Page 27 of Carnal

I step inside, amazed at what's in front of me. Black, hot pink, and pewter cover the entire room. Restraints hang from the walls and ceiling and are attached to the furniture. Shelves display top-of-the-line sex toys. A display case has floggers and paddles of different sizes and materials. Chains of different widths and lengths hang next to them. One corner of the room has a metal cage with bars from floor to ceiling. The other corner of the room has a stage with a pole and floodlights. Mirrors create a reflection, making the room appear larger.

"This had to cost a fortune," I mutter, impressed at Pina's playroom. Like my brothers, I have my own dungeon in my wing of the house, but Pina's is nothing to sneeze at.

"Put me down, Tristano!" she orders, but her voice is softer.

I obey, sliding her down my body until her feet hit the floor, but I don't remove my arms from around her.

Tense silence fills the air. Neither of us moves as she stares at my chest. Her floral scent reminds me of last night, making me desperate to smell it mixed with her arousal. My pulse pounds hard between my ears. Maybe it's my attraction toward her I can't get past, the freshness of what it was like to have her as mine, or even the room she created, but the urge to talk evaporates. All I want to do is claim her as mine even though I should stop the path we're on.

Unable to stop myself, I tilt her head up. The gold in her eyes bursts into flames, mesmerizing me further. I ask, "When did you build this room?"

Heat flushes her cheeks. She bites on her bottom lip, which is the first time I've ever seen her do that. It's a show of vulnerability, and Pina's usually anything but vulnerable. It makes my testosterone flare hotter.

I stroke her cheek with my thumb, questioning, "Why are you embarrassed?"

"I'm not," she replies, her face turning redder.

"No?" I interrogate, arching my eyebrows and tugging her closer to me.

She takes a deep breath then licks her lips.

"I know you use the dungeon at the club," I reveal.

"So what? So do you," she points out.

"I'm not judging you," I assure her.

She nervously exhales. "Good."

"Why did you freak out on me last night? I've known for a long time you like to submit," I admit.

"Yeah? How did you know that? My sessions are private," she states.

I tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear, and she holds her breath. I answer, "You go into the dungeon. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together."

She raises her chin then scoffs. "You would think that."

Confused, I inquire, "Think what?"

"Ask me again why I got upset last night," she says.

"Tell me why you hated me after we had what I think was incredible sex," I reply and mean it. Hands down, it was the best I've ever had.

"You agreed to my terms then took over. It was a big lie to get what you wanted," she claims.

Frustration fills me. I question, "What did I do that you didn't like, Pina? Tell me."

She waits a moment then admits, "Nothing."

"Then what's the problem? I'm really confused and want to know."

She studies me, tilting her head.

"Pina, it's not fair—"

"You agreed to my terms, then you took over. I wouldn't have let you come here if you hadn't promised me I was in charge," she confesses.

My chest tightens. I try not to sound whiny, asking, "I understand you like control. But you know as well as I do that there's always a dominant and submissive. The Dom is in charge, not the sub. So why is it okay for other men to take charge but not me?"

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