Page 55 of Breaking Free

“What did I tell you?” Still holding her upright, Tristan handed her a bottle of water from somewhere. “Sip this slowly.”

Surprisingly thirsty, she did as she was told, mostly. When she lowered the half-empty bottle, their eyes locked. Her body was still humming with excitement from her first flogging, but also with the lassitude of having just come. Tristan couldn’t say the same because he hadn’t.

“Can you walk, or do you need to be carried?”

Being swept up in his arms like in an epic romance would be fantastic, here in private, but not so much through the club. She shook her head. “I can walk, sir. But this sudden halt and exit hardly seems fair.”

She left the “to you” unspoken, but he understood.

“Never mind that. I’m used to it. Drink your water,” he reminded her.

She took another sip, watching as he righted the room and dropped the flogger into a basket outside the bars labeled “used.” Was self-denial a kink she wasn’t aware of? It was a Google search in her future because she wasn’t about to ask.

Tristan led her out of the cell and into the darkened hallway where others were filing out, some appearing irritated, others seeming resigned to the time limit, and still others lookingcompletely content, moving arm in arm toward the stairs. A quick peek over the railing revealed the playroom was emptying, too.

There was a line to retrieve her shoes then they entered the lounge where Josie was waiting, Axyl hovering close by.

“I’m ready to go,” her friend announced abruptly.

“Piper cannot drive,” Tristan stated firmly.

Josie frowned as her eyes searched her face, which she knew was flushed. “Why? What little alcohol we had was hours ago.”

“She hasn’t recovered from the playroom,” Axyl said pointedly.

“Oh?” Then understanding dawned, and she repeated, “Oh...”

“I’ll take the two of you home,” he offered.

With a determined tip of her chin, Josie countered, “I took an Uber here. I’m fine to drive us home in Piper’s car.” She surprised everyone by adding in a mutter, “Heaven knows I’m not suffering the lingering effects of anything.”

The comment earned a quelling glance from Axyl. The tension emanating from the couple was palpable. Something had happened between them, and it wasn’t remotely close to what she and Tristan had shared.

Impatient, Josie asked, “Are you ready?”

“I need a moment,” Tristan told her in no uncertain terms and pulled Piper aside. “Finish all of your water and get some sleep. If you feel hungover in the morning, drink more water and have a solid breakfast with some protein. Chocolate milk or cocoa will help. If it doesn’t, call me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Sometimes there is a letdown after a scene. I don’t think it will happen this time, but I want you to be aware. I’ll call and check on you tomorrow.”

“Or you could come over for breakfast,” she suggested.

“I have to work.” His brusque reply was back to being gruff.

Had she done something wrong? “Is everything okay?”

“It’s late,” he said, not really answering her question. “You and Josie should get going.”

Her friend was already making her way to the door, moving swiftly despite her short legs. Piper had to hurry to catch up. As they reached the door leading to the lobby, Piper stole a quick glance back at Tristan. He had his back turned to her as he conversed with Axyl.

His cool dismissal hurt. The intimate moment that had left her in a state of euphoria clearly didn’t hold the same significance for him, if it meant anything at all. Determined to escape before her emotions overwhelmed her, Piper broke into a run as soon as she stepped outside.

“What’s the rush?” Josie asked when she ran past her then more loudly, since Piper was leaving her behind. “Hey. Wait for me.”

DETERMINED NOT TO WATCHher go, Tristan stood in front of Axyl, his back to the door. “Walk them to their car.”

Axyl’s eyes flicked to the door, and his frown deepened. “No thanks. I’ve suffered enough hits to my ego tonight. Besides, security is out in force at closing time.”

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