“Yet again, I have no damn idea.”
***
Two hours into the reception, I had a hangover, even though I hadn’t slept. The party was held in a giant, swanky loft on the top floor of a skyscraper. The elevator had an electronic sign that gave the hours for a rooftop garden, so I decided to go in search of some quiet before it closed. Outside, twinkling lights lit up New York City, while the Hudson River sparkled below. It was peaceful, at least until I was joined by the last person I wanted to see.
Brendan smiled. “There you are.”
I rolled my eyes, anger pulsing through my veins at the sight of him. “I think you’re confusing sisters. Your bride is inside. She’s the one wearing the fluffy, white gown. But I could see why it might happen, given your history and all.”
He frowned. “This must be tough on you. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurtyou, Sutton.”
I hadn’t slept well for the last week, my head was pounding, and I had a year and a half of anger built up inside me. It all bubbled to the surface together. I turned and put my hands on my hips. “What do you want, Brendan?”
“I don’t want you to be upset.”
“Why would I be upset? Because I wasted three years of my young life in a sexless relationship with a God-fearing man only to walk in on him three months after we broke up fooling around with my stepsister?” I paused. “I didn’t buy you a wedding gift, so here’s some advice instead: The clit is not a golf ball that you whack once and it takes off. You should know, you never once gave me an orgasm, not with your hand or mouth. I faked themall. I hope you do better for poor Colette.”
Not wanting to be near the jerk a second longer, I turned to walk away, but two stomps in, I crashed directly into something that felt like a brick wall. Orsomeone.I didn’t even have to look up at the face, the delicious smell gave it away.
I closed my eyes. “How much of that did you hear?”
Jagger’s tone was laced with venom as he glared at Brendan. “Shouldn’t you be with your newwife?”
The two men were such polar opposites. Brendan’s blond hair, sinewy runner’s body, and boyish looks made him seem like a child in the shadow of Jagger’s manliness. My ex was a junior Ken doll, and the man currently looking down his nose at him was brawny GI Joe. It made me wonder how I’d ever been attracted tothatwhen guys like Jagger Langston existed.
Brendan had always been intimidated by successful men—his father, his boss. It was something I’d disliked about him. But right now, I was glad he was a wimp.He nodded at Jagger and swallowed. “You’re right. I should find Colette.”
Then it was only Jagger and me on the rooftop, and I stared straight ahead looking out at the City. “How much of that conversation did you hear?”
“Enough.”
I sighed. Great. First, I show up for a date completely unaware of what kind of a dating app I’d joined, then I run into the man bolting from a church drunk, and now… Now I’ve revealed that my ex never gave me an orgasm. “How many times can I possibly humiliate myself in front of one person in twenty-four hours? I have to be near a record.”
“Pretty surehe’sthe one who should be embarrassed for not being able to get you off.”
I closed my eyes and laughed—because if I didn’t, I’d probably cry. “I feel like you should tell me your most intimate secret, so we’re even.”
Jagger was quiet for a moment, but I felt his gaze slide over my profile. “What would you like to know?”
“Anything.” I shrugged. “How about what you’re into? Why are you on that dating app? Because my imagination has been running wild, and you have a collection of new nicknames—Dungeon King, Daddy Dom, and most recently Ball-gag Boss.”
Again, he stayed silent for a long time before speaking. “I like rules and order.”
I turned to face him with a wrinkled nose. “What does that mean? You’re like a Dominant?”
He smiled. “The correct term technically would betop.”
“A top?”
“What did he want?”
The quick change of subject confused me. “Who?”
“Your stepsister’s new husband.”
“Oh. I have no idea. I think he probably wants me to make him feel better, to absolve him of guilt or something.” I looked around for the first time. It was still just the two of us on this roof. “What made you come up here?”
“I saw him follow you. He’s been keeping tabs on you all night when he should be paying attention to his new bride.”
