And if we kept it light without crossing every last line, I could keep working for him. Especially since he wouldn’t find out for himself how lackluster I actually was.
I thought Tripp would push. Or maybe back out because that wasn’t worth it to him. He didn’t. The immediate fire in his darkened gaze was almost enough to make me rescind that condition.
I bit my lip to stop myself.
“Which room?” he asked.
I didn’t have to think about it. It was an easy decision. “I want to see the one you use most.”
I assumed that would be a good thing, but the way Tripp’s body tensed made it clear it wasn’t.
I could’ve backtracked and picked something else, but I didn’t. I wanted to see what got him off.
No.
Ineededto.
More than I needed anything else.
He released me to rub the back of his neck. “I…” He shook his head, and I gathered all my willpower to walk away if I had to.
But I really hoped I didn’t have to.
After a long moment, it was his turn to relent. “Let’s see if it’s available.”
He guided me farther down the hall. I scoped out the rooms we passed, and I suddenly regretted my impulsive insistence. Most of them were filled with instruments and setups I didn’t understand. If he was hesitant, there was a good chance he was into something far,faroutside of my depths.
It would be mortifying—and probably insulting—to backpedal once I saw it. He would feel judged, I would feel like a naive wuss, and any chance we had of continuing our working relationship would go up in smoke.
I need to stop now.
Before we get there, that way there are no issues.
I’ll just tell him I changed my mind.
I didn’t. My curiosity drove me forward, battling with the apprehension with each step we took.
When Tripp slowed to a stop, it wasn’t outside of some wild room with a scary theme.
Other than a couple of out of place mirrors on wheels, it didn’t look like anything special. A four-post bed. A long but low table. That was pretty much it.
At first glance, at least.
Because when I looked closer, I saw that it wasn’t a typical table. It was heavily padded.
With leather restraints attached to each leg.
Ones that matched the restraints on the bedposts.
Even with those naughty additions, it wasn’t anything too wild. Sure, it wasn’t quite as plain as the room he said Maddie preferred, but it was far from kinky. Nothing about it explained the guarded wariness radiating from his taut body.
I dragged my focus from the space to see Tripp’s watchful gaze was on me. He must’ve read my confusion because he hooked an arm around me and dragged me into the room before turning us.
Oh.
Ohhhh.
Oh no.
