Page 26 of Breaking Free

“Escorting you to the door.”

Clearly not liking his answer, she dug in her heels and pulled against his hold. “Whatever for?”

“So no one accosts you on the way out.” When she yanked harder, he turned and ground out, “Your dress doesn’t half cover your ass, in case you didn’t know.”

Taken aback by his reaction, her mouth hung open. Around them, other club members erupted in laughter at his outrageous remark. It was a kink club, after all, where hundreds of people strutted around in far less, or nothing at all, every night. Tristan knew he was causing a scene, but he didn’t give a damn. His sole focus was on getting Piper out of there.

When he started for the door again, she found her tongue. “Exactly what is your problem with my clothes?”

“If you’d wear some, I wouldn’t have a problem,” he replied, his longer strides hurrying her along.

“Wait! I can’t leave.” Her protest sounded rushed and breathless, but he didn’t slow. “Tristan! At least a dozen people are waiting in line.”

“Let them wait,” he growled. “Your shift is over. You’re going home. Now.”

Piper stiffened. “Excuse me, but that isn’t up to you.” Struggling now, she twisted her arm, breaking free of his grip. She turned and stomped back to the table. “Josie has customers and needs my help.”

Just then, the Leather and Lace proprietor appeared from behind a curtain. “I’ve had a bunch of orders today,” she told Carly, the sub who followed her out. “It might be as much as six weeks before it’s ready.”

“I don’t care if it’s six months,” Carly declared. “These are the most beautiful leather dresses I’ve ever seen, and the workmanship is stunning. Not that I want to pay more, but you are undercharging.”

“Do you think so?”

“I know so. I don’t have a card on me. Obviously.” With her arms held wide, she looked down at her painted-on vinyl dress, which concealed nothing. “I’m in marketing, and I see vast, untapped potential. If you’re interested, we can devise a plan to put you and your creations on the map.”

“I’d like that.” Josie retrieved a card and a customized pen with her phone number and website—part of the free swag she offered customers to take with them—and handed it to her. “Call me next week. I look forward to being even a tiny dot on the map.”

Once her new customer, and likely her new marketing consultant, walked away, a grinning Josie turned to Piper. “I never dreamed this would go so well.”

Her gaze shifted behind Piper to him.

“Tristan!” she said, her already flushed cheeks turning red. “I, uh, thought you were out of town.” As if she recognized the tension in the air, her smile faded. “Is something wrong?”

“No! Things are going great. I was about to sell another bra and one of your ridiculously expensive catsuits.” With a dismissive tilt to her chin, Piper stated coolly, “If you’ll excuse me,” then turned her back on him and with impressive calm reclaimed her place behind the display table.

At least a dozen wide-eyed submissives were taking it all in, along with Master Thomas and Mistress Celeste, both amused and fascinated with the spectacle he’d created.

Tristan could only watch fuming as, ignoring him, Piper got back to work. He wasn’t her dom; she was a visitor for the day, not a member. It was a good thing, too. He’d never hada sub summarily dismiss him before. Then again, she wasn’t submissive. His authority meant nothing to her. Proof positive she didn’t belong here.

Ignoring the curious look Josie was giving him, he turned to stride away, but Eric, who’d arrived without his notice, blocked his path. His crossed-arm stance and frown stated clearly he’d witnessed everything.

“Care to explain what that was about?”

“She’s my neighbor. Seeing her here surprised me.”

“Are you sure that’s all it is?” his annoyingly perceptive friend asked.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You looked like a jealous man staking his claim.”

Tristan quickly shot down his too-close-to-home opinion. “You’re reading too much into it. She’s innocent and vanilla. She shouldn’t be here.”

Eric’s gaze drifted over his shoulder to where he could hear Piper chatting and laughing with Thomas about the catsuit he’d been having less than innocent thoughts about.

“She seems to be enjoying herself. Definitely not screaming and running for the door at the kink surrounding her.”

“The lights are up, and no scenes are going on.”

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