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“Going.” Harker needed Dahlia to leave now. “She’s leaving.”
“Yes, he's right. I should go.” Dahlia wasn’t a stupid woman.
“No. Please. Stay. Harker never introduces me to anyone,” said Alison.
“Ah...I think you two have better things to do.” Dahlia glanced downward.
Alison followed her gaze. “Harker, put that away.” She waved her hand at his crotch where his dick still stuck out of his pants, not as hard as before but still raring to go.
“What? Dahlia’s right. We have better things to do.”
“Stop being rude.” Alison gave him an exasperated look and then turned toward Dahlia. “Please, don’t worry about interrupting. Believe me, the moment is over.”
“Not for me,” he grumbled as he forced his very unhappy cock back into his pants and zipped up.
Alison ignored him. “I just started coming here a few weeks ago and Harker hasn’t introduced me to anyone. Not really. I did meet Bea and”—she gave him a mischievous glance—“Ethan but I want to meet other people.”
“You don't need to know anyone but me.” Especially, his ex-lovers.
“Relax.” Alison touched his arm, her eyes darting between the two. “I'm assuming by the uneasy looks that the two of you had a relationship. It's okay. I don't mind. I knew you weren’t a virgin when we met.”
Dahlia choked on a laugh.
“Neither were you, but I don’t expect to become friends with your ex-lovers.” He’d probably strangle them if he ever had the misfortune of meeting any of them.
“That’s because you’re a jealous jerk.” Alison’s brow raised in challenge and Harker bit his tongue. “But I’m not. So stop being rude and introduce me to your friend. You owe me.”
“Alison this is Dahlia. Dahlia this is Alison.” He really, really was starting to dislike intelligence in women. Alison had found the perfect hell to punish him for his earlier jealousy.
“Nice to meet you.” Dahlia held out her hand, her eyes dropping to Alison's ring.
“Nice to meet you too,” said Alison. “I take it you and Harker were—”
“Dom and sub,” said Dahlia.
“Oh. I was going to say dating.” Alison’s face heated.
“Sorry.” Dahlia winced. “I obviously spend way too much time here. I’m not used to talking like a normal person.”
“Don’t apologize. I knew you didn’t just date and your explanation is so much more descriptive.”
Harker wanted to crawl under the bar and hide. He knew women well enough to know that although this seemed fine, it wasn’t.
Dahlia smiled. “I suppose you could call it dating even though”—she glanced at him—“we never actually went anywhere.”
“Really? How long were you two together?” asked Alison.
“A little over a year,” said Dahlia.
“A year and you never went on a date.” Alison turned toward Harker. “Not once? What’s wrong with you?”
“It wasn't that kind of relationship.” He shouldn’t have to explain his prior sexual commitments to his wife.
“Harker, stop being an ass.” Alison glared at him.
“No. He’s right.” Dahlia’s eyes were filled with hurt. “Ours was just a sexual relationship.”
“Dahlia, don’t.” Harker wanted to strangle both women. “It was more than that and you know it.”
Alison stiffened and Harker had to fight not to flee. He was in a no-win situation.
“No, Harker. You made it perfectly clear what our relationship was. If I thought that there could’ve been more maybe I would've stuck around.” Dahlia turned toward Alison. “It was nice meeting you, but I should go.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up the past,” said Alison.
“It’s okay,” said Dahlia. “The past is the past.”
“It is and we should leave it there.” Alison smiled. “Are you here with someone? Friends? A new boyfri...dom?”
“No, not tonight.” Dahlia smiled but it was sad.
“No one is alone at the Club unless he or she wants to be.” Harker was ready for this group chat to be done.
Alison frowned at him and shifted, excluding him from the conversation. “Please stay and have a drink with us. I promise not to bring up the past or your relationship.” She stood. “We’ll get a table.”
“Now, you want to get a table?” Harker gave her a disgusted look. Before they could’ve fucked at the table, but Alison wasn’t ready to do that in front of his former sub.
“Ignore him.” Alison took Dahlia’s arm and headed for a table. “Although I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how grumpy the man can be when he doesn't get his way.”
“I thought we were leaving the past in the past.” Harker grabbed their drinks and followed after them.
“You’re grumpy now,” said Alison. “So it’s not the past.”
“I don’t recall him ever not getting his way.” Dahlia gave her an odd look.
“Oh. Yeah, I guess that would’ve been frowned upon in the relationship you had. You know dom/sub and all that.”
“It’s frowned upon in our relationship too,” he muttered. “Not that it makes a damn bit of difference.”
Alison glanced at Dahlia and they both laughed, making Harker’s hell complete.