Page 66 of The Breaking Point

“Oh, I don’t mind. I think it’s adorable.” His smile was warm, with an edge to it that made me want to shiver.

“I’ve always liked being in control,” he said. “But it was an ex that introduced me to BDSM. She was into it, and then one day, she told me we should try it. That was when I realized that I liked giving pain and hated receiving it.”

“Do you ever feel like you’ve gone too far? Or like you’ve tried one thing, and now you have to level up?”

His expression was thoughtful. “When I was younger and wilder, yes. But I’ve learned to appreciate that it’s not about leveling up. It’s about everyone receiving pleasure and fulfillment through pain. And that takes a lot of practice and self-control to master.”

He continued, “Would you be interested in a demonstration? We’d start slowly since you’re new at this. Perhaps we could see if you like the Saint Andrew’s cross.”

I was about to ask him what that was when my companion was suddenly pulled backward in his chair. A forearm was pressed against his throat.

And then Brady’s voice said, “Put one fucking finger on her, and you’ll wish you’d never been born.”

BRADY

“Brady!” Grace jumped out of her chair and grabbed my arm. “Stop! He didn’t even do anything!”

It didn’t matter. This stranger had talked about hurting Grace.My Grace.

Grace’s voice was all that kept me from doing worse. I finally let go, the guy coughing and sputtering.

“What the fuck, dude?” he kept saying. “Who the fuck are you?”

I grabbed Grace and hauled her into a back closet that was blessedly unlocked. It was either that or dragging her out to my car.

“What has gotten into you?” Grace demanded.

I barely registered her words because even in the dim light of the closet, I could see she was wearing a leather dress and spiky heels. And this dress hardly even covered her luscious ass.

“I told you not to come here again,” I growled.

Grace crossed her arms. “So? You aren’t my keeper. I can go where I want.”

“That’s not the deal we made.”

“Deal? You giving me commands just to be overbearing is not a deal. That’s just you being a ...”

I smirked. “What?”

“Asshole,” she finally spat out. “You’re being an asshole, and it’s pissing me off.”

I had to admit, Angry Grace was extra gorgeous. But I also had the presence of mind to know that if I said as much, she’d probably stab me in the eye with one of her heels.

“And anyway,” she was saying, “if you’d just answered my questions, I wouldn’t have had to come here to do my own research. So, really, this is all your fault.”

“I told you to stay away from here!”

Grace rolled her eyes. “Yeah, and look what happened. Did you really think I’d just nod and go home? Come on. You’re smarter than that.”

I growled low in my throat. I’d never met a more frustrating, stubborn, sexy, alluring woman in my entire fucking life.

I also realized what exactly she was saying.Doing her own research.I swallowed, feeling ill.

“Were you seriously thinking about letting that guy touch you?” I asked.

Grace shrugged. “I was considering it. Because at least I’d understand why you liked that kind of stuff.”

I gaped at her. I didn’t know whether to be horrified or flattered.

---