Page 100 of The Masquerade: Room 2

“I do.”

When we step outside, Pierce’s town car is waiting. He ushers me in before sliding in beside me and pulling a blindfold out of his pocket. “I think you’ve seen enough for now.”

I love when he takes my sight. All of my other senses heighten. This is the first time he’s done it outside the playroom, so I’m a little nervous as the car pulls into traffic. He doesn’t speak as he caresses my skin—my cheek, my neck, across my collarbone, along my arm, sending a shiver down my spine. He leaves a trail of kisses where his fingers were, leaving me panting as the car comes to a standstill.

“We’re here.”

“I… please tell me we’re back at the club,” I whisper breathlessly.

“Not tonight.” He gently helps me out of the car and leads me to wherever we’re going. I feel a blast of air conditioning as we enter a building and the familiar lunge of an elevator.

“When do I get to see where we are?”

“Patience, little one. We’re almost there.” He leads me from the elevator and out into the night air. Positioning me, he runs his fingers up my arms, leaving me breathless and crying out for his touch elsewhere.

I’m giddy as he loosens the blindfold, but I’m not prepared for the scene before me. We’re on a gorgeous rooftop, with twinkling lights creating an ethereal canopy above us and a single table set for two sitting in the center of the space. A bottle of champagne is waiting in an ice bucket and two glass flutes.

“Oh my, God, Daddy. It’s… so beautiful. You did this all for me?” Tears well in my eyes. No one has ever done something this romantic for me. I’ve never let anyone close enough.

“I wanted to show you how much I appreciate your love and support. I know life isn’t exactly all moonlight and roses right now.”

“I like the whips and floggers,” I quip.

“Oh, I know, but you didn’t sign up for prison handcuffs and the suspension of your mentor. It means so much to me that you’re by my side through all of this. I just wanted you to know how special you are.”

I push up onto my tiptoes and plant a soft kiss on his lips. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome, little one.”

He pulls my seat out like the gentleman he is and pours us both a glass of champagne, lifting them in a toast. “Here’s to a long and happy future together. I hope.”

I clink my glass to his and take a sip. “That is going to happen. I have faith in your lawyer. Nad wouldn’t steer you wrong.”

“Her friend, Jenna, the private investigator, has pieced together the footage from that night. I’m hopeful this will work in my favor. One of the security cameras has a decent angle of the altercation. It looks like he threw the first punch.”

“That’s amazing.”

“Yeah, I just hate that it’s all a little fuzzy in my mind. I remember putting myself between the boy and his father. He was shouting all kinds of obscenities, and then one of the security guards was pulling me off him.”

I reach across the table, resting my hand on his—so large compared to mine. “We know that can be a trauma response. Something he said clearly triggered you.”

“Yeah,” he mumbles, pulling back his hand and taking a long swig of champagne. “It could still cost me my career. There’s no excuse to act that way as a doctor.”

“We’re all human, Pierce. You never give yourself grace.”

He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “Do you want to take a look at the menu?”

He hands it to me. We’re on the rooftop of the Four Seasons. Holy crap. I don’t even want to know what it must have cost him to rent this place out for the evening.

“What would you recommend?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never brought anyone here before.”

“But you’ve dated other women?”

He casts his eyes to a mundane spot on the table. “I’m ashamed to say no. I’ve treated women like my own personal playthings. I never made any room for dates or feelings. Certainly not for love.”

“Don’t be ashamed. You’ve never professed to offer more than a consensual trainer/trainee, Dom/sub relationship. Every woman you’ve been with knew what she was getting.”

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