? She knew Sebastian would be happy with her, but she also knew he enjoyed having a man in his bed. And she would find a way to give him one.

"Jami . . . ." Sebastian tried to hold her, but she was already looking, looking to find someone to replace Luke.

Scott Demyan hesitated by Sebastian's side, his lips pressed together as he drew in a harsh inhale. One of Amy's friends waited for him a few feet away, looking annoyed, but Scott ignored her. "I know about you and Luke, Ramos. I think a few guys do, and we’ve been trying to support him, but—"

Jami pulled away from Sebastian. Slid her hands behind Scott's neck. "You know? Then let me give you something to think about."

She pressed her lips against Scott's, tugging his bottom lip with her teeth. He wasn’t Luke, and there was something missing in the kiss, but she didn’t need it. Not having some big, strong connection would make things so much simpler. As he groaned, she whispered against his lips. "Sebastian is having a party after the game. I hope you'll be there."

"I will." Scott stroked her side and swallowed hard, wincing as Luke passed and glared at him. "Shit. This is
gonna
get fucked up, but I'll be there."

"I'm a package deal, stud." Jami ignored Luke, with Amy trailing behind him, and drew her finger down Scott's chest. "You okay with that?"

Sebastian did
not
look pleased, but he didn't say a word. He moved in close enough to trap Scott between them.

"Fuck." Scott pressed his eyes shut and nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay with it. But don't tell anyone, okay? I'm on thin ice already. This party will be private like, right?" He opened his eyes and looked to Sebastian. "Nothing that will make me look bad? I can't afford to give the press anything more than I already have."

"She has chosen you, and for her, I will protect you." Sebastian gave Scott a cold smile, as if he was testing the man. "Only those I trust will be at the party. You have nothing to fear."

"Yeah, the way you just said that doesn't make me so sure."

"Let me amend my words." Sebastian's lips curled. "Do as I say and you have nothing to fear."

"You're a scary bastard, you know that?" Scott cringed as the locker room door slammed down the hall. "He's going to be pissed if I agree to this. I can't . . . if he's still involved, leave me out of it."

"He's not." Jami batted her eyelashes and ducked her head. "But I get it if you're scared."

Scott frowned. "I'm not."

"Good. Then I'll leave it for you two to discuss the details. I'll be watching from the
pressbox
. Hope you can still play, even while you're thinking about what my Master will make me do to you."

"Damn it, seriously?" Scott swallowed again, hard, looking to Sebastian as he slid his hands down her sides. "You'll do whatever he says?"

"Yes." Jami smiled. "Will you?"

"Yeah." Scott leaned close and whispered. "But I've got a dinner date, business stuff, just so you know it doesn't mean anything."

"Whatever happens between us won't mean anything either, Scott."

"It will. But I trust you. If you were able to deal with Carter and Ramos . . ." Scott's breath was hot against her neck, and she suddenly realized he wasn’t attracted to her alone. He was trusting her not to judge him. And his next words proved it. "I don't have to pretend with you, do I?"

"No." His flesh felt feverish on her lips as she kissed his throat. It scared her a little that he might be using her to get to Sebastian, but she didn’t plan to get emotionally involved, so it didn’t really matter. "You don't."

"Good." He bowed his head and closed his eyes. "Because I'm fucking tired of it."

"And I’m tired of people being fake. At least I know what you want."

As Scott moved away, she met Sebastian's eyes. Uncertainty painted harsh lines across his forehead as he leaned down to her.

"Are you sure, mi cielo?"

Everything inside hurt so bad it felt like some had broken her ribs apart and exposed her heart. She needed to show him she'd be okay without Luke. She
would
show him.

"I am sure as long as you are, mi Rey."

"I am trying, gatita, but I do miss him."

"Forget him. Let me give you someone else."

"I've no interest in anyone else." Sebastian drew away from her, and the distance between them became more than physical, became a solid brick wall that made it impossible to reach him. "Give him time."

"Times up. I can't handle how much he hurt you. He's easy to replace."

"You don't truly believe that."

"I do. Trust me, okay?" Jami wanted to grab Sebastian and shake him. He was giving Luke the power to hurt him and she wouldn't allow it. "I have to go back to that shop, don't I? Before the party?"

"Yes."

"Don't make it easy on me." Hell, the tension was working up to a
full
fledged migraine. Nausea made it impossible to think straight. "I'm okay. With whoever you choose. At least Scott is safe."

"Safe?" Sebastian shook his head and kissed her. "Safe isn't enough. You are all I need."

"Be honest. You're tempted. Please tell me I’m not the only one being shallow. The only one thinking we can have some fun and leave all the drama behind."

"That is not how I do things, Jami." Sebastian sighed. “But it is tempting.”

"That's enough for me. Don't dig too deep. This doesn’t need to be complicated."

"Jami . . . ." Sliding his hands up to her shoulder, gently massaging the taut muscles, Sebastian nodded slowly. "Very well. Go home and have yourself a drink. Only. One. Then go to the store."

"What am I getting this time?" Jami plopped down on the floor in the hall and undid her skates. She giggled when Sebastian took a knee to pull them off and a few Ice Girls shot her glares stained ugly green as they passed. "If it's something really bad, I might need a few hard shots to go through with it."

"One." Sebastian chuckled when she pouted at him. "And someone will meet you with my instructions. I expect you to show her the same respect you would show me."

"
Her?
" Jami winced as she took her skates back and the blades pinched her palm. She stood and peered up at Sebastian, not sure how she felt about this new twist. He was leaving her to the mercy of a
Domme
?
"I'd be more comfortable with a man, Sebastian."

"This is not for your comfort, gatita. This is for my pleasure." He tapped her chin lightly with a fingertip and smiled. "Be a good girl for me—make me proud by how well you behave."

"But I
never
behave!"

"I suggest you do in her presence. She is quite creative with punishments."

"Ugh. She's allowed to punish me?" Jami wrinkled her nose. "I'm not crazy about this idea."

Moving close so she was pinned against the wall by his big, muscular body, the surprisingly soft material of his suit jacket brushing the top of her breasts, Sebastian leaned down and whispered in her ear. "That may be. But it has distracted you enough that you have relaxed. You've forgotten your hurt. Which makes me thinks 'this idea' is a good one. We both need to forget for a little while."

The dull ache inside had faded. And he'd smiled and laughed for the first time in way too long. She took a deep breath and hooked her fingers to his crisp, white collar. "Are you going to play better if you know I'm being a 'good girl'?"

"I will."

"All right." She let the reason for hitting on Scott, for insisting that Sebastian not cancel the party, blank out everything else. She wanted to see the Cobras win. And more importantly, she needed to see Sebastian happy again. "Then it's a
great
idea."

* * * *

The weather had hiked up to smoldering midday, so Jami had gone home to change. The black lace and fishnet stockings she wore under her cutoff jean shorts, along with a black sleeveless shirt, laced loosely up the deep v-neck, made her feel sexy, but comfortable. She planned to throw Sebastian's jersey over the outfit for the game, but this would be what she wore to the party.

Not that she'd be wearing much for long. She chewed on her bottom lip as she slipped into the sex shop,
Naughty Pleasures,
and blushed at a smirk from the cashier. At least the multi-pierced, Goth recognized her from the last two times. There would be no questions about her age—which had embarrassed the hell out of her after she'd gotten up the nerve to step inside on her first visit—but Devon, the cashier, would probably ask her some intimate questions about her purchases. Or give her a lecture, like she had about the glass dildo not being a good choice for an anal virgin.

How much you want to bet this is
gonna
be ten times worse?

"Don't you look nice and terrified."

Jami started and gaped up at Chicklet. Her short, spiky hairdo, paired with faded jeans and a white tank top, gave her a young, approachable appeal, but Jami knew the woman from a few brief encounters. And reputation. She pretty much lived in Dartmouth now to be close to her sub, Tyler, but she made trips back to her home town to play goalie for the local team. Kept fit by joining Sloan and some of the other guys at the gym a few times a week. And attended BDSM events in Montreal several times a year to come up with evil new ways to torture her female sub.

The last Jami had overheard her father telling Landon and Silver when she was supposed to be helping her grandmother with supper during one of their visits. Silver had laughed nervously when Dad had hinted at some new ideas Chicklet had given him.

And if Silver was intimidated by the woman, Jami knew she should be too.

"You're adorable." Chicklet laughed and draped her arm over Jami's shoulders. "Blushing already and I haven't done anything yet."

A short, curvy woman lingered behind Chicklet, head down, lips curved in amusement. She winked at Jami, then straightened her long, knee length skirt and spoke softly. "May I speak, Mistress?"

"Yeah, sure. Sorry, I'm being rude, but it's been awhile since I've been allowed to play with someone else's sub." Chicklet grinned. "Sloan and them all are so possessive! You, however, have a nice, open-minded Dom. You two get to know each other while I let Devon know what's going on."

As Chicklet strode away, shouting to Devon, her sub drew Jami aside. Even though she looked to be in her mid-thirties, she didn't give off that motherly vibe most older women did whenever Jami was around. It was like they were on the same level.

"If you're being punished, give me a heads up. I'll distract my Mistress so she's not too hard on you."

Jami wasn't in trouble—
yet
—but she was touched that the woman had her back even though they didn't know each other. "Why would you do that?"

 
"We subs have to look out for each other. I'm Laura by the way." Laura glanced over at Chicklet, then leaned close. "And you're Jami Richter. I have to say, I'm surprised that Chicklet agreed to this. She really respects your dad."