Page 126 of Breaking Free

“Now for thepièce de résistance,” Tristan murmured.

Piper would have teased him about his atrocious French accent any other time, but she was too far into rope space to think of anything clever. The next moment, she was actually flying as Tristan lifted her off the floor in a three-point suspension facedown in midair. He made a few adjustments, adding ropes around her ankles and bending her knees until her feet above her behind pointed softly like a dancer.

She seemed weightless, the ropes supporting her in a display of trust and surrender. From the gasps and excited murmurs of the onlookers, she could guess it was both beautiful and sensual.

“We call this the Scorpion,” he said as he stepped slightly back, although not out of reach, and let her slowly revolve so their audience could appreciate her from every angle.

She wanted to see, too, but there were no mirrors high above the main floor.

Tristan’s hands moved over her, stopping her when she faced him. He leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear. “You are stunning. A more perfect rope sub I couldn’t ask for. I enjoy showing off your beauty, but I also want to make it crystal clear to everyone, just like my ropes and the diamond ring on your finger, who you belong to.”

“I’m yours, master,” she breathed.

“Damn straight,” he growled, but it softened to a whispered, “I love you,” before he took her mouth so tenderly, it inspired sighs from the romantics in the crowd.

But passion’s fire that always blazed hot between them took over soon enough, and Tristan’s tongue plunged hungrily inside. Her breasts, swollen from the constriction, her nipples hard and erect, and the crotch rope he almost always employed to keep her on edge, combined with his words of love and, yes, possession, which she didn’t mind one bit, sent her soaring. The chains overhead clinked as she trembled and came with no more stimulation than the ropes, his kiss, and the words of love and commitment uttered by the rope master himself.

Tristan held her through the aftershocks and then signaled the end of their scene by extinguishing the spotlight. He eased her to the stage floor and disconnected her from the suspension chains above them.

Next, he hit the switch that lowered the platform. He held her securely as it descended while untying everything except her arms and harness. Once they were back on solid ground, someone handed him a soft, fuzzy blanket. He wrapped her in it and cradled her in his arms as he navigated the bustling circuit.

“Where are we going?” she asked drowsily.

“Upstairs to our apartment. I’m done with crowds for the night.”

“Too bad. Just when I was getting used to them.”

He halted in his tracks. “If that’s the case, there’s a free bondage table we can avail ourselves of.”

“Oh no. Upstairs is good. Better, in fact.”

“You’re sure?” he asked, but he was already walking again.

“Pay me no mind. The feel-good chemicals are doing the talking.”

“I imagine so. You were definitely flying.”

“Still am,” she replied, snuggled closer. “I’ve experienced rope space, being rope drunk, but tonight I achieved a whole other level.”

“What’s that?”

“Rope orgasm. And I’ve gotta say, sir, it makes me happier than a cow in clover.”

Heads turned as a sound, once unusual but becoming more common by the day, wafted over the playroom—Master Tristan’s laughter. Now a soft chuckle, it continued until the elevator doors slid shut, leaving them alone.

“Have I told you today how much I love you?” he asked, the warmth of his humor still glinting in his blue eyes.

She raised her hand to stroke his jaw, loving the soft tickle of his beard against her fingertips. “Only twice, by my count. You’re short by several dozen.”

“Good thing we decided kisses also count on the tally. Let me see what I can do to catch up.” Tristan lowered his head and claimed her mouth, communicating his love and passion, not just as her rope master, rigger, and former neighbor with benefits, but as her husband-to-be, their wedding six weeks away.

FROM THEIR BOOTH ATthe far end of the room, Eric and Val watched as Tristan and Piper disappeared into the crowd. Even though they wouldn’t take their marriage vows for several more weeks, they had already joined the ranks of the unavailable in their circle, like Cassie and Flynn, Esme and Keiran.

Val sighed. “I so love a happy ending. Especially when the couple is perfect for each other.”

“Who’s next, I wonder?”

Val snuggled deeper into her husband’s embrace, her body still tingling from their session upstairs in the e-stim room. “Can’t we bask in their romance for a few hours at least?”

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