Ajax saw her coming and stood, giving her a small smile before making his way over to the other guys to look at the photo of the rat-dog.
“Hey, how’re you doing?” she asked as she sat. Carefully. She was going to kill Connor later.
“As well as anyone who’s waiting on death row can be doing.”
“Sophie,” she scolded. “It’s not that bad. You know Ajax and I are going to protect you.”
The other woman glan
ced up at Ajax then away.
“Are you okay?” Ria asked. “He’s treating you all right, isn’t he?”
Sophie smiled. “He is. He’s treating me very well. Almost too well.”
Ria frowned, not understanding. Then Sophie leaned into her. “Are you really wearing a butt plug?”
“Yes.” She glared at Connor.
“Good for you.” Sophie winked at her.
Ria let out a surprised laugh. “You really think so?”
“I’ve seen the way he’s looked at you in the bar when no one else was watching. I never told you because you tend to be suspicious of everyone and I didn’t want you to push him away if he ever got up the courage to approach you.”
“I don’t think it’s courage he lacks.”
“No? Hmm, you might be right. I kind of thought he was shy. I’m rethinking that now.”
“You offered to find him a nice sub to play with,” Ria reminded her.
“Thought it might make you a little jealous. Prod you into action.”
Ria rolled her eyes. “I didn’t need much prodding in the end.”
“I’d glad. You deserve a good man. He treats you well?”
“Yeah, he does. He’s amazing. But he’s not mine.”
“What do you mean?”
“We signed a contract but it’s only in place for as long as he’s here. Then he’ll go back to his life and I’ll go back to mine.”
Sophie grabbed hold of her hand and squeezed it. “Oh, Ria, I’m so sorry.”
Ria shrugged. “At least I had him for some time, right?”
It was better than nothing.
“You okay?” Sophie asked quietly.
Shit. Here she was, moping because she couldn’t keep the first man she’d truly ever wanted and here was Sophie, worried to hell that she was going to go to jail because of a stupid mistake.
“I’m fine. What about you? You’ve been staying here with Ajax?”
“He won’t let me leave.”
“What?” Ria asked sharply.