He kept smiling his wicked smile as he answered, “Both, baby. No whips, no paddles, no crops. You want me to branch out, we’ll go shopping.”

I blinked.

“Shopping?”

“Shopping.”

Oh my.

Knight kept explaining. “Strap, the edges are smooth. You’ll feel the sting, Anya, but no marks. And just to ease that curiosity, you f**k up a little, you get my hand. More, you get the strap. Huge, you get the cane.”

I tried not to squirm on my stool and failed but congratulated myself anyway because it was just a little squirm.

Knight, however, didn’t miss it and I knew this when his arm came out, his hand hooked around the back of my neck and he pulled me to him twisting me and leaning in until our faces were close.

“You know, but I’ll tell you anyway, I’m f**kin’ thrilled you liked takin’ that so much, babe. But that shit doesn’t happen unless you earn it. You wanna experiment, after pancakes, I’ll get inspired. But I tan your ass when you jack up and only then. You like it, you earn it. And I’ll tell you this too even though I already told you, you want that game, I’ll be f**kin’ thrilled to play it with you. But that’s how it is. We got our safe word, we’re good to play the game whenever you want. And if you don’t get this, I’m controlling, that’s what this is about. But baby, you enter that game, that’s your way to control me. You with me?”

Controlling Knight.

I liked that.

I nodded.

“Don’t be nervous or shy about this shit, Anya. I’ll take you as far as you wanna go as long as I’m comfortable with it. You do not sit on anything you’re uncomfortable with either. I go too far, you say the safe word. You do not hesitate and I’ll stand down immediately. No repercussions, baby, and I won’t be disappointed. I promise. We have only what we got right now, I’m way good. And it goes the other way, you like something and want more, you also tell me. And I’ll give it to you. Yeah?”

I nodded.

His eyes held mine.

Then he asked gently, “Now, while I’m eatin’ pancakes, am I looking for inspiration?”

I nodded again.

He grinned again, slow, lazy and wicked.

My legs started trembling.

“Eat,” he whispered then he let me go.

I pulled in a steadying breath and turned my attention to my pancakes.

I got two bites in before my purse sitting close to Knight’s place setting rang. He reached out, dragged it across the countertop to him, dug in and pulled out the phone.

He looked at the display, looked at me and offered it to me, muttering, “Sandrine.”

I took it from him, swallowed, took the call and put the phone to my ear.

“Hey, honey.”

“Anya?”

At her trembling, terrified voice, my back shot straight before I froze.

“Sandrine, where are you? What’s the matter?” I asked and I felt Knight come alert beside me.

“Oh God… Anya,” she whispered, the words broken then she burst into tears.

My eyes shot to Knight who was studying me, face blank, eyes watchful and working but I spoke into the phone.

“Sandrine, honey, talk to me. What’s going on? Where –?”

Then my phone wasn’t at my ear. It was in Knight’s hand at his.

“Sandrine. This is Knight. Pull it together. Two minutes. Are you in trouble?” Pause while I stared at him, eyes glued to his impassive face. “Right. You know where you are?” Another pause while I started shivering. Knight looked to me, lifted his other hand, snapped his fingers once then pointed to his phone. “He still there?” Knight asked as I jumped off the stool and rushed toward his phone.

Oh God.

Oh God.

“This needs to be straight, Sandrine, so give it to me straight. He force you to do it or did you just do it?”

Oh God!

Oh God!

I grabbed Knight’s phone and raced back to him.

“Good, Sandrine. Straight is good. Hang tight. You remember the guy who gave you the ride last weekend?” I held his phone out to him, he took it and I stood close, listening hard. “Good. Either him or me will be there soon. We’re both coming. We’ll deal with the guy and we’ll get you out of there. Hang tight. Don’t do anything stupid. Avoid this guy while you’re waiting if you can. Are you with me?” Another pause then, “Good. You gonna hang tight?” He waited. I waited. Then, “Good, Sandrine. Someone’s coming. I’m letting you go now. Okay?” Pause then, “Be there soon.”

He beeped my phone off and handed it to me but immediately started beeping buttons on his.

“I know you’re freaked, babe, but I gotta get Kurt in play,” he muttered.

“Okay,” I whispered.

I could even hear the fear in my voice so I knew why his eyes sliced to me. I also knew why his hand lifted and curled, firm, warm and tight around the side of my neck as he lifted his phone to his ear.

“Kurt? Yeah, Knight. Got a situation. Need you in play.” He gave an address and a succinct rundown of the situation that gave me nothing then, “I’ll either be there when you get there or I’ll meet you there. Don’t wait to go in. She’s expecting one or both of us. You’re there first, get her out and get her here. Whoever’s out last deals with the guy. Guess? Piss-ant but be smart. Yeah?” He was silent then, “Later.”

He hit a button and looked at me.

I pulled in breath.

Knight gave it to me.

“It’s not as bad as you think but it’s f**ked. She went out last night, got shitfaced, hooked up. From his address, dude’s got money. She went home with him. He offered her something that was mood-enhancing, she was not enthusiastic but she was determined so she took it. He gave her too much. Trip was bad. She doesn’t remember much. She’s still f**ked up, probably high, definitely drunk. But she’s not enough of both not to realize she’s freaked. He isn’t letting her leave. Don’t know why, could just be she’s tripping bad and drunk and he’s concerned so he’s not letting her go, could be he’s an ass**le. But I’ll find out and deal with it. One or both of you and Vivica got access to her place?”

“Both,” I whispered.

“Activate Vivica. Clothes, underwear, whatever the f**k bitches need. Get her ass there to get it and here for when I get Sandrine back. I don’t know what she took so I don’t know what we got on our hands. It could still get bumpy. You got that?”