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I’ve worked a few parties with Ravi in the past. We’ve kissed and even did a little grinding at one time. Our friend group can border on incestuous that way. Just look at me and Mike.

Still, Ravi seeing me this way makes me feel odd, and his boyfriend watching us odder still. Should I try to make small talk right now or something?

For a second I’m reminded of Mike fucking me, making me stare straight at the client while he did. It was humiliating and bizarre and hot as hell, and I’m almost glad for the cage. At least right now I can’t get hard.

“Okay. Hold still.”

In the end, it’s pretty quick. Some tugging and some discomfort, and then the thing pops open.

Feels like I’ve lost a hundred pounds and not simply the few ounces of metal Ravi’s pulled off me. “Oh, thank God.”

A lot of other things are simmering under my skin. Anger and frustration, for sure. Mostly I’m simply glad to have that damn thing off.

Ravi nods. “They make them pretty easy to pick. For, uh, obvious reasons.” He holds the thing out to me.

“I don’t want it.” I nod at the trash can. “You can throw it away for all I care.”

“You sure? This one’s nice. Kind of expensive.”

Well, if Mike didn’t want me to waste his money, he shouldn’t have tried to put a lock on my dick. At least not now.

“Throw it away.”

Ravi glances at Liam. “Throw it away,” the boyfriend says as well.

Wait. “You don’t want to keep it, do you?”

My friend looks conflicted. “Well, like I said, it’s a nice one.”

“We can afford our own sex toys, kid. Throw it out.” Liam glances at me. “Is everything okay?”

I freeze in the middle of buttoning my pants. Hell no. “Of course. Why?”

He nods at the cage as Ravi reluctantly drops it into the wastebasket. “You didn’t have the key for that thing, which makes me think you didn’t put it on yourself. And if you didn’t, and you wanted it off you, I have to wonder if everything’s okay.”

I do appreciate the way Liam explains things. But I’m not telling him about what Mike did.

“It’s fine. Really. I lose things pretty easily,” I add when he still looks doubtful.

Not sure he really believes me, but at least he lets it go. After a quick goodbye, I make my way back to the gala, stopping to type a text to Mike.

Dean: Your little punishment wasn’t cute and I’m getting you back for this.

Then I freeze and delete the whole thing.

I’m not sure how I can get payback for this, or if I even can. I shouldn’t. But right now it’s a strong drive inside me. The last thing I want to do is let Mike know it’s coming.

Still, I spend the rest of my evening half-distracted, wondering about the best way to get revenge for Mike trying to cut into my damn money.

No, that isn’t even it. It’s about what he and I are to each other. What we’ve become. Call me twisted, but I need Mike gives me. I also want more.

Can I even make something like that happen? Can I tell him what I really want? Maybe. But I need to know he sees me as an equal.

Not to mention there’s something I’ve always hated about him working all those boyfriend experiences. I mean really hated. Ever since he started coming into my room at night, asking for my devotion, those boyfriend experiences have eaten at me. He’s out there performing love and affection. Giving those men what he ought to be giving me.

As I leave, an idea hits me. It’s not a good one. In fact, it’s a terrible one, and I wouldn’t know how to pull it off. But I can think of someone who would.

Dean: Do you think maybe I could ask your boyfriend for one more favor?