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“I want you naked.”

“Oh.” How did she feel about that? “What if someone comes out into the garden?” Was she ready to be naked in front of other club members? People she knew?

“No one will. Trust me to protect you.”

“Yes, Sir.” Her voice was a little shaky.

“I don’t want you to panic. I’m going to cut your clothes off of you.”

She nodded, but when the coldness of steel touched her skin, she stiffened… “Red!”

The blindfold was whipped away and the restraints released. Anthony lifted her into a seated position with concern on his face. “Kaley?”

The nightmare of a knife flashed in front of her eyes. The coldness of it as it sliced through her skin. An icy shiver slipped over her spine, and her whole body shook. She had to get away, claw her way out. He was near. Her gut clenched. She could only stare as the garden faded, and she was thrown back to a dark place.

Chapter Fifteen

“What the fuck?” Anthony held Kaley’s arms to her side to prevent her from hitting him or hurting herself. She was unresponsive when he called her name. She’d been with him until he touched her with the scissors to cut her bra strap. When she yelled red, his heart stopped.

He grabbed a blanket and pulled it over her. “Kaley, honey, talk to me.” No response. She’d calmed down, but her eyes stared at some spot over his shoulder. Getting to his knees, he managed to get her into his arms with the blanket around her, and rose to his feet.

Walking quickly, he made his way the entrance to the club. He opened the door and looked around for Max or one of the other Doms. He had no experience with this, and he was worried.

“What’s wrong?” Jordan asked, walking up to him.

“Kaley called her safe word and then went…kind of catatonic.” Anthony’s heart pounded. What had he done wrong?

“Got it. Come on.” Jordan cleared a path to one of the private rooms and opened the door for him. “Best advice right now, lay on the bed with her and keep talking to her. Let me get the first aid kit and Regina.”

Anthony nodded and strode into the room. Once he had them on the bed, he started talking to Kaley.

“Come on, sweetheart,” he said. “Whatever happened, I’m sorry. We can talk this through; just come back to me.” He rubbed her arms and rocked her gently. Anthony was fighting against panicking.

Jordan walked back in with Regina. “Tell me exactly what happened,” Regina said.

Anthony remembered Regina was a nurse. He relayed what he’d done and what happened. Regina frowned and checked Kaley’s pulse.

“I think you hit a trigger.” Regina straightened.

“Trigger?” Anthony had heard about triggers. “How could I have prevented it?”

“You couldn’t,” Regina said. “You had no idea it existed.”

“What do I do now?” Anthony was at a loss.

“Sit here with her. She’ll come around.” Regina glanced at Jordan.

“I’ll let the others know.” He nodded to Regina, who left the room. “I’ll be sitting outside the door, so if you need anything, holler.”

“Thanks, Jordan. I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s way past scary.”

“I know.” Jordan put his hand on Anthony’s shoulder. “She’ll come around soon, and just know that she might not talk about it.”

Anthony nodded. He shifted and kissed Kaley’s cheek. “Come back to me, sweetheart.”

* * * *

Kaley snuggled into the warmth of the body holding her. Wait a second? Her eyes opened. She was inside, but she’d been in the garden. Tilting her head back, Anthony looked down at her with concern written all over his face.

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