Page 6 of Tantalize

Allyson stood up and guided Dani over to a sofa, keeping her arm around her even as they sat down together.

“I’ve never heard you safeword before,” Sierra said.

Dani closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “It was an extreme measure.” She was still surprised she’d done that to Gabriel. Not because he grabbed her arm, but because he wouldn’t listen. His touch did funny things to her. Exciting things she didn’t want to think about. Her nerves came alive at his touch. But Gabriel was the one who’d rejected her, and she needed to remind him of that.

“Do I need to talk to Max about not allowing Gabriel into the club anymore?” Sierra asked.

“Absolutely not.” Dani sat up from her position on the sofa. “Gabriel has as much right to be here as I do. Either he deals with me being here or he doesn’t. But I won’t have him banned.” She meant what she said.

“And what if he can’t deal?” Crystal asked.

Dani shook her head. “Not my problem.” And it wasn’t.

“You should’ve seen Damon’s face when you yelled your safeword,” Tessa said. “He couldn’t get to you fast enough.”

“I’ve caused a mess tonight.” Dani shook her head and slumped against the sofa. What was she going to do?

Allyson put her arm around Dani and squeezed her shoulders.

“There is a history between you and Gabriel, isn’t there?” Sierra asked.

“If that wasn’t obvious by what happened, I don’t know what could be.” Dani had a decision to make. How much did she say tonight? Why was she even hesitating? It was time to get the story out. “Gabriel and I were lovers in college.”

Allyson tightened her hold on Dani’s shoulders. Dani was appreciative of her friend’s support. “We broke up shortly after Gabriel tried to introduce me to kink. At the time, it wasn’t something I was interested in.”

“Well, that’s not unusual,” Crystal observed.

“I think my reaction might’ve been a little over the top.” Dani would take responsibility for her own actions, but she wouldn’t take responsibility for Gabriel’s.

“I’ve never seen Gabriel act like that,” Tessa said.

The other women agreed, and Dani wasn’t surprised. While Gabriel was very protective, she hadn’t expected him to react the way he had. Was that why she avoided him all this time? She’d only come home because of her grandfather’s heart attack, then stayed because he could no longer run the landscape business. And she wasn’t about to let the family business die because she was afraid of an old lover.

“Gabriel is intense, but he works hard and focuses on each aspect of his job,” Allyson said. “I mean, he works with Zeke.”

“I doubt Zeke even knows,” Dani said. Why would Gabriel even mention her? They’d broken up a long time ago. It was over. Dani rubbed a hand over her heart, trying to make it understand.

“Well, since we have some time, shall we discuss what topic we’re going to have at our next sub meeting?” Sarah asked.

Dani flashed Sierra a grateful smile for changing the subject and listened with half an ear as the women talked. She had some thinking to do. All of it to do with Gabriel.

* * * *

Gabriel sat in his SUV and stared out the windshield. Max was right. Dani was a member of the club, which meant she’d been through all the classes and passed the background check. She had every right to be there. Plus, she had to know what she was getting into from the classes.

He needed to wrap his head around it. Easier said than done. He started at the knock on the window and turned to the sound. Zeke stood there. Gabriel motioned him to step back, opened the door and climbed out of the vehicle.

“Are you coming back in? Or are you going to sit here all night?” Zeke asked.

“Only you could get away with saying that.” Gabriel was grateful for his friend.

“That’s why we’re best friends. One of the Doms asked if you would give him some instructions on impact play.”

“It would have to be verbal only.” He held up his wrist, showing Zeke the magenta band. “While I’ve only had one drink and I’m in no way impaired, I won’t take chances, and I won’t break the rules.”

“I’m sure verbal will be enough.”

“Is Max okay with me coming back in?” He’d made a mess of things.

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