Page 89 of Breaking Free

He slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her down, kissing her hard. “I’m saying I’m in control at the club and during sex, wherever we may have it. Also, what I say goes where your safety is concerned—until we get your situation resolved.”

Piper studied him for a moment then shrugged. “I can live with that.”

He meant to see that she did. He didn’t say that, however.

“Would you like me to untie you?”

She wiggled to get comfortable, draped over his chest with her face in his neck, then murmured, “I’m good.”

“Some subs enjoy sleeping while bound, but you need to work up to that. Behind your back will strain your shoulders.” He lifted her and set her on her feet. From her disappointed pout, she wasn’t ready for their intimacy to end. “I need to get rid of this condom.”

“Yeah, and I need to use the, uh, you know.”

“Reentering reality sucks, huh?” He twirled a finger in the air, and she turned her back to him. Once undone, she stretched, yawning, and he admired the view.

“It’s been a long day. I’m going to bed.” She grabbed his hand and pulled. “Come with me?”

He glanced at the clock. It was only 8 pm. He hadn’t been to bed this early since he was 5 years old.

“No way could I sleep. It’s not even fully dark. Besides, I’m here to protect you.”

“I have blackout shades, or we can—not sleep.” Although visibly tired, her eyes twinkled with mischief.

“I’m not here to do that, either. You’ve already distracted me once.”

“The security system is on, we’re locked up tight, and you’re armed. Can’t you make it twice?”

“No.” But, man oh man was he tempted.

“Would you keep me company until I drift off?” Piper ran her hands over his shoulders and leaned in, her still-taut nipples lightly grazing his chest as she added playfully, “It would be right neighborly of you, sir.”

“Naughty imp,” he accused as he bent at the waist, put his shoulder in her belly, and tossed her up and over. He clamped his hand over her ass to keep her there as he trotted up the stairs while she giggled and squealed. And, unbeknownst to her, he did it grinning from ear to ear.

TRISTAN JOLTED AWAKE, his heart racing. Instead of a harsh battlefield in war-torn Afghanistan, he found himself in a soft bed with a warm body nestled against him.

“Tristan?” Piper’s sleep-husky voice pulled him back to the present.

With his back to the headboard and her snuggled up beside him, he had intended to wait until she fell asleep then make another security sweep and stay on guard—basically his job. But he must have dozed off.

“Everything is fine,” he assured her. “Go back to sleep.”

Piper snuggled closer and, in a matter of seconds, her soft, even breathing signaled that she slept. Tristan watched and waited a few minutes longer to ensure she was out then carefully extricated himself from her arms and the bed.

He quickly descended the stairs, checked the alarm system, then paced. Each step echoed in the silent hallway, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. Tonight had been a sample of what normalcy might be like, of coming home to Piper after work and sleeping with her wrapped around him. A flicker of hope ignited within him. Could her light truly chase away the shadows?

“Of course not, idiot.” After that small taste, the nightmare returned—disturbing as ever—a gut-punch reminder of the darkness that haunted him even when he slept with her in his arms.

Torn between pursuing a future with Piper that he now so badly wanted and the cold, stark fear of losing someone he cared about again, he raised his hands to his head, fists balled tight in frustration. As his inner turmoil threatened to bubble over, he resisted the urge to put his fist through her wall and instead resumed pacing with a long night ahead of him.

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