Page 125 of Their Famous Dominant (Office Intrigue Duet 4)
I knew if Mercedes was against it, she would have a good reason and I would take that into account before making my final decision.
Because I was running out of time.
*
An hour and a half later, I was sitting on Mercedes’s balcony, propped up on the outdoor sofa with a glass of wine in hand. She was sitting beside me, angled so that she was facing me. Tank was sprawled out on the floor, enjoying the warmth of the midday sun. Zeke was somewhere inside, talking to Xander, I assumed.
Mercedes and I had shared brunch—a fabulous spread from the deli downstairs—while drinking mimosas and chatting about a few scenes she’d witnessed last night.
“All right, let’s hear it,” Mercedes prompted when I continued to focus on my mimosa. “What’s going through your head right now?”
I decided to tell her what happened last night at the club, followed by the argument Trent and I had in his apartment. When I finished laying it all out there, I noticed she was watching me closely.
“Do you think he’s right?” she asked.
“Yes. I do.” I couldn’t maintain eye contact, but at least I was honest. “At first, I thought he’d lost his mind, but he backed up all his accusations. It didn’t take me long to see myself through his eyes.”
“And?”
“And?” I frowned. “And I was horrified, Mercedes. This man … this Dom called me a doll. And Troy said I act like a robot. The worst part is, they’re both right. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing all this time, but I didn’t even realize it.”
“Didn’t you?” She sounded skeptical.
“What does that mean?”
She sighed. “It means you’ve become quite adept at keeping your distance from everyone. Everyone who’s not me, Xander, or Shane, that is. It’s like you purposely push everyone else away. Anyone who could possibly get close to you.”
“I don’t mean to,” I admitted.
“No one says you do.”
“So, you’ve noticed it? But you never said anything?”
“It wasn’t my place,” she stated firmly. “I’m not your Domme, Clarissa. I never was.”
“No, but you’re my friend.”
“I am that. I agree. And yes, maybe I should’ve said something. But would that have changed anything?”
“What do you mean?”
“Would I have been enough motivation for you?”
I didn’t understand, and she obviously realized that by the blank expression on my face.
“You kissed Trent … what? Almost four years ago?”
“Something like that.”
“And since then, you’ve played with maybe two Doms, including Shane.” She set her glass on the table and moved closer to me. “Clarissa, you’ve been lusting after Trent for years. It only makes sense that you held yourself back.”
“So, how does that explain me holding back from him last night?” I hadn’t yet told her how he’d slipped out of bed the mornings after we were intimate. After hashing it out with Troy last night, I wasn’t sure the two were related like I’d originally thought.
“It’s become the norm for you. It’s the way you’ve programmed yourself to be. The perfect submissive.”
“There’s no such thing,” I countered.
She grinned. “No. There’s not. And there shouldn’t be. Who even wants that?” She sounded exasperated. “I’ve known Trent a long time. And he’s asked about you numerous times over the years, but I decided to stay out of it, wanting the two of you to find each other in your own way. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be working out, so I moved a few pieces on the board to get things in a better position.”
“You set us up.” I already knew that.
“Yes. Against my husband’s orders, mind you. But I did it, and I don’t regret it. Trent’s a damn good Dom. And I believe he honestly cares about you. If he called you out on your actions, then I know he does. I think you need to explore where this is going.”
“I’m pretty sure I ruined any chance of that happening.”
“Doubtful.”
“I walked out, Mercedes. He was trying to discuss it and I insisted that I go home.”
“Okay. You overreacted. But why would you think Trent would simply wash his hands of you?”
“Because … we’re not exclusive. This isn’t a real relationship?”
“What makes a relationship real?” she countered.
“Well, there has to be some understanding, at least.” At least that sounded good. “But it doesn’t matter. We all know how it’s going to turn out. He’ll eventually tire of me and move on to the next best thing.”
She frowned. “Why would you think that?”
“Because that’s how it works, Mercedes. They always move on.”
“Heaven help us all,” she said dramatically. “You mean I married X and it’s inevitable that he’s going to leave me for someone else? Whatever was I thinking?”
I rolled my eyes. “I doubt Xander’s ever going to leave you.”
“Oh.” She clutched her chest, as though relieved. “That’s good to know. He must be a special breed then, right? Different than all other men on the planet?”
