Free Topping the Domme (Crime and Punishment) by Trista Ann Michaels

past, would she ever accept it?
    A noise from the adjoining room caught Brayden’s attention, and he listened closely. Was that Karina? Another moan, and he raised his eyebrow. Was the little minx masturbating? His lips twitched slightly at the thought as he took his glasses off and set them on the nightstand. Another sound, this one more like a frightened squeal, and Brayden was off the bed in a flash.
    It sounded as though she was having a nightmare. He’d wondered earlier if being tied up would bring back unwanted memories, but Karina had seemed so strong, he hadn’t worried about it too much.
    He opened his side of the adjoining door and sighed in relief that her side hadn’t been completely shut. He pushed it open and peeked toward her bed. She thrashed once and whined. Brayden quickly entered the room and headed toward her.
    “Karina,” he said softly, hoping not to startle her.
    She moaned and her fingers fisted in the sheets. Sweat covered her brow and the lines around her mouth tightened in pain.
    “Karina,” he said more firmly.
    She jerked awake and the second her eyes landed on him, she sat up in fear. The sheet fell, exposing her flushed breasts and scarred stomach. She didn’t recognize him yet. He could see it in her eyes. She reached to the nightstand for her pistol, and Brayden rushed forward.
    “Shit.” He grabbed her wrist just as she got her fingers on the gun. “Karina, it’s me. Brayden.”
    She tried to fight him, but Brayden held her hand down and with his free one, he gripped her chin. “Kitten. Look at me.”
    Her wide eyes stared at him, at first not seeing him, but within seconds recognition dawned. She sighed and closed her eyes. “Oh, God. I almost shot you.”
    He smiled slightly. “No, you didn’t. See?” He nodded toward her nightstand where he still had her hand pinned down.
    Her fingers released the gun, and he pulled her wrist up, allowing her to sit back. He climbed onto the bed with her, leaned back against the headboard, and engulfed her shaking body in his arms. She didn’t fight him, didn’t try to pull away. She turned and curled her arms around his stomach, laying her cheek against his chest.
    “I haven’t had a nightmare in a long time,” she whispered.
    He smoothed his hand up and down her spine. “It was probably the club and being restrained. I’m sorry, Kay. You seemed so strong last night, I didn’t even think about it doing this.”
    “Neither did I,” she murmured.
    She adjusted her head so she could look down, then settled back against him. He snickered softly at her checking to make sure he was clothed. Although he didn’t have a shirt on, he did have on pajama pants.
    “Just making sure,” she whispered.
    “What about you?” he teased. “I know you don’t have on a shirt, but what about under that sheet?”
    “Naked,” she said.
    Brayden chuckled. “Figures.” He kissed the top of her head and rested his chin against her hair. “Are you going to be okay doing this?”
    “Maybe I need to do this.”
    He drew lazy circles over her back. “Maybe.”
    “Do you ever get bored, Brayden?”
    “With what?”
    “Being a Dom.”
    He smiled slightly. “No.”
    She sighed. “Maybe bored isn’t the right word.”
    “What’s going on, Kay?” He put his finger under her chin and tilted her face up, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Are you questioning being a Domme?”
    “No… Yeah,” she breathed.
    He brushed his finger over her jaw. “Maybe that’s because deep down you’re not really a Domme at all. Maybe you use what happened to you as an excuse to believe you are. Why don’t you use this time to experiment? I know you’re playing the part of a submissive, but actually give in to it. We’re away from the club. No one will know. If it doesn’t work out, you can always go back to the club as Mistress Kay.”
    She pursed her lips. “Maybe.”
    “Lots of maybes here tonight, huh? We should probably charge them rent. Don’t you