Free The Stranger I Know (Dark Romance) by Amy Isan

wrists and pockets the bracelets. I'm a sticky mess. He's stashing everything away. Into his bag.
    "Master...?" I begin. He's never this hurried. Never this... fast.
    "Who's James?" he asks, a slight tinge of venom on his voice.
    "No one important. Slip of the tongue."
    He grunts in approval. "I certainly hope so. I don't need another Dom hedging in on you. You're my property."
    "He's not a Dom. He's just a guy I have the..." I pause to think. I look around and feel my eyelashes stick to the blindfold. "...displeasure to work with."
    He turns from me and finishes getting dressed. I'm not allowed to remove the blindfold until the door closes. That's the rule. An honor bound one.
    "I have a task for you," he says. He sets something down on the nightstand. "I enjoyed your gift so much, I'd like another. Wear this for the entire workday tomorrow. Don't turn it off. I'll know if you do."
    I nod slowly, trying to recognize what it is he set down by the sound of it. It isn't very big.
    "When the day is over, we'll meet again. Call me when you're ready to give-in. Then, I want to see how filthy you can be."
    The vibrator. "Yes, sir." I agree without a thought. He chuckles and opens the door.
    After a pregnant pause, the heavy door locks shut again. I can faintly hear his footsteps walking down the hall.
    I untie the blindfold and drop it on the bed. The sheets are crumpled up under my legs. The fitted sheet is pulled off the top. The vibrator is blue. It sits right side up on the nightstand.
    I'm sweaty. A mess. I need to shower before leaving. I can't put a blindfold on everyone who will see me leaving. That'd be too convenient.
    ***
    I look in the mirror and judge his work. My neck has deep red lines etched in it from the collar. My temples are red from the tight binding of the blindfold. A bruise is glowing on one of my hips. My ass is sore. I look like a fucking wreck, and nothing could make my smile bigger. My neck isn't sore. My shoulders don't ache. My body and brain are ill with chemicals, the ones I need. The ones I lack all day long. Perfect.
    A wet fog washes over the mirror as the shower grows hot. As my reflection disappears, I curl the curtain open and step into the shower. The water splashes against my chest and sprays the wall.
    Why did I scream James' name? I can't fathom it. I try and replay the last moments of our climax, but I can't replicate it. There are no words that can really describe that rush in my blood. A thrill awakens from the ache. The tight knot that was building inside.
    I'll have to work it out when I get home. Otherwise I'll be hobbling around work tomorrow like an old woman. I need to look good. Perfect.
    I'm broken. I can heal. I can fix myself now.

Chapter 6
    A fter the shower, I snatch the towel off the rack and pat myself dry. A strange feeling is stuck in my gut. I don't feel alone in the hotel room, like I did when I climbed into the shower. Did the Stranger come back? I can't shake the chilling sensation.
    He has to be out there in the room. Waiting for me. I imagine him sitting, with his bag on the ground... no. He'd be standing. His arms crossed. My heart races at the image. We'd never arranged to meet early in the week before now, so maybe he wants to punish me for it.
    The bizarre feeling vanishes as I step out of the bathroom. The hotel room is empty. The bed is still a mess. My clothes are crumpled and balled into a heap near the head of the bed. As I grab a hold of a pant leg, I realize it's trapped between the headboard and the mattress. Ridiculous. I yank it free. I pull the extra pair of panties I keep in my pocket whenever I know I'll be meeting the Stranger. After the first few times... either my underwear was too stretched and torn to wear, or missing. Naughty.
    As I finish getting dressed, the blue cylinder on the nightstand catches my eye. I cross around the bed to pick it up. Still moist, but cold. He said I have to wear it all day tomorrow and prove it to him, as if it