I felt guilty. So, of course, I lashed out. “What happened to you and Seth is not what’s happening with me and Shane. So just butt out, will you? And tell Brandon to fuck off, too.”
I stomped away, and if it hadn’t been Jon’s stag night, I would have bypassed the group and gone straight back to my cabin. But the absolute last thing that I wanted to do was mess up Jonny’s last night as an unmarried man, so I tried to brush off my bad mood and think about the fact that soon—after the stupid singalongs and Truth or Dare and Never I Have Ever games were done—I could be back with Damon, alone.
Still…it was starting to play on my mind, the fact that he’d still had a Punishr profile. I’d turned mine off after the third weekend we’d hooked up. I’d even joked about it at the time. You’ve ruined me for other Doms, I’d told him.
We were just hooking up. The fact that we hooked up so regularly and so often meant nothing, not really.
So why, all of a sudden, did it feel like it meant something?
A little after ten-thirty, Jonny declared he needed his beauty sleep for his big day tomorrow. I was relieved; the night had been difficult enough before I’d snapped at Tristan, and it was pretty excruciating after. I mumbled an apology to him on our way back to the central meeting point to meet up with our Doms. He nodded acceptance, although he didn’t seem convinced that everything was as fine as I insisted it was.
When Damon slung his arm around my shoulder and kissed my temple, asking, “Everything okay?” I just muttered a yep.
Everyone stood around talking, laughing, keeping Damon and me away from bed.
“Okay, let’s get these two lovebirds apart for the night,” I said at last, pulling Jon away by the elbow. “Cooper, no sneaking down to Jonny’s cabin during the night, understand?”
I seemed to have hit the right note, because everyone laughed in agreement as I led Jon away. “We’ll walk you to your cabin,” I told him. “Make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” he said, but he was sniffling. “I’m just a bit overwhelmed. Mama Kincaid’s been that little bit extra Kincaid today, and on top of my family being, well, my family—”
“Tomorrow’s your wedding day,” I said, pulling him into a side-hug as we walked. Damon had dropped a pace or two behind, giving us some space, and I was grateful for his tact. “The only thing you should be worrying about tonight is getting enough sleep to wipe out those bags under your eyes.”
Jon gave a cry of protest, shoving me with a laugh, and then linked his arm back through mine. “I’m glad you’re here, Ty-Ty,” he confided in a low voice. “I need someone to keep me from going total Groomzilla.”
“No you don’t,” I told him. “You’re totally chill and completely in control.”
He snorted, glancing back over his shoulder at Damon. “Did you know Ty-Ty was such a liar when you first got together?”
Damon gave a twisted smile, but his eyes hovered on my face. And then we had a weird, silent conversation.
Maybe we should tell him, he asked with the raising of his eyebrows.
Not the time, was my silent, glared response. I pulled Jon along and cleared my throat. “Tomorrow is going to be amazing. And all you’ll have to do is walk down that aisle and say your vows. You’re not going to worry about anything else.”
We’d arrived at Jon’s cabin, the one where he and Cooper had first met. “Thank you,” he said sincerely, turning to give me a hug. “Really. I keep freaking out, and I’m grateful to have you here to keep me focused. You’re right—tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life.”
“Damn straight.” I patted his back, and then Jon went to give Damon a hug as well.
Damon went with it. “Good luck tomorrow,” he said. “I mean, I’m sure you won’t need it, but…yeah.”
Jon grinned as he let Damon go. “Thanks, Shane. Now, you’ll take care of Ty-Ty tonight, won’t you? He’s earned it.”
“Oh, I plan to take real good care of him,” Damon said with meaning, giving me a sly grin as I spluttered out a laugh.
I gave Jonny one last hug. “I can’t believe little Jonny Ashe is getting married tomorrow,” I whispered in his ear. “Sleep well. Dream sweet.”
He hugged me back, hard, and I could see there were tears in his eyes when he pulled back. “You, too, Ty-Ty.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “And hey, try out this love thing—it’s fucking incredible.”
I watched him jog up the steps to the cabin and waved goodbye as the door shut.
“What did he say?” Damon asked curiously, as I kept standing there, staring at the cabin.
“Huh?” I shook my head and turned to leave with him. “Oh, nothing. Just, you know. Mushy stuff.”
“Mm. My favorite.” He pulled me close. “Come on, then. Jon gave me an order, and I intend to carry it out. It’s time to take care of you, Blakely.”
Chapter 10
