turned to look over her shoulder. Her gaze immediately locked with Mason’s concerned one.
Oh God, it all came rushing back to her. The whipping. The pain. She moved her hand to feel her back. Was she bleeding? It felt as if she’d been ripped to shreds.
“Don’t, baby,” he whispered, and she immediately stilled.
“It hurts.”
“I need to put some ointment on it, but I didn’t want to disturb you. C’mon. Let me get you upstairs.” He rose and cradled her in his arms. “After I finish tending to you, we’ll go to bed, and I’ll hold you all night.”
“Viola,” she gasped. Where was her friend? Where was Dave? Had they watched and wondered where she was now, or was her partner too busying snooping around? She couldn’t concentrate on that right now, but she also couldn’t leave without talking to Viola. “Where is she?”
“Who?” he asked, frowning at her. He put his hand on her forehead and rubbed. “You might still be out of it, baby. It’s just us.”
“No. I mean…” She shook her head to get the cobwebs out of it. She couldn’t do anything about her dry mouth. “My friend Viola and her husband came with me tonight. She was worried about the public scene and wanted to be here for support. I can’t leave without talking to her. She’ll be worried.”
He nodded slowly. “Okay, pet.” He put her down, and she very gently settled onto the couch. “I’ll find out who’s working the front door and have him point them out to me. You stay here and rest. I’ll bring them to you.”
She swallowed, trying to get saliva to form in her mouth. He seemed to notice her need, bent over to retrieve a water bottle, and handed it to her. “Thanks,” she whispered as she opened it. “Master Emory met them before the scene. You can ask him.” That was all she could say before she guzzled a third of the bottle.
He stroked her hair until she pulled the bottle away from her lips. Without a word, he nodded at her and left.
She stared after him, wondering how long they’d been alone in this room. After looking around, she confirmed that she hadn’t seen it before, so he must have brought her in here. She shifted and winced. Damn, but her flesh was screaming. That scene had been pure torture. She understood why Mason wanted her to experience it.
Because some people got off on pain, and she wouldn’t know what she liked until she tried it. The spanking had been tolerable. Hell, it had been hot, but she doubted she’d like the whipping even if he’d been the one striking her.
In fact, she knew she wouldn’t have.
With the first lash, she knew Hell had found her. There’d been no escape. No enjoyment, not even toleration.
Not until Mason had shown up. After he’d soothed her and touched her, she no longer had control of her body, her desires. She’d become his vessel of pleasure, and her instinct had been to satisfy his needs, regardless of what they were. She shivered as she accepted the fact that she would’ve had sex with him right there in front of everybody if he’d wanted it. Though sex wasn’t what he’d sought.
She almost wished it had been. Him holding her, comforting her had touched her in a place she’d never felt before. It had felt completely foreign. And beautiful.
She blinked as she felt her eyes water. She couldn’t fall in—no, she couldn’t even think about feelings. Couldn’t go there at all. To do so would force her to admit something she was too scared to.
The door opened, drawing her attention. Viola stared at her wide-eyed and slowly approached as if she was scared Shelby would be spooked by her presence and try to run.
“Hey,” she said slowly.
“Hi.” Shelby looked behind her, but didn’t see anybody else come in. “Where’s Dave?”
“He’s outside with Showalter.” She took her time moving toward Shelby and sat carefully. “How do you feel?”
She would’ve laughed without mirth if she could’ve mustered the strength. “That’s the million dollar question now, isn’t it?” She shrugged and seriously regretted the movement, but she tried to cover her grimace. “I don’t know,” she murmured. “Everything seems so… I don’t know.”
Viola reached over and took her hand. “That was intense. If Showalter hadn’t shown up when he did, I was about to stop that shit myself. I don’t know how. I think I started to on instinct because I’d stepped away from Dave