Page 46 of Dance for Me

Fucking fantastic. The bitch was in full murderess mode.

Her go-to defense when she felt insecure, it was a pain in his ass. However, now she’d agreed to become his submissive, there were a few more options he could use to his advantage when dealing with her in this state. He figured it might take all of them to break her free of this incessant cycle.

Bite, run, submit. Bite, run, submit.

Only once in his life had he submitted sexually and, well, saying he had respect for the submissives who stepped into clubs around the world was an understatement. He didn’t have the strength of character to hand control over; one night was enough to prove that.

Those who did...he admired the hell out of them.

“You bastard.” Well, that was a pleasant opening to their aftercare session. Her voice croaked, vocal cords probably sore from her crystal-shattering screams. “What the fuck did you do to me?”

Braun clenched his jaw. Obviously, someone didn’t get the memo about aftercare being the time for quiet reflection and basking in the haze of a good orgasm. “Before your emotions get the better of you, darlin’, you might want to weigh the ramifications of your actions.”

“Ramifications of my actions?” A throaty growl reminiscent of an angry kitten let loose. “You put your fingers inside me!”

“I did. I specifically gained your consent for just that nefarious purpose, Boadicea. You responded exceedingly well and, although you were hesitant to orgasm, it was beautiful when you came.” Deliberately, he kept his tone low and warm. “What’s gotten you all het up, little one?”

She tried to thrash her way out of the blanket, but Braun wasn’t letting her get away so easily. If he did, she’d throw her hissy fit and then let her running instincts take the reins. She’d flit off like she did before, and it would be another month until he caught her again. Then he’d have to start over, and things would just be a giant clusterfuck.

“Want me to take you back through there and make you feel better?” Braun asked quietly, seriously, with a jerk of his head toward the second barn. “All those nasty emotions ricocheting around inside you can’t be easy to deal with, Bodie. Why don’t you let me help?”

Ah, there was that insecurity, creeping around beneath the anger. He saw it in her eyes, the fury in the blue depths wavering for an instant. Her lower lip quivered pitifully before she sank her teeth into the firm flesh. “You did this to me. I didn’t want to feel this way, I’ve never wanted to know—”

Oh, little one, you’ve stepped on a landmine now.

Two glasses and a bottle of water thumped onto the table. Jasper slipped into the other half of the booth silently, assessing the standoff with curiosity. With a shrug, he lifted his glass and sipped, settling in as though watching something fascinating on the TV.

Boadicea clammed up immediately, fuming inside her fluffy cocoon, glaring at both Masters with the same degree of hostility.

“Evidently I’ve done something against your wishes, little one.” What, he couldn’t say. He’d be damned if he let her shut him out after a scene as intense as theirs, and her ass would be several degrees warmer if she kept up the attitude, defense or not. “Explain it to me. You’re angry, Bodie, but there’s more to this than you are telling me, isn’t there?”

“Just fuck off and leave me alone! Why did you have to interfere? I was doing just fine until you...you...” Tears filled her eyes.

Braun glanced at Jasper. His friend’s eyes were narrowed in thought, and after a moment, the sadist mouthed Subdrop? Possible, more than possible. The extreme rush of adrenaline and endorphins in her blood would be receding, and a crash was definitely on the cards, but it wasn’t the sole reason for this. “Flogged you and gave you a screaming orgasm?”

She faltered for a moment.

“It’s a lot to process, little one. New sensations. Understanding the balance of pain and pleasure. No, don’t smart that pretty mouth off to me now. I’m torn between cuddling the scared part of you and blistering the ass of the rude little madam who keeps swearing at me.” Braun pushed the blanket away from her face and head, baring her to the shoulders. “I want to be lenient, little one, but one more outburst and you’ll not be sitting pretty for a few days.”

“Give her to me for five minutes,” Jasper muttered. “She’ll never use profanity again.”

Not helping, brother.

Bodie curled her lip at Jasper, then ducked her head, all the color leeching out of her skin when he answered with a wolfish smile, showing every pearly white in a display of dominance.

Rolling his eyes, Braun nudged her face back to look at him. Pale as glass, she avoided his eyes until he gently cleared his throat. “Why are you so scared, little one?”

“I’m not!”

“Yes, you are. The fear runs deep enough you can hide it but not control it. It’s governing you and as a result, you’re lashing your claws at me.” His fingertips trailed over her forehead, down her cheek. “I’m not the enemy here, Bodie,” he whispered. “The enemy is inside you.”

The tears spilled over her cheeks. “It is me.”

Jasper uncapped the water bottle, slipped it into Braun’s outstretched hand. His eyes didn’t leave Braun or Bodie, studying both of them with unnerving focus. Braun couldn’t read the expression in those icy blue eyes.

Instead he made his subbie drink as she cried silently, feeding liquid back into her almost as quickly as it leaked out. “One way or another, I’ll get the truth from you, darlin'. Would be easier on us both if you just tell me. You’re not alone anymore, you don’t have to handle it all by yourself. You’ve got me. And Jasper, Liam, Atticus...” An idea hit him. While it galled him to think she’d been hurt—emotionally, physically, sexually—she might be afraid to open up to him. “Would you talk to Connie if I organize it, little one? Just you and Connie?”

Bodie went very, very still. Tears and water dripped from her chin as she hiccupped sadly. Her eyes were so sad now, the bitch fading into nonexistence. After such a good scene, she should still be floating on air, but she just looked defeated and miserable. “Y-You’d do that?”

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