Page 52 of Blush

I continue to whip her for another minute. Then another.

Snap! Snap! Snap—

“Tesla!” she yells.

I go rigid, and the whip falls to the floor with a dull thud.

Tesla—the car of Blossom’s dreams. The car she’s saving for.

The car whose name she chose for her safe word.

My heart thunders, and remorse surges through me. What have I done?

Never before has a sub needed to use a safe word with me.

I drop my gaze to her ass.

Oh my God. One of the lashes has drawn blood.

“Blossom, forgive me.” I unbind her quickly and lead her to the table where I help her lie down on her stomach.

In the bottom drawer of the chest in the corner are first aid supplies. I’ve never opened the bottom drawer in any of these suites before.

What is wrong with me?

Quickly, I pull out antiseptic wipes, antibacterial ointment, gauze, and bandages.

“I’m okay, Jack,” she says.

“You used your safe word. You’re not okay.”

“No, I am. This isn’t the first time someone has drawn blood.”

“But it’s the first timeI’vedrawn blood.”

She says nothing more. Just lets me tend to her. I’ve drawn blood on occasion with other partners. Partners who want it.

But it’s one of Blossom’s hard limits. She does not want broken skin. Ever.

I’ve violated her trust. I’ve violated the agreement between us.

This will be my last scene with her. We both know this.

And normally? I’d be grieving the loss. Blossom is an excellent partner. We’re attracted to each other, and we enjoy each other.

I have effectively ruined what we had.

Guilt eats away at me, as if it’s inside me, like a scorpion trying to claw its way out. How could I do something so rash? How could I have violated Blossom’s trust this way?

I wasn’t thinking of her, and that’s on me.

I was thinking only of myself. I was trying to get Mandy out of my mind.

And Blossom had to pay the price.

I could be kicked out of the club for this. I won’t be. I know Blossom, and she won’t report me. This is why subs have safe words, after all. She’ll accept my apology, and we will move on.

I dress her wound. It’s not serious. It’s barely oozing blood at this point. Still, I hate myself for it.