Page 15 of Breaking Free

“Why not?” Josie asked. “I could use the moral support. I make the outfits, but I’ve never been to a kink club before.”

Curious, but also horrified, she stammered, “I...uh... Can I think about it?”

“Sure. But don’t think too long. There’s some paperwork you’ll have to fill out, including the confidentiality agreement that some of my clients are lackadaisical about following. They said processing would take a few days. I’d need to know by Monday, I would think.”

As they sipped their coffee, silence fell between them. It was probably for the best, considering Piper’s thoughts about Tristan weren’t exactly suitable for morning conversation.

“So,” Josie said at length. “Are you giving up on cracking that gorgeous hunk of man’s impenetrable outer shell?”

“I should. Except for critiquing my wardrobe, he barely knows I’m alive.”

“I doubt that. I’ve seen him watch you walk away. He definitely knows you exist.”

“Was he frowning? If so, it was probably disapproval over the fit of my skirt,” Piper muttered.

“Do you want to hear my thoughts on that?”

“Yes!”

“He’s got darkness in his past, as I mentioned, and as a dom, his desires are darker than some. You, my friend, are a small-town girl from Iowa who is a ray of sunshine. My guess is he thinks he’s too dark for your light.”

“I’ve known soldiers who carry baggage from serving. My dad, for example. As for the dark desires, how bad could they be?”

An image materialized before her eyes of a dim chamber with stone walls. The soft glow of flickering sconces made shadows dance around the room and across Tristan’s handsome face. He stood with his arms crossed, muscles bulging, bare from the waist up, once again. His gaze homed in on her as she entered the chamber, her only clothing a delicate, shimmering white sheath. Then he crooked a finger, summoning her to him.

The wood floor creaked beneath her feet as she approached. When she stood before him, close enough for her to feel his body heat, the spicy scent of soap, leather, and man swirled seductively around her.

He took her hand, leading her deeper into the shadowy depths of the room. Then he wrapped cuffs around her wrists and secured them to sturdy bolts embedded in the wall above her head.

His whispered declaration sent shivers racing down her spine. “You’re mine now to do with as I please.”

She could barely breathe, much less think, as he explored her body through the sheath, tracing intricate patterns that intensified every sensation. Then he slipped his thumbs beneath the delicate straps, and, with a snap, the material slithered down her body—

“Earth to Piper.” Josie jolted her back to the sunny kitchen. “Where did you go?”

“I, uh, kind of zoned out there.” Embarrassed, she picked up her mug, empty except for a tiny sip. “It’s my body’s way of saying I need more caffeine.”

“Or maybe it’s a sign not to give up on our bald, bearded, bad-ass neighbor just yet,” Josie suggested with a knowing grin. “He reminds me of Vin Diesel, only younger, bigger, and hotter. Don’t you think?”

Piper cleared her throat and promptly changed the subject. “About the vendor fair at this kink club. What would you need me to do, exactly?”

“Message received,” her friend acknowledged with a laugh. “I’ll shut up about you and Tristan—for now. But I need someone to handle sales transactions while I take measurements. I have some pre-made pieces, but most of my stuff is custom made.”

“What if we run into you-know-who?”

Josie shrugged with indifference. “What if we do? He’s your neighbor, not your big brother. Besides, the place is supposedly massive, with a membership to match. What are the odds?”

Piper hesitated, weighing the strain that existed between them already. Given her lifelong streak of bad luck, she wasn’t sure if it was worth the risk.

“I’m hoping to have some time to explore while we’re there,” Josie tempted her further. “Aren’t you curious?”

In truth, it consumed her. And since Tristan disapproved of almost everything she did anyway, why not?

“Count me in,” Piper agreed at last.

In a burst of excitement, Josie rounded the table to give her a big hug. “Thank you. I have to admit I was a little worried about managing everything on my own.”

Her enthusiasm was infectious. “What should I wear?”

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