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same significance as—or even held more standing than—a wedding ring. The choker of diamonds and sapphires declared Presley belonged to Master Dmitri.
    To be collared so early in the lifestyle was unusual. Cora touched her neck, wondering what a collar would feel like. It had never happened to her, even though she’d been in a committed D/s relationship before with her ex-boyfriend Porter.
    She looked to Master Aidan across the dungeon as he stood near the Club Sin Doms’ lockers that contained all their toys. Everything seemed so different for Presley. Her friend had found the love of her life the second she walked into Club Sin. It’d been two years since Cora joined the dungeon and all she’d done was fall in love with a man shadowed in misery and in love with another woman.
    The desire to be held engulfed her, and her mind raced. Relax. Calm down. This will pass .
    “Cora,” Presley whispered.
    She snapped her hand off her neck, discovering Presley staring at her. “Sorry, did I drift off there? I guess I’m still a bit out of it.”
    Presley gave Cora a long look. “Can I ask you something personal?”
    “Of course, always.”
    Presley’s eyebrows furrowed as she scooted closer. “Do you notice the connection you have with Aidan?”
    Cora cleared her throat and licked her lips, glancing down to the blanket. “Of course I see it.” Hell, she felt it in every molecule of her body. Though feeling something didn’t always mean things worked out how one wanted. “It’s expected. He trained me.”
    When Presley shifted closer, Cora lifted her head to find her friend focused on her. “See, I thought that, too. Then I noticed how he looks at you.” She looked to Aidan, who was chatting with another Dom. Addressing Cora again, this time with a frown, she said, “Sometimes I see him looking at you like he does in a scene, but he’s not in a scene.” She paused, and finally gave a halfhearted shrug. “I don’t get why you guys aren’t a couple.”
    You don’t know his pain . His demons were not for Cora to share. She never knew if it was her job that gave her insight into him or if it was their close D/s relationship, but some things needed to remain private. No matter how close she was to Presley. “First, our relationship isn’t like that. You’re reading into things that aren’t there. Master Aidan doesn’t look at me like that.”
    If he did, things would be very different .
    If he did, I could tell you that I love him .
    Presley hesitated, tapping a finger against her thigh. “Well, I’m not sure I agree.” She tucked her legs underneath her, sitting sideways. “Since I joined Club Sin, you’ve only played with him. If your relationship isn’t like that, why don’t you play with other Doms, too … I don’t know … find a boyfriend?”
    Cora’s heart palpitated and her palms grew sweaty. While she wanted to be honest with Presley, it would open a doorway she couldn’t go down. If Master Aidan knew how she felt, he’d stop playing with her. It was the right thing for a Dom to do. He wouldn’t lead her on, and not playing with him was unthinkable.
    She’d become okay with her decision to accept things for what they were. She didn’t need more than what Aidan gave to her. And she explained that in the only way she could. “I don’t want a boyfriend.”
    “Why?”
    With a grunt, Cora rolled her eyes. “You’re never going to let this drop, are you?” At Presley’s shake of her head and smirk, Cora figured she had to give a better answer or risk being asked the same question over and over again. Apparently, the I-don’t-want-one explanation wouldn’t cut it anymore. “I haven’t met anyone I’ve wanted to settle down with. I want it to be natural.”
    Presley’s nose scrunched. “That makes no sense. You’re such a fantastic woman, and you’re only twenty-five. You’re too young to take the if-it-is-meant-to-be route.”
    A lump formed in Cora’s throat and she