Training Amy by Anne O'Connell Page B

about a response before she answered. “Maybe. So you and your ex were both into the scene?”
                He nodded and took a drink from the iced tea in front of him.
                “So I overheard something about her and if I’m prying just tell me it’s none of my business,” she paused, remembering back to what the client from earlier had said to Brad. “She did something really bad to you, didn’t she?”
                Taking a deep breath he leaned toward her again. "I see you and Brad have been talking…”
                “Actually I overheard the customer who bought the cage say something to Brad about her and you,” she said. It wasn’t a lie, but she didn’t want him to know she had talked to Brad, too.
                “Such as?” He sat back with a raised eyebrow.
                “Well, I wasn’t straining to listen, he said it right in front of me,” she corrected, not liking the change in Eric’s posture. “He said something about being glad you had moved on from your ex and if a sub ever did to him what your ex did to you that he would have beat her ass until there were welts.”
                His expression softened. “Yeah, well, after we’d agreed to an exclusive relationship unless we were having a ménage with other mutually agreed upon partners, she decided to start having an affair behind my back. She was living with me, not working, we were exclusive and not even doing public scenes, and she started cheating on me with some young guy at the club. Let’s just say I found out about it almost immediately.  I confronted her about it and she lied to my face, so I left the store early one afternoon and followed her straight to his place…” His voice trailed.
                Amy didn’t know what to say.  “And?”
                “I knocked on the door, I was told to come in, I did, and they were already screwing and expecting another guy to join them evidently, because he showed up a few minutes later.”
                “Wow. What a bitch!” Amy started to feel guilty for asking. “And you said only people my age had drama.”
                “Touché. Anyway, obviously she couldn’t lie. I didn’t want to start a fight so I just told her it was over and she had until the following weekend to get out, and she starts running after me telling me how much she loves me.”  He shrugged as if trying to act like it wasn’t a big deal. “I was in love and blind.”
                “That really sucks. I’m sorry that happened to you. Some women can be bitches,” Amy said quietly. Then she wondered if that’s why Eric wanted to take her to the club. To show the ex that he’d moved on, too. “Does she still go to the club?”
                Another deep sigh emerged from his chest. “Unfortunately, yes. But we keep our distance and have done a pretty good job ignoring each other for almost a year now. Maybe it’s been a bit longer.”
                “Does she show up with guys just to flaunt them at you?”
                He chuckled. “You women all belong to the same club or something?”
                “What?”
                “How did you know she did that?”
                “Lucky guess. I have friends who’d do that sort of thing. So did you do the same?”
                A short span of silence passed between them. “No. I haven’t really been with anyone since.”
                “Not even dates?”
                “Not really. One or two dinner dates but not to the club,” he said in a subdued tone. “I kind of know what I’m looking for.”
                “Oh. Well maybe you should take me to the club then. You can show me off a little and I can satiate my curiosity. I bet I’m younger and prettier than she is,” Amy gave him her most