Read Online Dungeon Time (Play at Work) by Kate Richards - Free Book Online Page B

they’d kissed, she plopped into the corner. “We have to see each other at the office, and I want to clear some things up before Monday morning.”
    He hesitated between the door and the couch. How long would it take Roland to get there? If Anna was still around when he and Brigid arrived…. Edward shuddered to think what might happen. “Okay let me make a call and try to cancel an appointment. Stay right there.”
    She nodded. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    He hurried downstairs and grabbed his phone. Roland’s number went right to voice mail, so he left a terse message. “Don’t come over right now. I will explain later.” He hoped the man would get the word in time, but just in case, Edward had to think of a way to get Anna out of harm’s reach.
    “Okay, how about breakfast?” he called up the stairs. “I’ll just rinse off and get dressed and we can go.”
    He hurried, but when he emerged ten minutes later, the scene in his living room chilled him to the bone.
    Master Roland, clad in his typical leather vest and black jeans sat in the center of the couch, flanked by the two women. His wide grin fueled Edward’s fear. The man was a sadist. He rarely smiled unless someone was about to experience extreme pain.
    “I let your friends in, Edward.” Anna’s ordinary words did not matched the flames in her eyes. “We’ve been having such an interesting conversation. Master Roland says you have been quite lenient with me so far.”
    Oh, Jeez, no.
    Roland patted her bare knee, and Edward tensed. But he made no further move. “Quite a nice girl you have here, Edward. I invited her to the club tonight. We can never have enough attractive women around the place.”
    How much had Master Roland shared?
    “I accepted the invitation. I hope you’ll escort me. It sounds like fun.”
    “Anna, you have no idea. That is, it’s complicated, but I don’t know if you’d feel comfortable.”
    She frowned. “You don’t think your friends would like me? Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
    Roland blinked at him then turned his attention back to Anna. “Ridiculous. You are delightful. If he won’t take you, I’ll give you a ride.” He nodded at Brigid in her black, short dress. “Won’t we, my dear?”
    Edward’s brain swirled. Everything was collapsing around him. If it went badly with Anna at the club, not only would he lose her, but it could spill over into his work life. While not ashamed of his predilections, they did not need to be bandied about the boardrooms and courtrooms of the city. No alternative presented itself—they’d cornered him. “No, she goes with me.”
    Roland stood and straightened his vest. He held out a hand to Brigid. “We’ll be going. See you around nine?”
    “Fine. I’ll show you out.” Edward closed the door behind his guests and turned, leaning against it. “Anna, I don’t think you understand any of this. I mean, you can’t. The club is—”
    She bit her lip. “Edward, come here.”
    He joined her, still trying to think of a way to talk her out of going. She would run as fast and far as she could once she caught sight of the manacles and spanking benches in the dungeon. And he’d have to let her go because she’d be right to run.
    Anna nestled against him, resting her head on his chest, and he wrapped an arm around her. Her sweet-smelling warmth filled his head with ideas of how he’d like to spend what was likely their last day together. Mostly naked. A few ropes—perhaps shibari was not entirely out of the picture.
    He tried one more time. “Are you sure you want to go tonight?” He had to tread carefully or she’d think, again, it was something lacking in her that made him say it. “We could go to a movie instead.” Perfect. Way to make a vanilla suggestion.
    But she jerked away and stared at him. “Edward, if you don’t want me in your life, just say so. I thought it would be fun to go, and your friends seemed to like me just fine. But if you’d rather I not, I