Free Second Base by Raven ShadowHawk

no one she knew.
    He nodded and raised his glass to her, pushing a pair of narrow, wire-framed glasses up his nose and closer to his eyes.
    Definitely not Robert. Wow.
    She allowed herself a small smile in return.
    Then Henrietta cut across her view, his usual brunet wig swapped for a vibrant red bob with an under flick.
    ‘Good to see you, Karen.’ As ever, he spoke in a near whisper, but Karen knew what to do by now. She pulled him close for a hug.
    ‘Hey, that DVD you loaned us was amazing !’
    When he pulled back, Henrietta wore a look she’d never seen before. Rather than timid and shy, he actually looked playful . ‘That’s just one of the collection. Wait until you see what I’ve brought with me.’
    Grinning, Karen put out her hand and allowed him to tow her towards the bar.

Chapter Eight
Dan
    Dan sipped his beer and ran a finger around the rim of the glass. ‘Who’s the guy with the dreadlocks?’
    Swivelling in his seat, Denise followed his gaze over the bodies pressed shoulder to shoulder in the narrow bar. ‘No idea. Why?’
    ‘He keeps looking at Karen.’
    ‘Maybe he is. Maybe he likes the look of her. Maybe he wants to talk to her. So what?’
    ‘She’s mine,’ Dan growled. ‘He shouldn’t look at her that way.’
    Denise flicked his hair. ‘Pee on her then. Would that make you feel better?’
    ‘You’re no help,’ he muttered.
    ‘I am when you need it, but you’re being silly. So a cute, young man is staring at your sub. Has she spoken to him? Has she given him another glance? Has she given any indication that she even knows he’s there?’
    ‘You think he’s cute?’
    ‘Daniel . . . ‘
    ‘Fine, she hasn’t.’
    ‘Then stop worrying about it. Instead, make a decision about what you plan to do.’
    ‘I can’t. I don’t know what to do. What would you do?’ He hated to ask, it made his jaw ache, but there was no other choice. He needed advice and there was no one to ask but the grinning transvestite with the ruby lipstick.
    Denise gave him a steady look from beneath the strands of his fringe. His eyes sparkled with mirth and as his mouth opened, Dan knew what was about to fall out of it.
    ‘If you crack another joke, I’ll punch you.’
    ‘Like you did yourself?’
    ‘I’m serious! You helped me before—whether you meant to or not—I’m just asking you to do that again. And don’t call me ‘sweetheart,’ I can’t handle it.’
    ‘Well sweet—Dan, if you sure don’t know how to beg for help.’
    ‘I’m not begging. We’re friends, aren’t we? I need a friend to tell me what to do.’
    ‘I thought you were the one in charge.’
    ‘I am. And it’s fucking hard. I need a break.’
    Denise raised his hands as though that explained everything. ‘Then isn’t this perfect? Have a break, let Karen do her Domme thing and you can relax and enjoy it.’
    ‘I don’t know if I can.’
    ‘What is it you’re afraid of, Dan? This isn’t about her taking your place.’
    ‘It was never about that.’ The words came out rougher than he intended but he couldn’t help it. Then Dan looked at his friend again and realised he couldn’t possibly know the truth. Not when he’d never admitted it, not even to himself. He focused on the amber liquid within his glass. ‘She thinks I don’t understand, but I do. Karen doesn’t want to top me , that’s not her game. She wants to top someone else.’
    ‘You top other women.’
    ‘That’s different.’ Even as the words left his mouth he winced.
    Hypocritical or what?
    ‘I don’t want to be with other women. I like having them around. But Karen . . .’
    ‘What about her?’
    He toyed with the glass again, collecting condensation on the tip of his finger. A cool drop slid across the back of his hand and soaked into the cuff of his shirt. ‘What if she finds someone she likes more?’
    ‘What if?’
    Dan glared. ‘Aren’t you supposed to tell me that won’t ever happen?’
    ‘Why? Lies won’t help you,