Declan gifted her with a key to his house when they had arrived there Sunday evening. Charlie had forgotten about it because he hadn’t made a big deal about it. But as she sat in her car, fiddling with the key, missing him more than she thought was normal, Charlie wondered if she was underestimating his intent. He gave me this key for a reason. Right?

Once Declan knew she was back from visiting family, he’d texted her with instructions to meet at his place at seven tomorrow night. But, Charlie couldn’t wait. Charlie thought she’d pick up some takeout and have it waiting for him when he got home tonight. She checked the time on her phone. If I hurry, I might beat him to his house and surprise him.

At five thirty, she pulled up to Declan’s place. The presence of his car disappointed her. She rang the bell. The door finally swung open, and time stood still.

***

A woman stood before her. She was stunningly beautiful. Her long red hair fell in waves down her back. Charlie gasped when she saw her, not expecting anyone to be at Declan’s, especially not a woman as beautiful as her.

“May I help you?” the redhead spoke in a rather snippy tone.

“Um, yes. I’m not sure I have the right address. It was so dark the other night … ” Too much damn information, Charlie, zip it. “Is Declan here?”

She cocked her head at Charlie, narrowing her eyes. Jesus. Retract the claws already. Her stare traveled slowly down Charlie’s body. “Yes, Mr. Pearse is at home. Who shall I say is asking for him?”

Charlie glared at her. “Charlie.”

“Oh. You must be the new girl. You’re quite early. You’re not supposed to be here until seven.”

The woman left the door open, her heels clicking as she sauntered casually back into the house. She was wearing a barely ass cheek covering skirt and a sheer blouse. For some odd reason, a sick curiosity no doubt, Charlie followed her into the house. It looked like she had been making dinner.

“Declan’s in the shower right now. He wasn’t expecting you this early but we can always make it a three-way.”

Charlie shook her head, still too stunned to speak.

“You know you really shouldn’t leave him on his own. If he owns you, you need to be with him. I’m sure he’s given you the little speech.”

Charlie’s throat constricted, she couldn’t breathe. It was as though a thousand bees had stung her. Declan had used almost those exact words with her. She thought they sounded a bit rehearsed at the time but had chalked it up to his controlling personality.

The mystery woman looked up from the stove and parked her hand on her hip as she studied Charlie. “And you thought you were something special, huh? I’ve known Declan for a long time, and I can tell you this much -- he could never be happy with a vanilla girlfriend like you. What was the phrase he used to describe you last night … Oh, yeah, sugar kink.”

Charlie wasn’t sure if the stupid label or the fact that the redhead had been with Declan the night before horrified her more. Just as Charlie was about to interrogate her about it, the woman’s blouse gaped open allowing a full view of her breast. The silver barbell embedded in her nipple flashed a glint of light in Charlie’s direction. She could clearly picture Declan’s face as he peered up at her asking if Charlie would object to getting hers pierced for him.

She had to get out of there. She didn’t belong there. She didn’t belong in his world.

She hooked the takeout bag onto her wrist and fished his key from the outer pocket of her handbag. She tossed it on the counter and turned to leave without a word.

Thankfully, the tears didn’t start until she was out the front door. And the sobbing didn’t start until she was halfway down the street.

Charlie wiped her tears away for what she hoped would be the last time because her stash of napkins from Starbucks was dangerously low. She took a deep breath and shifted the car into drive. She was thankful her mind was now numb, and she prayed it would last as long as possible.

***

It wasn’t until she pulled into her driveway that she spotted Declan. He was on the front porch chatting it up with Aaron and Owen.

“Declan, just give her some space,” Aaron shouted as Declan leaped off the front porch.

“Charlotte!” he yelled, panicky as he ran to her, but Charlie managed to lock the car doors before he could reach her. “What the fuck is going on? Why did you run?”

“Just go away, Declan.” The tears stung her cheeks as they streamed down at a faster pace. Her gaze locked on the door as Declan furiously fumbled with the handle. “Go the fuck away!”

Suddenly the grooves on the radio dial seemed infinitely more fascinating than what Declan had to say. She ran the pad of her index finger over the indentations, absentmindedly turning the volume on The Kill by Thirty Seconds to Mars up and down. Anything was better than making eye contact with Declan.

“Charlotte, please talk to me.” Declan rested his forehead against the glass of the driver’s side window. “I didn’t let her in. I didn’t even know she was there until I got out of the shower. I fucking swear I didn’t.”

“You didn’t give her a key?” Charlie’s broken voice stung her throat.

“No. Please open the door.”

She wiped quickly under her eyes, flicked the lock, and looked up at him. He immediately grabbed her, pulling her up and into him. She didn’t protest. She let him hold her until she remembered the piercings and what the redhead said.

“Get your hands off of me!” Charlie yelled, pushing past Declan, feeling his hands on her waist as he spun her around.

“Charlotte.”

“No! You may not have let her in, but she was there. She invited me to have a three-way with the two of you for Christ sakes!”

“Fuck. Charlotte, I am so sorry that you had to deal with her.” He moved closer to her, and she stepped back, putting her hand up to stop him.

“She quoted you word-for-word on some of the things you’ve said to me. What the hell is going on?” Charlie asked sternly.

Declan’s gaze flicked to Aaron and Owen. By this time, their little kerfuffle had an audience. Old Mr. Stearns was out on his stoop pretending to water plants he didn’t have.

Declan swallowed audibly. “I tend to reuse phrasing when I am training a new submissive. I stick with what works.”

Charlie shook her head. She felt everyone’s stares. She rubbed her temples. “Wow nice, Declan. So it is all just some sort of formula for you?”

Declan remained silent, which was probably for the best. Charlie felt her blood pressure boiling. She wanted to hit something. Or someone. “One of you three better volunteer or I am slapping all of you. Mr. Stearns gets a pass. Eavesdropping is not a punishable offense.”

Aaron looked at Declan, who immediately stepped forward holding his hands out to her. What the hell? I’m not a nun. I don’t carry a ruler. Charlie stepped forward and slapped him as hard as she could, yelping as her hand began to sting. She shook her hand and felt Declan grab it as she stared at his reddening cheek. God, that looks painful. Serves him right!

“Holy hell! Charlie, remind me to never cross you. You’re like your sister when she gets angry. Terrifying little hurricanes the both of you.” Aaron laughed nervously.

“Charlotte, I know this might be hard to believe, but I didn’t really mean those words in the same way when I was her Master. It was not anything close to our dynamic. Not by a long shot.”

“So, in other words, she and I aren’t on the same level. I’m just sugar kink to you. That’s what she said you called me.”

“Owen and I were talking about the kinds of books you were researching and she overheard. Not you.”