Free Bonds of Trust by Lynda Aicher Page A

hoping Jake would form an attachment with a sub and stay, it wasn’t going to work.
    The low click of the door opening brought his attention back to her. Cali. He hardened his resolve and refused to play into the vulnerable look she was struggling rather poorly to cover. She lifted her chin and gave him a quick nod.
    “Thank you,” she said, her voice level and strong. “I’ll be going now.”
    She moved toward the door but he stepped in front of her, stopping her quick exit. Damn, what was he doing?
    “Are you okay?” he found himself asking. He was only finishing the Scene, he tried to tell himself. Making sure she left safe, sound and unhurt.
    “I’m fine,” she reassured him, her attention focused on the floor.
    Every inflection of her body told him she wasn’t. But that wasn’t his problem. Physically, she was unharmed. And she was refusing his comfort. His job as a Dom was done.
    But his honor as a man wasn’t.
    He tilted her chin up in a now familiar move until her gaze met his. “Cali, I know you’re not telling me the truth.”
    She stiffened, eyes going wide before she recovered and thinned her lips against whatever she’d been about to say.
    “I can’t force you to talk to me,” he said, his tone crisp but gentle. “But don’t leave here feeling bad or ashamed of anything that took place. Everything that happened between us was open and consensual. No shame.”
    She nibbled her lip and slowly nodded. It was almost like she was afraid to speak. Afraid to let out whatever she was keeping so tight inside.
    And that was her choice. Whether he liked it or not.
    “Thank you for giving me your trust tonight. I hope you got what you came for.” Jake stepped back and forced himself to open the door. “I’ll see you out.”
    “That’s okay,” she rushed to say. “I can find the way.” Cali hurried by him, brisk strides that bordered on a run, but she was too controlled to do so. She was halfway down the hall before she stopped and turned back. Her eyes were dark, her face displaying the vulnerability she struggled to hide. “Thank you, Jake,” she said so quietly he almost didn’t hear her. “The night was beautiful. Everything I wanted.” Then she turned and disappeared down the stairs.
    Out of his life.
    Every instinct told him she wouldn’t be back. She’d had her night and now she was gone.
    Fuck . Why did that make him feel so empty?
    And why the hell did he care what she did?
    Damn it. He hated feeling like this. Doubt and uncertainty were not his game. He’d trashed those emotions long ago, learning the hard way that anything that left you feeling helpless and vulnerable also left you exposed.
    He quickly picked apart the evening, dissecting each step, every interaction until he came to one resounding conclusion.
    Seth was a dead man.

Chapter Seven
    Cali stumbled up the stairs in her condo. Just a few more feet. Another step. That was all. She crossed the hallway, staggered into her bedroom and finally let her knees buckle. Collapsing onto the edge of her bed, her body sagged as all the strength and focus that had taken her from the club and allowed her to drive home dissipated.
    She stared numbly at the beige carpet, not really seeing it. Her hand shook as she raised it to brush her hair behind her ear and let go of an equally quavering breath. Fisting her tangled curls, she tightened the hold until the tug of pain on her scalp forced her to double over in a silent shudder of emotion.
    She’d done it. She’d gone to a sex club and had erotic sex with a stranger. Sex that had been more intimate and personal than she ever had with her ex-husband.
    Peter. Just the thought of him made her groan. She didn’t want to think about him. Not now.
    Not when she felt so good after being with Jake.
    Cali rocked where she sat, moving in the soothing motion as the tension invaded her muscles. She couldn’t lie to herself; she’d loved every moment with Jake. Wanted more of what he gave