“Hey!” Brynn said, batting her hand away.
Before she realized what was happening, the man hooked a finger in the loop on Brynn’s collar and brought his mouth down on hers in an ambrosia-laced kiss. She fought to pull away but her strength was no match for his. Smooth hands glided over the thin material covering her breasts and she realized the woman had joined in.
Fear ripped through her, and her knee jerked upward, landing squarely in the man’s crotch. He doubled over, wincing and cursing. “What the hell?”
“Texas!” Brynn stepped back but only ran into more people, more exploring hands. Flashes of her rapist’s hands on her pressed against her mind, threatening to unhinge her. She turned frantically in the other direction and shoved her way through the horde using her safe word like a machete in the jungle. “Move! Please. Texas, Texas, Texas!”
Thankfully, the crowd begin to ease back to let her through. She just needed air. Space. By the time she reached a break in the mass of people, her mind was buzzing with terror. Trying not to draw attention to herself, she forced herself to walk at a calm pace until she was outside the ring of firelight. Then, when cloaked in darkness again, she bolted toward a nearby tree and collapsed onto the bench beneath it.
She leaned forward, her eyes squeezed shut, and tried to breathe past the invisible band that seemed to be tightening around her chest. God, when will this go away? Not everyone is out to hurt you. You’re acting like a fucking lunatic. Stop!
“Not your kind of a party, huh?”
She jolted upright, and a hand clamped over her mouth from behind.
“Shh. Don’t want to disturb anyone’s good time.”
She screamed beneath the grip and attempted to jerk out of his grasp, but the muffled struggle was just a whisper compared to the thumping music coming from the party.
“Better calm down and listen. I have what you want. And she’s safe, for now. But if you don’t cooperate, I guarantee she won’t stay that way.”r: Roni Loren
“Hello?” she called, hurriedly cleaning the moisture from her face.
The man closed the distance between them in a few long strides. “Well, hi there, darlin’. What are you doing out here all by yourself?”
Brynn gave Grant a once-over. Plaid shirt rolled up his muscular forearms, well-worn jeans and boots, stubble that was a few hours past a five-o’clock shadow—all matching up perfectly with that lazy drawl of his. If she hadn’t learned last night that he owned the place, she would’ve taken him for a cowboy who had wandered off a nearby pasture.
She cleared her throat, which had clogged with her tears. “Um, I just needed to get away for a minute.”
He stepped closer and into a patch of moonlight. His dark eyebrows dipped low as he took in her appearance. “Is something wrong?”
She sniffed and shook her head. “Um, I’m fine. Just needed a break. I don’t think the whole submissive thing is going to work for me after all.”
“Brynn, I had the pleasure of watching you with your master and Jace last night. Had you not told me about the fear you’re dealing with, I would’ve never guessed. You take to the role like it’s second nature.” The side of his mouth lifted a tick. “Are you sure it’s the sub part of the equation you’re struggling with?”
She shifted uncomfortably, his penetrating stare scattering her nerves. No question which side of the power exchange fence he played on. “Things didn’t go well with Reid.”
His tone turned deadly calm. “Did he break a rule with you? Push you too far? If he did, it’s important for you to tell me. I have no tolerance for that kind of thing here.”
She bit her lip. “No, nothing like that. He knows what I’ve been through and would never physically hurt me. We just… clash.”
“Ah,” he said, some of the tension in his stance easing. “He must be quite a master if he’s gotten under your skin this quick. Most doms don’t even crack the surface of a sub’s defenses until well into a relationship.”
She gritted her teeth at his knowing nod. “I’m not going back to his cabin.”
His eyes crinkled around the corners. “Fair enough. We can always get you another room. But I hope you aren’t going to skip the Bacchanal tonight. We only do it once a year—it’d be a shame for you to miss it.”
“I still plan on checking it out. Aren’t you going?” She glanced down at his outfit.
He chuckled. “I have to monitor the party to make sure everything goes all right. If I participate, it usually isn’t until late into the night, and by then, costumes aren’t exactly needed.”
Her cheeks heated. “I imagine not.”
He reached for her hand. “Come on. You’ll walk over to the party site with me. They already have the food laid out. Your master’s loss is my gain.”
“I really don’t think—”
“Indulge me, Brynn. My mama taught me to make sure guests are satisfied. The club has clearly failed in meeting the expectations you had for your stay here, so at least give me the pleasure of putting a good meal in your belly. Our chef Collette makes food so good, I’ve seen even the scariest doms get on their knees to beg her for seconds.”