Gabi would have been younger than Brenna. Sadness mingled with pity as Linda turned her hand over and squeezed Gabi’s. “I’m sorry.”

Gabi squeezed back, not speaking. Letting Linda think.

After a moment, she pulled in a breath. Sometimes shit just happens. How logical. And freeing. I didn’t do anything bad to warrant being enslaved. Something inside her loosened. Not completely. She’d have to work on believing that. But first, she needed to deal with the real reason she’d come. “And the other issue? Wanting pain?”

“Yes. Let’s go over that.” Gabi rummaged in her purse and pulled out two business cards. “I know counselors are supposed to be all enlightened, but we often have biases. S and M was taken off the mental disorders list. However, it still makes some psychologists uncomfortable.” She handed over the cards. “I can’t take you on as my patient, but these two are kink-friendly. And you need some help, sweetie.”

“Right.” Linda tucked the cards in her wallet. “S and M isn’t a mental problem?”

“Uh-uh. Just another point in the wide sexual continuum. How you deal with it is what counts.” Gabi leaned back. “Do you constantly need someone to hurt you? Does the craving affect your work or home life?”

“Not constantly, but I-I want it. Get cranky without it.” Linda stared at her fingers and admitted, “I got really…needy…after the kidnapping.”

“All the rescued women had problems afterward. That’s not crazy. That’s human. And if pain helps you get in touch with your inner self, then stress will increase your need for it.” Gabi grinned. “Just like I’ll eat an entire bag of potato chips when I’m frazzled.”

“Oh.” The next worry popped out before she could censor it. “But with sex. The guys thought I was unbalanced when I asked for something…different.”

Kim flicked her fingers in annoyance. “The scum suckers didn’t want to hear they’re not gods in the bedroom or that you could possibly want anything other than what they did.” She snickered. “Really, Linda, you should be ashamed, crushing their little egos.”

Gabi snorted a laugh.

After a second, Linda’s lips tipped up. That was rather how Frederick and Lee had acted. Insulted. And Dwayne had been seriously angry.

As if filled with helium, her spirits started to lift. “So I’m not mentally unbalanced? Don’t need counseling?”

“You need counseling, but mainly to help you figure out how to deal with your needs.” Gabi rolled her eyes. “Not to be cured of them.”

Not crazy. Linda bit her lip, fighting back tears. She still had to choose whether or not to have BDSM in her life, but now the decision would be hers. Not one made from fear.

I’m not crazy. Maybe she should order champagne to go with the pizza.

Kim nudged her shoulder. “After we eat—and gossip for a while—you want to visit the Shadowlands?”

A thrill shot through her. Would Sam be there? Did she want to see him? Duh. Considering how his mere name made her insides quiver, that was a stupid question.

But should she see him? She still wasn’t real comfortable with the idea of needing pain. But as Gabi said, if that was who she was, then she had to learn to deal with it. Stop trying to hide her head in the sand.

But I like sand. Still, avoidance hadn’t done her any favors, now had it?

And yet, would Sam forgive her for how she’d run from him? There was only one way to find out. “Yes. Let’s.”

Chapter Nine

Dressed in black jeans and a black work shirt, Sam leaned against the bar and scowled at Z. “You got something you need me for?” He hadn’t planned on visiting the Shadowlands. Not this weekend. Not until he could forget the last person under his lash and could stop seeing her everywhere.

Z hadn’t said what he wanted, so Sam had brought in his bag. But he wasn’t in the mood to do a teaching scene or whatever Z had in mind—not if he could escape it.

“Somehow, you’ve managed to evade your turn at supervising the trainees.” Z gave him a faint smile. “This is Olivia’s rotation, but her job schedule changed. Can you take her place?”

“Hell.” He’d rather do a goddamned teaching scene. Sam’s gaze took in the trainees who were flitting about the room. They were easy enough to spot, since they wore leather wrist cuffs decorated with colored ribbons, indicating their scene preferences. Red meant they were masochists. “I’d hoped you’d overlooked me. Or assigned someone permanently.”

“Not a chance,” Z said in a dry voice. “And I think the trainees benefit from having a variety of trainers. Their choice of a Dom might be more balanced.”

Didn’t look like he’d escape the chore. “Fine.”

He didn’t mind working with the trainees one-on-one, but as trainer, he’d also have to supervise, assign, punish, and set them up with either Doms or Masters who could widen their experiences. He frowned, considering the potential Tops. Not a good selection. Too many Masters didn’t scene with anyone but their submissives. “We need more single Masters, Z.”

Z nodded. “I agree. Suggestions?”

The title of Shadowlands Master—or Mistress—was bestowed by the membership during a voting process; however, Z nominated the candidates. “I think Holt might be ready.”

“He would work out well. Galen Kouros and Vance Buchanan are members now, and they’re undoubtedly at Master status.” Z considered. “What do you think of Jacob?”

Sam frowned. “Thought he was in a relationship with Heather.” Heather had been a trainee at one time.

“Their attachment didn’t survive her acceptance of a job in Oregon.”

“Guess that happens.” A shame though. They’d looked good together.

“Indeed. He’s back and helping out as a DM.”

“He’d make a good Master.”

“That’s four. And Catherine is ready for a Mistress title.” Z studied Sam. “You look tired.”

Damn psychologist-Dom. Sam had grown exceedingly tired of therapists after his discharge and later with Nancy. Not that they’d done his addicted wife any good. Of course, she was the most manipulative person he’d ever met. “I love you, Sam. If you loved me, you’d give me what I need.” His jaw set. Then he pushed the memories aside. “Early day. Nolan’s crew starts at dawn.”

“Hadn’t you told me you always rise before dawn?” Z said with not a flicker of a changed expression.

Well, Sam wasn’t much for evasions. Bluntness served him better. “Not your problem, Z. Leave off.”

Z paused, then nodded. “Call me if I can help.”

“Right.” Sam slapped the bar. “I’ll go terrify the trainees so I can sleep well tonight.”

Z’s grin flashed. “Considering Anne supervised them last month, scaring them will take some work.”

“Hell.” Mistress Anne was not only a sadist, but she had mind fucking down pat. Where Sam was straightforward, she was damned sneaky. And yet her male submissives—and she usually had more than one—worshipped the ground she walked on. Shaking his head, Sam moved down the bar to where Cullen was drawing a beer.

Cullen looked up with a grin. “Hey, buddy. Did Z drop the trainees in your lap?”

“Yep. Who are the first-shift barmaids?”

“Rainie, Dara, and Sally. Maxie’s gone for a month or so. Uzuri and Tanner will take the last half of the night.”

“Thanks.” Sam strolled through the big room, automatically monitoring the scenes. When he spotted a male Dom preparing to take his sub bareback, Sam cleared his throat and nodded at the stand with condoms. Z didn’t care how long a couple had been together; everybody suited up in the Shadowlands.

The Dom gave him a rueful look, then said to his partner, “Gotta dress for the party, boy. You stay right here.” He gave the sub’s balls a hard squeeze. “Hear me? Don’t move.”

Sam walked away, grinning at the sub’s groan that started low and ended high. Nice range.

In the main room, he checked on Dara and Sally. They were doing well, not only keeping up with drink orders but also experienced enough to negotiate scenes for when they went off duty. Z deliberately made the trainees serve drinks. Some of them—well, not Dara or Sally—were shy, and barmaiding made it easy for them to meet the Doms.

In the dungeon room, a Domme was talking to Rainie. Pushing. The Domme wasn’t…completely…out of line, but the trainee was too intimidated to give a firm no.

About five feet seven, Rainie probably weighed over two hundred pounds, and the younger Doms called her a BBW—a big, beautiful woman—which Sam considered a good description. A fairly new trainee, she was extremely popular.

She was dressed in blue boy shorts, a latex bra, and a wealth of tattoos. The red lotus flowers started at her ass and turned to blue water fountaining up her spine. More flower tats vined over her right shoulder, down her sternum to curl under her right breast. Her shoulder-length brown hair was highlighted with red and blonde streaks.

The trainee had a personality as colorful as her appearance. But she did intimidate easily.