Free Bared by Stacey Kennedy Page B

the time she got there? Would he let this matter drop? Cora shook her head, snorting to herself.
    Yeah, right!
    Though the question remained: What would Aidan do next? And what would Cora’s next move be to avoid him? She didn’t want anything to change. She wasn’t ready for that yet—possibly because she had no idea what the outcome would be.
    How would Aidan respond if he found out the truth?
    She couldn’t face that daunting reality of the unknown. Not yet. Cora didn’t want to be his damned therapist. She had enough of helping people on a daily basis at work. She wanted to be his girlfriend … his submissive .
    Was that really asking for so much?
    The beep of her telephone had her putting down the curling iron. She grabbed her phone off the vanity.
    Coming to CS tonight?
    She dropped down onto the closed toilet seat and smiled at Kenzie’s text. Yep. You?
    I wouldn’t miss it! A short pause followed, and then another message popped up. I have to ask—what was with you running out last night? Is everything okay?
    Cora had no idea how to answer that. Were things okay? In her mind, she’d say yes. She also doubted Aidan would agree, only making her twitchy. Aidan could be determined when he wanted something. And Cora was unsteady about how to deal with him.
    Her fingers worked quickly over the small keyboard, and she replied, Just some weird stuff going on with Aidan, but it’ll be fine .
    Two seconds later another message chimed on Cora’s phone. He looked so pissed after you left. I stayed far away from him. Actually, everyone did .
    Probably a good move , Cora wrote.
    You okay, though?
    Cora smiled. Kenzie was a pain in the ass to Club Sin Masters with her bratty behavior, but to Cora she was a good friend. While Cora was always tempted to analyze the hell out of Kenzie, knowing there was something deeply troubled inside her that made her act the way she did, Cora fought hard not to analyze her friends.
    Don’t bring work home!
    From what Aidan had told her, Kenzie came to Club Sin with the Masters from their old club, Chains, because Dmitri worried over Kenzie’s safety. She liked to poke at Doms. Poke the wrong Dom and that spelled trouble.
    Cora and Kenzie didn’t have the close relationship that she had with Presley, but Club Sin submissives stuck together. Presley felt more like a sister. Kenzie was a loyal friend and a great support to Cora.
    She liked Kenzie, brat and all.
    I’m all good. Aidan came over today , Cora texted.
    To your house?
    Cora laughed, crossing her legs. Yup .
    Wow. That’s kind of a big deal .
    Was it?
    Or was Aidan simply concerned about the submissive he trained? Was he more interested in finding out the answer because he knew she hid something from him? It did sound entirely personal that he came to her house, but Cora believed with total certainty that Aidan acted only as a Dom, not as a man who wanted more from her.
    Sad, she thought, but true.
    He wasn’t ready.
    Cora texted, He’s just worried, which is ridiculous. I am fine .
    Doms being Doms. They are such nosy buggers. I’m glad you’re feeling okay. So I’ll see you at the club soon?
    Meet ya there!
    Cora stood from the toilet and turned off the curling iron. She gave herself one final lookin the mirror. While she thought she looked nice, her blouse and jeans fitting her well, the darkness in her gaze stared back at her.
    Those shadows weren’t from her troubles with Aidan. It was from her portrayal that it had been an issue with her ex-boyfriend, Porter. Guilt ripped through her, and she couldn’t stand it.
    She shouldn’t have used him as her scapegoat.
    Leaving the bathroom, she flicked the light off and entered her living room. She plopped down on the couch and she scrolled through her contacts on her phone until she reached Porter’s name. Then she hit the call button.
    Two rings sounded in her ear before Porter’s low voice hummed through the line: “This is a nice surprise.”
    “Hi.” An