Page 86 of Freefall

“Ohh!” Her grin widens. “Or is she really kinky, but you don't want to use any of the stuff you used on other women?”

I’m silent.

“Oh my God.” She points at me, her voice at a giddy high pitch. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re going to buy all new kinky dungeon toys for her.” She’s practically vibrating now. “Holy shit! Was she your original sub or something?”

“I’m not having this conversation with you.”

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Nate. Sex is perfectly natural.”

“I’m not embarrassed.” I give her a pointed look. “I only recently erased the image of Ash on his knees in front of you with his hands tied behind his back like he was at a fucking pie-eating contest from my brain.”

She smirks without a hint of remorse. “Hey, I walked in on you first. It’s not like I can get that image out of my brain either.”

“You were hosting a dinner party, Allie. I was five minutes early.”

She shrugs. “Ash wanted an appetizer.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.” She gazes off into the distance, a thought clearly swirling around in that chaotic head of hers. “Actually, don’t donate that riding crop.” A faint blush creeps up her neck. “I might know someone who could use it…”

The laugh I’d been holding back since she showed up at my doorstep finally breaks free. She follows along after me, a small giggle turning into a full-fledged belly laugh.

“Fine,” she says once we’ve both caught our breath. “We don’t have to talk about it anymore. Just…don’t get all Nate on her, okay?”

“All Nate on her?”

“You know exactly what I mean.” She starts ticking things off on her fingers. “Threatening every guy who looked at your sister in high school. Driving by our houses when we forget to answer a text. You can have a tendency to be a little…”

“Protective?” I supply.

“Overbearing.”

“I’m not⁠—”

My phone buzzes in my pocket, cutting me off. I hold up a finger, already pulling it out, and my stomach dips when I see it’s Harper.

“Hi.”

“Nate?” Her voice is shaky.

Every muscle in my body goes rigid. “Harper. What’s wrong? Is Daisy⁠—”

“She’s fine. It’s my brother.” There’s a pause at which point my heart attempts to beat out of my chest. “He showed up at my house this morning in pretty bad shape.”

Shit. I don’t know a lot about Harper’s brother, Jace. She never talked about him much when we were together. Not after that first time at the diner when she told me she found him overdosing on Thanksgiving. My first thought isn’t to make sure he’s okay, though; it’s to make sure Daisy and Harper are safe. If he’s drunk or high, who knows what he’s capable of.

“I’ll be right there.” The words are out before she even asks.

“Okay,” she says softly.

“Harper.” I stand up, waving at Allie to follow me. “You need to call the police if you feel like you’re in danger, understand?”

“No, no. It’s not like that.”

“Please, Dani.” The nickname slips out before I can stop it. “Promise me.”

Another long pause and then, “I promise.”