“Red.”

“What? No.” She can’t call red.

Mistress Torment is already unbuckling my straps. “Tell me, Brent. Where did you go?”

“No where, Mistress.” I lift my gaze to hers. The scene ends immediately when someone uses the safe word. I just didn’t think it would be her.

“You went nonverbal and unresponsive, Brent. What happened?”

“Nothing. I was… here.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips. Mistress Torment was a dark goddess. Dark chocolate and spice mixed with elegance, culture and self assurance. “This will not work unless you are honest with me.”

“It’s… nothing, Mistress. I swear.”

She smiled, and I thought she’d restart the scene. “Go get in the shower. Think hard on what you want, Brent. You can’t have this and lie too.”

“But—.”

She points towards the shower in this impressive basement dungeon. All the wind leaves my sails and my chin drops as I shuffle into the bathroom.

How did this go wrong so quickly?

I make short work of the shower and put on one of the robes hanging in the closet as I use my towel to dry my hair. She’s waiting for me on the couch with a bottle of water on her lap. My eyes automatically settle on the slope of her neck. My mouth waters as my thoughts turn to kissing her there.

She passes me the water bottle as I sit down next to her. I take a swig even though I really want a shot of something stronger. I have to be careful with alcohol, thanks to my dad.

“I used to have nightmares as a kid. I had trouble telling the difference between reality and fantasy back then. I had a flashback fantasy is all.”

Her lips turn up and I’m fascinated and mesmerized by her light brown eyes. “Want to tell me about it?”

I break the hold she has on me and look away. “Not really. It’s not real, so it doesn’t matter.”