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Darci took the dress with one hand and swiped at her tears with the other. “No. He was just more intense than I was expecting, so I tapped out with my safeword, and I guess he didn’t like that.”

“Then that makes him an asshole.” Peter backed away as he spoke, giving Darci room to put her dress on. Carrie stood, and he reached for her hand, pulling her closer to him.

“How do you want to handle this?” He spoke so only she could hear him.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean do I need to disappear?”

Carrie frowned. “I don’t think so. We’ll leave that up to her.”

When Darci finished dressing, she closed the distance between them and held her arms out to Carrie for a hug.

“Well, that wasn’t how I wanted to start out my membership here.” She sniffed and lifted her head to smile at Peter.

“Sorry to pull you guys away from your conversation.”

Peter gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. “You have nothing to apologize for, sweetie. Come back to the bar with us for a drink.”

They started for the bar, but Darci halted when she saw Damion ordering a drink.

“Maybe that’s not such a good idea.”

Carrie picked up Darci’s hand. “Come on. I’ll take you to one of the quiet rooms.”

Darci’s eyes lit up. “Oh. Let’s go check out the library. Gage says it’s his favorite room in the place. Peter can come too.”

Peter gave a terse nod but held up a finger. “I’ll meet you ladies there. I just want to have a word with Gage.”

Carry noticed the cowboy heading their way.

Peter stopped forward, catching him before he reached Carrie and Darci.

“Are you going to let him get away with this? He walked away from a partner who used her safeword without making sure she was OK.”

Gage looked past Peter at Darci. “You OK, hot stuff?”

Darci gave him a shaky smile. “I’ll be OK.”

“I’ll handle it. I’m sorry that happened.”

Peter watched until Gage was halfway to Damion at the bar. Carrie couldn’t tear her eyes away from him, and that’s how he found her when he turned back in their direction.

“Let’s get out of here, ladies.”

Warmth curled through Carrie as he slid his hand into hers.

“Anyone ever tell you how fucking hot you are when you’re being all protective and shit?”

He chuckled and spoke low in her ear. “Maybe you’ll remember that when I hire a security detail for you.”

She shoved her hip into him and made a face. “I said when you’re being protective. Not when you’re paying someone else to be protective.”

“Believe me, little one. If I could chain myself to you twenty-four seven, I would.”

They reached the room at the back of the dungeon, which had been deemed the library. When Carrie was in the room last, it was mostly still in boxes, so she gasped when she walked in. Custom bookshelves had been installed along two of the walls, and they were filled with books. Lots on kink and sex education, but there were other genres as well.

Comfortable modular couches dominated the center of the room and added a pop of bright red color to the space. Darci made a beeline for the center couch and laid down on it. Carrie sat on the floor next to it and picked up her friend’s hand. “What do you need?”

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