Page 68 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

“That’s where Lucian and Caleb took me after we went wedding-dress shopping.”

“You know that I’m going to need all the details. Alllll of them.”

I’m not sure I can tell her everything. But of course, I’m so confused; that was why I needed to see her after tossing and turning all night.

“Let’s start at the beginning. Did you meet Altair?”

“Yeah. On the second floor.”

She blinks. “There’s a second floor?”

Oh my God. I remember the biometric security. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to say anything. “I think it’s his personal domain.”

“A lair, probably.”

I grin. “Anyway, I get what you mean about his eyes and his presence.”

“Okay, so then what happened?”

I shake my head, and I have to put down my cup because I’m afraid of spilling my mocha. “I’m not sure I understand any of it.”

She frowns a little bit. “What do you mean?”

I glance toward the neighboring tables. There are too many people. Too many ears. Too many moms with little kids.

Without needing to discuss it, we collect our drinks and head outside.

A few minutes later we’re walking along Buffalo Bayou, surrounded by joggers, cyclists, dogs, and enough ordinary life that last night almost seems impossible.

Almost.

“I thought I would hate the Retreat,” I admit. “Not just dislike it. Hate it. I thought I’d walk in, see what they were into, and know for certain that I wanted nothing to do with any of it.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No.”

I tell her about the way I feel, more than what I saw. “The person with the power was paying attention the entire time,” I say slowly. “And the other person—the sub, I guess?—was the entire focus of attention. As if her pleasure was the only thing that mattered.”

She nods. “That’s right.”

“And then…” I tell her about the scene we watched. “She was enjoying herself. He knew it. She knew he knew it. Then he kept getting her close to an orgasm and stopping.”

Piper winces sympathetically. “That can be brutal.”

“I know.”

“Oh.” Her gaze sharpens. “Do tell.”

Heat rushes into my face.

And because I need to understand it myself, I wait until after we cross the street, and then I tell her about the private room. About Lucian asking me to submit to them of my own free will. And worse, the way I had. “I could have used my safe word. I could have told them I wanted to leave.”

“But you needed to know, didn’t you.”

Mortified, I nod.

“It’s totally normal.” Piper loops her arm through mine as we continue walking.