Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
The scent of candle wax drifts toward me.
“Braden?”
“Yes?”
“Why isn’t candle play a hard limit for you?”
A valid question. I don’t keep candles in my home. I stay away from open flames. Anyone who’s been through a housefire no doubt feels the same way.
But I trust myself with candles. The fire during my childhood wasn’t my fault. It was my father’s.
I don’t fear candles because I know the damage wasn’t mine to bear. I was just a child.
Breath play, on the other hand…
“Because I’m very careful,” I say. “It’s not play that I engage in frequently.”
“You don’t allow it in the club, though.”
I nod. “I don’t allow fire play in the club. Because it can lead to significant damage if not done properly. No insurance policy would cover it.”
“Is fire play different from candle play?”
“In my mind, yes. Taper candles made from soy wax—which doesn’t burn nearly as hot as paraffin or beeswax—don’t cause much risk if handled properly.”
“Would you, then?”
“Would I what?”
“Do it for me?”
I lift my eyebrows. “You’re interested in candle play?”
“The idea of hot wax on my nipples excites me.”
“All right, Skye. For you. I’ll do it for you.”
“But not here,” she says. “At the club.”
“I agree. My bedroom isn’t set up for candle play.”
She smiles at me. “I’ve never seen a candle here before tonight.”
“I got them especially for you. To give you the romantic atmosphere you deserve.”
“And it was perfect, Braden. The whole thing was absolutely perfect.”
“Yes, it was. You were a trouper, too. I know you experienced some pain, but you relaxed and worked through it.”
“A little. I mean, yeah, it was painful. Quite sharp at first, but… I don’t know. The pain was always there, but it turned into pleasure. Kind of like when you spanked me. It was perfect in its pain. If that makes any sense.”
“You like pain,” I say.
“No. Not really. I’m not a masochist. But I like pain when it brings me closer to you.”
God, her words…
In this moment, we are one, breathing together, in our own little universe of pain and pleasure.
“When will we go back to New York?” she asks.
“I don’t know. I want to give you some time to continue to work through things before we go back to the club.”
“Oh, I wasn’t even talking about the club. Eugenie wants to meet with me again about a new social media campaign built around some of my hashtags. I need to talk to you about—” A yawn splits her face.
“You’re exhausted, and frankly, so am I. You can tell me all about Eugenie’s new brainchild in the morning. After our soak in the tub.”
“A bath?”
I nod. “A soak will help ease your soreness.”
“I’m not sore down there. Really.”
“Not now. You’re still on a high from the orgasm. You will be sore in the morning. Trust me.” I brush my lips over hers. “Now go to sleep.”
“Mmm. Deal.” She closes her eyes—
Only to shoot them open again when her phone buzzes.
“Ignore it,” I say.
“Ha! You know I can’t do that any more than you can.”
I chuckle. “I know.”
She rummages the phone out of her purse on the nightstand. “Hey, Tess,” she says into the phone, stifling another yawn.
Tessa. A good sign. Skye and her best friend have been having issues, and I’m happy they’re working it all out.
Then…
“Yeah? Are you okay?” Skye jerks upward, eyes wide. “What’s the matter? Why are you crying?”
Fuck.
This can’t be good.
“Okay, okay. Calm down. What do you need?” Skye asks.
Pause.
“Okay.”
Pause.
“Tess, I—”
Pause.
“Okay, okay. Calm down. Where are you? I’ll come to you.”
Pause.
“Did you ask him to stay?”
And a longer pause.
“Are you drinking?” Skye asks.
Pause.
“Tell me you didn’t take anything else. Please.”
Uh-oh.
That can’t be good.
I don’t know Tessa Logan well. She’s Skye’s best friend, and they’ve been struggling lately.
But Tessa adores Skye. Would do anything for her. When Skye bonded with her pup, Penny, it was Tessa who called and asked me to adopt the dog for Skye, since Skye’s place doesn’t allow pets.
Penny and my dog, Sasha, are at an overnight dog spa. I didn’t want any potential interruptions tonight.
But I didn’t count on Tessa Logan being one.
“Yeah. Sure,” Skye says. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Hang in there, okay?”
I hate the thought of Skye leaving my bed, but she won’t let her best friend down. I wouldn’t want her to.
“No need to thank me. Get a hold of yourself, and I’ll be there soon.” Skye shoves the phone into her purse. “Braden, I need to leave. Tessa’s in a bad way.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“You don’t have to. I’ll call an Uber. Besides, you gave Christopher the night off.”
“I can drive, you know.”
She smiles weakly. “Thank you. This means a lot to me. I’m so sorry. After our wonderful night.”
I dress, adding shoes to my jeans and button-down while Skye heads to her bedroom at my place. When she descends in a comfy cotton T-shirt and fleece joggers, I’m waiting for her at the elevator.