Page 20 of Power Play

He’d tried to get her to talk as he drove her home, but she couldn’t. She was still too raw inside after hearing him tell his mother he was still thinking of coming back to Chicago. This was what happened when she broke her own rule about relationships. She was the one who got hurt.

She shook her head. No thinking about Dane abandoning her, not tonight. She needed the release he could give her in the club, to get all these confusing emotions out and put her life back together.

It had been too easy to fall for Dane. He had charm, looks, and he made her laugh. Something few men could do. But that only went so far. It was the way he did little things, opening her door, taking her hand, the way he helped people he didn’t know when he saw them struggling with groceries or a stroller.

“You look like you swallowed a lemon,” Sierra said.

“Hey, Sierra.” Regina shook her head. “Just thinking about something.”

“Well, whatever it was, it couldn’t have been good.”

“Yeah.” She wasn’t sure if it was good or not yet. She smoothed her hands down her deep ruby red corset and mini skirt. “You and Max playing tonight?”

“Maybe later.” They walked out of the ladies’ room and into the club. At the door, Sierra made a beeline to the subs’ area, but Regina hesitated. Dane stood ten feet away. Her heart pounded.

While he was dressed like most Doms in the club—black pants, loafers, and no shirt—it was the way he held himself that captured her attention. He turned his head, and his hazel eyes flared with passion.

Before she could take a step, he was there, taking her hand in his. “You look exquisite.” He kissed the back of her hand.

“Thank you, Sir.” Her nerves settled down.

“I’ve got our scene space reserved as we discussed.”

She nodded. That was about the only thing they’d talked about during the drive to her apartment. What they would do tonight. She knew she needed the release. “Sounds good, Sir.”

Dane frowned. “I’m not so sure.” He led her away from the entrance and over to a set of sofas. “Please sit.” Regina did so, and after a minute, Dane sat next to her. “Do you want to scene tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?” He kept his gaze on her face.

“I am. What’s going on, Sir?” Had he seen through her protective wall?

“There’s a distance between us that wasn’t there when you woke in my arms this morning.”

He was right. She was holding part of herself back, and she knew why. “I’m sorry, Sir.” She twisted her hands together in her lap.

“Will you talk to me about it now? I won’t scene until we do.”

Regina wanted to tell him that was fine, she could find someone else to scene with, but she didn’t want anyone else. Another first for her. “I heard you say you were going back to Chicago.” Her voice was soft.

“I told you my mother wanted me to go back home for my brother’s engagement party. I haven’t made up my mind if I’m going yet.”

“Oh?” Had he said that? She thought back. He had said something about an engagement party.

Dane shifted, then pulled Regina into his lap. “You mentioned you had abandonment issues, but I’m not going to do that to you. This is a family obligation for one weekend.”

“I understand.” And she did, but what would happen if his family convinced him to stay? Her thoughts twirled in her head like a spinning top.

“Come with me.”

“What?” She couldn’t have heard him right.

“I said, come with me.”

“I can’t.” She shook her head.

“Why not?”

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