Free Three-way Tie by Sierra Cartwright Page B

her. Her mouth parted, and her breathing took on the rhythm of deep sleep.
    Then…
    Then she wasn’t aware of anything except the experience of pain becoming pleasure.
    She was somehow deep inside herself. She felt the hungry leather lash at her skin, but it seemed as if it were from somewhere far away.
    Each blow just made her go deeper, deeper.
    She soared.
    It was as if she’d been standing on a precipice her entire life and now she was free.
    She mentally spread her arms and fell weightlessly, trustingly into a void that caught her, cradled her, protected her.
    Time ceased.
    Reality blurred.
    All that mattered was here and now and how good she felt.
    She was vaguely aware of her body and surrendered to the experience.
    Floating.
    Soaring.
    Flying.
    Free .
    For the first time ever, free.
    She wanted to stay here forever.
    How long it lasted, she had no idea. All too soon, she heard voices. She felt fingers at her wrists and ankles. The nipple clamps were removed. That shooting pain made her snap her eyes open.
    “Welcome back,” Master Eric—the devil—said.
    She didn’t want to be back.
    She felt disoriented, confused.
    Master Rafael rubbed the circulation back into her arms. “Can you talk to us?”
    She probably could. She just didn’t want to. It was as if she’d been in a different psychological state, one she couldn’t explain, one she wanted to hold onto for just a little longer, like a good dream.
    Master Rafael lifted her from the floor and carried her through the house.
    Her body felt limp. He had to instruct her to wrap an arm around his neck.
    He placed her on the bed. Then he stripped and joined her, pulling her close, cradling her head against his strong chest.
    She wasn’t aware of sleeping, but when she awoke, it was daylight.
    For the first time in years, she felt a bit unsure.
    “Good morning,” Master Rafael said.
    He stood at the side of the side of the bed, holding a cup of coffee. His hair was damp. A few drops of water clung to his gorgeous tanned skin. He offered her the cup of coffee and she took a sip.
    “Thank you, Sir. Manna from the gods.”
    “You’ve been out for about twelve hours. If I hadn’t brought coffee, I’m afraid you’d still be asleep.”
    She rarely slept more than six hours, maybe eight if she pulled a double at the restaurant.
    “Do you want to tell me about the experience?”
    “Do I have to?” she countered.
    He shook his head. “Not if it’s personal.”
    It was. She didn’t want to share it. “Honestly, I’m not sure I can explain it. It was as if I were somewhere else entirely.”
    “You were. For about half an hour.”
    It had seemed like minutes. “Thank you. It was…”—she took another sip of coffee“—outstanding. Memorable.”
      “It was our pleasure,” he told her. “Get dressed when you’re ready. Breakfast is waiting.”
    His words were every bit as much of a shock as waking up had been.
    She hadn’t been allowed to wear clothes since Friday. And now he was telling her to get dressed. She’d known she was only going to be here for a short time, but it had gone so fast. Her shoulders sagged and tears stung her eyes. She’d finally found a man who could give her everything she wanted.
    Apparently their time together—she—meant less than nothing to him.
    She knew it was Sunday and that her time was up, but his casual dismissal devastated her.

Chapter Six

    “You’re a fucking idiot, my friend. Your life is boring and you’re going to die an old man out there on that forsaken mountain.”
    Rafael took a drink of beer but didn’t acknowledge Eric’s assessment. He stared out of the sliding patio door at the Continental Divide. For the first time, it didn’t provide solace. “Anything else before I hang up?”
    “She’ll be at a club in Dallas tomorrow night.”
    He thumped his beer onto the granite countertop. “How the hell do you know that?”
    “I called her to see how she was doing. She’s sure she can’t