Page 94 of Breaking Free

The call abruptly ended, with no goodbyes or sweet words, but that wasn’t Tristan’s style. Axyl reappeared and took the phone from her hand.

“Got yourself verbally spanked, didn’t you?”

She looked up at him, surprised. “He told you?”

“About Hunter? Yes, since I’m also assigned to your case, which will take longer to solve without full disclosure from you.”

“That’s what Tristan said.”

“Why did you tell Lloyd and not him?”

She blew out a breath, preferring the awkward scene with Dirk to discussing the ins and outs of her and Tristan’s weird non-relationship. “He seems like a loner, yet he and Hunter are friends. I never mentioned it because I didn’t want to stir up trouble between them if it turned out to be nothing.”

“This is your safety we’re dealing with, Piper. Let the professionals decide what to do with the intel.”

“I understand that now, although Tristan mentioned we would discuss it—later.”

“I bet you will. Over a bench, most likely.”

Piper’s head snapped up sharply. “Do you think he would actually...punish me for real?”

“That’s what I would do if you were my submissive and you failed to tell me about something as significant as this.”

Her heart sank, filled with an odd sense of disappointment. Did she genuinely want to be disciplined like a naughty child? Or was it the notion of Tristan doing that spanking that intrigued her? It didn’t really matter either way, in their case.

“I should be fine, then because I’m not his sub. I’m only a neighbor with benefits and his stand-in rope model.”

Axyl’s low laughter rumbled through the kitchen. “Keep telling yourself that, and maybe you’ll believe it, but you’ll be the only one.”

“It’s true!” she insisted. “We have an arrangement.”

“You’ve been to Decadence and have seen the other couples. Most started with an arrangement. It’s usually called a contract in our world, but more often than not, they lead to a ring or a collar, eventually.”

“Not this time. Tristan isn’t looking for permanence.”

“Then I’m wrong, and he’s a fool, but I rarely am and he’s one of the best, smartest PIs we have. Just sayin’.” He glanced at his phone before sliding it into the rear pocket of his jeans. “It’s past five, and I’m starved. Should we order dinner in or go out?”

“I’d rather not deal with the crowds or the wait. I could cook something, since I don’t have to be at the club for a while.”

His eyes lit up, but he hedged. “You were on set all day. Are you sure?”

“Yes. I like to cook.” Piper got up and went to peruse the fridge. Then she peered at him around the open door. “I have chicken breasts. Do you like Italian? I make a mean chicken caprese. Although, I’ll need to go light on the garlic, or Tristan will be the one demanding breath mints.”

“Piper, darlin’,” he said in his Texas drawl with a huge grin spreading across his face. “You had me atI could cook.”

She smiled up at the big man. “I like you, Axyl Tavares. Are you sure you and Josie can’t straighten out what’s between you?”

Sobering, he grunted, “Maybe if I knew what it was.”

Her friend hadn’t confided in her either. “You seriously have no idea?”

“Not a clue. One minute, we were touring the private rooms, getting along just fine, and the next, she was asking to go back to the lounge. Since that night, I’ve called her twice, but she doesn’t return my calls.” He fell silent for a moment before he acknowledged, “It’s probably for the best. Communication is crucial between a dominant and submissive, and while I’m attracted to your friend, it wouldn’t have worked out if she couldn’t be open with me.”

Like she hadn’t been with Tristan, no matter her well-meaning motive. Her guilt ticked up. Maybe she deserved to be bottom-up over a bench. She tabled that thought and got back to Josie.

“Something is going on. I’ve always found her to be honest and straightforward. It’s one of the many things I appreciate about her.”

“It would have to be mighty important for me to overlook it at this point. I’m not a fan of secrets. Even less of one about lies, even ones by omission.”

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