Instead of doing as Saxon demanded, she buried in closer to Duncan. His arms were like steel bands around her. Feelings of safety washed over her.
“I think you’ve got your answer,” Duncan snarled.
“I want to see her face. I want to know she’s back in control,” Saxon demanded.
A growl rumbled through Duncan’s chest, but he tipped up her chin.
“Sugar, look at Saxon.”
She obeyed the soft command, turning her head to look into Saxon’s dark gaze.
“I-I’m okay.”
Saxon narrowed his eyes. Obviously she hadn’t sounded very convincing.
“You don’t have to stay with him, sweetheart. You can come with me.”
“Fuck off,” Duncan snarled.
Laken shook her head. “It wasn’t Duncan. He didn’t do anything wrong.”
No, this cluster fuck was all her fault.
Saxon stared at her for a long moment before nodding. “If you need me anytime for anything, you will call me.” His voice was solid command. Standing up, he left.
Laken let out a long breath.
“Damn interfering bastard,” Duncan muttered as he held a bottle of water up to her mouth. “Drink up, sugar.”
She swallowed it down, surprised by the sweet, orange flavor.
“More, baby. You need to rehydrate.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant but the water soothed her parched throat. It felt as though she’d been yelling.
Or crying a lot.
“W-where are we?” she asked once she’d finished the water.
“In one of Saxon’s private rooms. He wouldn’t let me leave with you, not that you were in a state to go anywhere. I freed your wrists and ankles, then carried you up here. You were crying, frantic. Laken, I want to know what happened.”
She took in a deep breath. “Help me sit up.” With a soft grumble, he raised her up. She scooted over until she was sitting beside him on the large, comfortable leather couch. She looked around the dark room. There was just this couch, a spanking bench and a huge wardrobe. Oh, and the ceiling was a mirror. One giant mirror.
“It wasn’t anything you did. It’s me. All me.”
He shook his head, watching her. “No. No more hiding. You tell me what is going on. Why did you panic? Did I push you too hard? You were fine until I grabbed the flogger.”
She shuddered, a whimper escaping.
Duncan watched the blood drain from Laken’s face, turning it sickly gray.
His guts churned. He’d terrified her.
“I wasn’t sure I could handle being tied up. But it felt right, you know? I could hear everyone around me, you were close by, I felt safe and secure. The spanking sent me off into a hazy place, I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“Tell me why you panicked.”
“I went back to when he was hurting me.”