Page 68 of Breaking Free

Lord, he was tempted. For all his concerns that she’d be the one confused, he found himself conflicted. The chemistry between them was off the charts, and for all his frowns and grumbling, he liked her. She was funny, sweet, and hot as fuck. But as much as he wanted to stay, it wasn’t an option, and, luckily, he had an excellent excuse to go.

“I have to shower and be across town to relieve someone at eight.”

He was on her front porch, escape was imminent, then he turned to say goodbye. Colossal tactical error with Piper back in her tank and shorts, hair mussed from his fingers, and cheeks pink from passion and beard burn. Tristan didn’t think of the potential consequences. He pulled her through the doorway and into his arms for another hot and steamy kiss right there on her doorstep.

“We can pick up where we left off tonight,” he told her long minutes later.

“Oh, well, um.” Flustered, she smoothed her hair and stroked her kiss-swollen lips. “I’d love to, really. But I have plans.”

“Change them,” he insisted.

“I already RSVP’d.”

“To what?”

“Master Eric called me yesterday. My application for membership was approved. Shortly after, his wife Val reached out to invite me to something calledlittle black dress night, which is tonight. I got the impression it was a rite of passage for club submissives.”

“You joined even though you knew I was against it?”

“Well...yes. On a ninety-day trial membership.” Tilting her chin up, Piper’s unwavering gaze met his, appearing completely unintimidated. “We haven’t been on the best of terms—other than tonight.”

“And you were planning to go alone?”

“I was hoping to go with Josie, but she withdrew her application at the last minute. Something happened between her and Axyl. Any idea what it was?”

“No clue. I asked, and he wouldn’t say, and he hasn’t brought up that night since.”

He didn’t want to talk about Axyl and Josie. His concern was for her. They were neighbors, new lovers, and not really friends. He’d seen to that. Even though he’d tried, he had no right to dictate whether or not she could join the club, but he couldn’t bear the thought of her being there. Subs’ night out was always a madhouse. On the first Wednesday of the month, almost every submissive member, both male and female, single, married, and many collared, dressed to the nines and hit up the lounge for a night of music, dancing, and unlimited cocktails. As a result, the playroom was usually deserted. The doms, left to their own devices, headed to the lounge for the show—and he didn’t mean the one on the stage.

He hadn’t planned to go, but Piper in a seductive black dress, emanating an irresistible blend of innocence and sensuality, with her inhibitions set free by alcohol, would attract doms like bees to honey. She’d be safe from their kinky desires, but notfrom their smooth moves and plans for future seduction. There was only one way to protect her from the swarm.

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Oh, but...” She hesitated.

“Unless you’ve made plans with another dominant.”

Her lilting laughter resonated through the warm morning air. “Except for you, Master Eric, and Axyl—though he’s off-limits. I would never do that to a friend—who else do I know?”

A stray strand of her hair drifted across her face, prompting both of them to reach for it. Before she could, he tucked it behind her ear.

“So, seven it is?”

“Aren’t you afraid having me around will cramp your style?”

“I could ask the same of you, especially on subs’ night out.”

She snorted indelicately. “What style? Unless you consider hiding in a dark corner petrified that someone will ask me to scene with them a style.”

“You weren’t petrified with me,” he reminded her.

“That’s because you’re...” For the first time that morning, she looked away, avoiding his gaze.

“Finish what you were going to say.”

“I trust you.”

Not for a minute did he believe that’s what she intended, but trust was a major hurdle, and he didn’t press further. “If that’s the case, and to keep you out of dark corners, perhaps we should expand our arrangement.”

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