Free Maggie's Desire by Heidi Lynn Anderson

yesterday," he lied.
    "That's bullshit and you know it." Julie spun, moved back to the sofa, and sat. "You and Maggie have been dancing around each other for years." She grinned. "I assume you are here because of what happened over at Maggie's earlier this evening."
    All the blood drained from his head. "How do you know about what happened?"
    "Nick called and filled me in. He said Maggie might need a friend right now."
    He rushed over to Julie and all but fell on her. "Is she okay?"
    "I called her and for someone who just kicked open the door to her sexuality, she's s little confused, but fine."
    Her words filtered through the buzzing in his ears. "Confused?"
    Julie's gazed narrowed. "Yes, confused, you jackass. She did what she thought you wanted her to do and you stormed out without your shirt."
    He sat on the couch. "You make it sound like I left her alone."
    "You did?"
    He bolted up and towered over her. "I left her with Nick."
    Julie's steady gazed bored into him and she leaned forward. "She needed you there to tell her what she did wasn't a bad thing."
    Brian stepped back and averted his eyes. He'd spent years avoiding this burning in his chest. "What's that supposed to mean?"
    "You run when your feelings get uncomfortable."
    Her comment hit too close to home. "That's not true," he protested.
    She waved her hand in frustration. "I'm not playing this game with you. I want to know how you are going to deal with Maggie now?"
    Acid churned in his stomach and bubbled in his throat. "We'll go along like we always have." He shrugged. "She's watched me have sex. Now I've watched her."
    Julie chuckled again. "You're a foolish asshole. What was it like to hear Maggie call out Nick's name instead of yours?"
    He could still hear her pleasure-filled moans. He told himself it didn't matter. "I don't do virgins," he spat.
    Julie flipped her long, sable hair over her shoulder "Yeah, I know—and why is that?"
    He couldn't take it anymore. His body ached from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. "Because they think more of sex than I do. I don't want to be pinned down again."
    Brian realized what he'd said and stumbled back. Amy, his wife, had been a virgin and look where that got him. She'd needed things from him he couldn't give her. It had destroyed her.
    Julie gripped his hand. "You need to stop blaming yourself for Amy's death."
    The heat from her strong grip seeped into his soul, unlocking his heart.
    She shook his hand. "You sure as hell didn't pour the vodka down her throat and hand her the keys to her car."
    Tears pricked his eyes. "Julie, what do I do?" He blinked. "I've spent so much time putting up walls that now I don't know how to have a normal relationship."
    She motioned him to sit. "No one said Maggie wanted normal." Julie rose and sat down next to him. "Talk to her and see where it goes."
    His heart stopped skipping every other beat. The club and the people in it gave him the family he'd always wanted. Brian pulled Julie into his arms for a quick hug. He leaned back and studied her lovely face. "I know what I get out of the club. What do you get out of it?"
     
    She folded her legs under her, sadness filling her eyes. "Logan and I own the top BDSM club in this fine state and I'm one of the top Dommes in the country. What more could a girl want?"
    Something told him she wanted more, much more.
    Julie yawned. "Well, on that note. I need my beauty rest."
    Brian checked his watch and cringed. "You're gorgeous." He kissed her cheek and stood. "I'll let myself out."
    "Go back to Maggie's tonight," she said
    He had to smile at the take no bullshit tone in her voice. "Sweet dreams, Mistress Julie."
     
    * * * *
     
    Maggie switched off the TV. She wiped her eyes and told herself the tears dripping down her cheeks were from the Deadliest Catch she'd been watching—not due to the fact that Brian left her feeling cold.
    Seeing Captain Phil's struggles and death had to be why her chest ached, and the back of her eyelids