He reached for her elbow but she jumped back, not afraid of him, but of returning to the dark. Without thinking, she whispered, “I can’t go back up there. It’s too dark.” Her voice caught, and she shook her head, as if that would clear the cobwebs of fear.
Jase frowned and looked up at the apartment’s front window. “Forgot a nightlight, huh?” He smiled, trying to make light of her ridiculous statement, but she could see the questions clouding his face. “I’ll run up and turn on some lights for you. Uh,” he glanced sheepishly at her clothes, “why don’t you wait inside the shop. It’ll only take a minute.”
“Thanks, Jase.” Nan didn’t care at the moment if she appeared a pathetic mess—she wasn’t going back up to her apartment until it was well lit. Five minutes later, she thanked Jase and closed the door behind him with a new fear hovering in her mind. She knew she had turned on the lights before bed, just as she was sure she’d turned off all the brewers the other night and put her plate in the dishwasher the other day. God help her, had the stress of her kidnapping finally broken her mind?
Nan was still shaken Friday evening but refused to let her worries and fears deter her from the course she’d set out. Given how many customers had asked her today if she was okay or if she felt all right, she doubted she would be able to hide anything from Master Dan tonight. Since she still hadn’t a clue how the lights went out, telling him, or anyone else about it would sound crazy. Hell, maybe she was nuts, she mused as she rifled through her closet. So far, the only explanation she could come up with was either her trauma had affected her mental state more than she thought, or someone was screwing with her. The latter didn’t make sense since she was home, spending her days with friends and people she’d known most of her life. And, to what end? There would have to be a reason, and she could think of none.
Shoving the unanswerable questions aside for now, she chose her favorite black leather corset and matching thong to wear under a sleeveless, blue wraparound dress that flowed around her knees in a soft drape. One tug on the tie and the dress would fall open, revealing the corset that cinched her waist and breasts with front ties, short enough to leave a peek of nipples and an inch of her lower stomach showing above the thong. Master Dan loved this outfit, and she was counting on that to keep her mind off her troubles.
As she dressed, Nan remembered her silent calls for Dan’s help last night, the same as when Gerard held her captive. She’d never been one to cling, not to friends, family or a man, and she didn’t know what to make of the way she’d missed him so much after being in New Orleans for a few weeks or why he was the one she’d cried out to when in such agonizing pain and terror. Their friendship and occasional Dom/sub relationship had lasted this long because neither wanted more, both of them happy with not taking it further.
“Just what I need, one more thing to question over and over,” she grumbled as she checked the refrigerator for something quick to eat. Reaching for the carton of opened yogurt, she lifted the lid and wrinkled her nose at the odd smell. “Okay, not that.” Setting it out to dump in the trash on her way out, she snatched a smoothie to drink on the way, picked up the stale yogurt and grabbed her purse at the door. Pausing, she turned to double check the lights were on. The apartment was well-lit, but as she locked the door behind her, she considered bunking at Dan’s house again. Just in case her mind was determined to play tricks on her again. Tossing the yogurt in the alley trash bin, she settled behind the wheel, refusing to allow any negative thoughts to intrude for the rest of the night.
“Nan!” Avery and Sydney rushed to greet her as soon as she entered the playroom, their distressed faces irritating Nan. “Grayson told me what happened last night. Are you okay?” Avery gave her a quick hug while Sydney eyed her with sympathy.
“I’m fine,” she bit out, trying not to let her annoyance show. Why hadn’t she considered the deputy might give a report to his boss, the sheriff? “I woke startled when the lights went out and freaked. I already feel like an idiot for overreacting, so let’s not make a big deal about it. Please?”
Sydney nodded and squeezed her arm. “Sure, but next time, call one of us. You know we’d come out.”
Nan rolled her eyes as they settled at a table. “I’m sure your husbands would just love for you to jump out of bed at three in the morning and make the thirty-minute drive into town to hold my hand because I got scared of the dark.”
“Hey, what are friends for? Besides, Grayson would insist on driving me, so you’d get double the support.” Avery grinned but Nan found nothing amusing about that possibility.
“I need a drink.” Something strong to settle her nerves, which had kicked up yet another notch as soon as she arrived. Nan warmed to the activities already taking place, like the blonde she didn’t know at the table next to them who slid off her Dom’s lap and settled between his legs, bending her head to take his erection in her mouth. How could she not go damp as the girl’s deep suctions reminded Nan of the taste and steely hardness of Master Dan’s large cock? But the fear of another public failure along with the lingering stress of the previous night kept her on edge and irritable.
“I’ll get them,” Avery offered. “Beers?”
“I’ll take a whiskey, straight. Thanks.”
“I’ll wait a bit, thanks, Avery.” Sydney turned to Nan as Avery nodded and padded to the bar. “Who do you have your eye set on tonight?”
“I promised Master Dan I’d wait for him.” She didn’t reveal their bargain; that was between the two of them.
Sydney’s grin turned sly. “You two have been seeing a lot of each other.”
“Don’t go making more of it than it ever has been,” she returned. “We’re just getting caught up with each other.”
“Does he know more than we do about New Orleans?” she asked bluntly.
Nan sighed and tried to rein in her impatience. She was fucking tired of evading questions about her ordeal, as tired as she was of everyone asking. She wanted to let what happened in New Orleans stay there, but that wouldn’t be possible until she got over it.
“Uh, oh, you’re getting pissed. I can tell by that look.” Sydney held her hands up in mock surrender. “No more questions. Let’s just have fun. Starting with me going upstairs to keep Master Caden company.”
“Sorry, Sydney, I’m tired from little sleep last night, is all.”
“Here you go.” Avery set their drinks down and looked toward the doors. “And just in time, from the way Master Dan is coming straight over here.”
His timing sucked, Nan thought with a stab of irrational bitchy crossness. She wanted to finish her drink in peace before he took her over, and considering she’d just been hoping he wouldn’t be much longer, she realized what a contradiction that was. Maybe she should have stayed home after all.
Dan drilled her with a dark-eyed look as he placed one hand on her nape in a gentle but firm hold. “Good evening, Avery, Nan.”
“Master Dan. How are you?” Avery answered when Nan remained quiet, scowling into her drink.
“Good, thank you. Problem, Nan?”
The smooth, rich timbre of his deep voice held a note of steely determination that sent Nan’s hackles up. Sliding him a coy glance, she drawled, “Not a fucking thing, Sir. Just trying to enjoy a drink with a friend, alone.” She had no idea what had gotten into her. Her determination not to let the odd occurrences plaguing her deter her plans seemed to have deserted her as soon as she heard others knew about last night’s incident. Exasperation with her whole fucked-up life, and those who kept insisting on hearing about it, made her down the alcohol in one throat-burning gulp.
His tight squeeze on her neck heightened her awareness of him, and what he expected of her. She shivered, a delicate ripple of longing for something she couldn’t define, which added to her annoyance when he sent Avery away.