Free Dark Secret Love by Alison Tyler Page A

embarrassing medication, and she didn’t have it in her to continue. Her life’s ambition wasn’t to pitch STI medicine.
    “So,” she said. “No more couch life for you.”
    “Really?”
    “Sure, I talked with the boys. They’re thrilled to have you as a permanent roommate. You can move into my room, and keep the bed—it was the previous tenant’s anyway. And if you pack up my stuff and ship it for me, I’ll let you have the rest of the month’s rent. You don’t have to start paying until the start of April.”
    I was thrilled. Job? Check. Place to stay? Check. Nate peeked in from the living room and waved at me, and a fresh flutter of nerves ran through my body. Dominant roommate to fuck with my head?
    Check.
    “You’ve never been to a club?”
    “Yes, I have,” I told him. I’d been reviewing clubs for the alternative weekly since my freshman year in college. Coconut Teasers. The Whiskey. The Roxy.
    “A club-club,” he demanded. “A bondage club.”
    “No.” I tried to imagine going to one with Byron, and the image put a smile on my face. But when I looked at Nate, the grin instantly faded.
    “Great,” he said, once again placing his hand on the hollow of my throat, applying just enough pressure that the weight made it difficult for me to swallow. He pulled me close to him. “You liked Garrett watching the other night?”
    I nodded.
    “You’re going to be on display again tonight.”
    And now I sucked in my breath, visualizing the scene as he described it.
    “You and me and two hundred of our closest friends.”
    He faced me straight on then, moving his hand up my throat to tilt my face towards his. “You’re going to have to behave right tonight, Samantha,” he said, in that soft voice, the one I found most menacing. “I know it’s going to be tough for you. But I want you to try really hard for me. Can you do that, Sam?”
    I nodded and he immediately slapped my face, catching me off balance, then gripped my arms and stood me steadily before him again. The look in his dark eyes was fierce.
    “Can you, Sam?” he asked again, more frightening than ever.
    “Yes, Nate,” I whispered.
    “Better,” he nodded. “That’s better.”



Chapter Eleven:
Reprieve?
    Nate had been working on an independent for the first part of the day, and then had gone to his gym in West Hollywood. He told me to get ready for our “date” while he took a shower. But I didn’t follow his command. Instead, I sat in the living room with a jelly glass of Jack Daniels, flipping the channels on the TV but not seeing a thing. My cheek stung from where Nate had slapped me, and I had one hand against the side of my face, my fingers tripping up and down over the hot spot.
    The JD in my glass got lower as the final rays of sunlight faded from the room, but I didn’t get up to turn on the overhead or refill my drink. When Nate entered the room, clad all in black, he practically disappeared into the gloom. I felt him staring at me, but I didn’t turn to face him. The glow of the silent TV was the only light.
    Without a word, Nate sat at my side. He took the remote from my hand and set it down on the coffee table. I’d landed on some old black-and-white movie, and I stared atthe screen rather than looking to my left. I pretended that I was deeply interested in the action onscreen, although none of the drama was registering in my head. None of the movie drama, anyway.
    “You’re scared.”
    I nodded. Tears were already streaming my face. I felt as if I hadn’t taken a breath since leaving Byron. I’d moved from one situation to the next, always trying to keep my balance. The thought of what Nate wanted me to do tonight had finally slowed me down. And I was terrified.
    He took my hand down from my face and traced the tracks from my silent tears.
    “We won’t go tonight.”
    I looked at him, at the brightness in his dark eyes shining even in the gray light, at the serious look on his striking face. I wondered why