Page 93 of Salvage Him

She bit her lip andblushed.

Iagreedto the plan mainly because I wanted to get away from them. Their sappy lovey-dovey crap turned my stomach. I needed time to think. It felt manipulative to put Harrison back in the same place our issuesstarted.

If I was honest with myself, our issues started the minute he delivered the armoire to Justin’s office. I was the one who cheated on my husband,nothim.

For three days, I threw myself into work and pretended not to think about Tuesday. I tossed and turned in bed for hours every nigh. I worked out in the gym in my building every morning. Sweating out liters did nothing to calm mynerves.

I wrote out what I wanted to say to Harrison. Recited it out loud in the shower. Rehearsed it over and over again, but none of my words captured how I felt about him and how much heaffectedme.

Tuesday rolled around.I pulled several pieces out of my closet and held them up in front of the full-length mirror. Nothing seemed right. I thought about the pleated skirt. I remembered the way his eyes ran over my legs when I wore it last time. I had a couple of intricatecorsets.

I perused my wardrobe and settled on a long sleeve black shift dress. It stopped mid-thigh and had slits up to my hips. The sequined boy shorts underneath were cute and covered enough to wear alone. The simple black lace bra held in myassets.

I finished the outfit with a pair of Louboutin heels that made my five-foot-six frame appear seven feet tall. I would have preferred flats or my Converse, but I wanted to appearconfident.

If we didn't end up together, I would be okay. Either way, I appreciated him and was grateful for his friendship. He brought me back to myself. He needed toknowthat.

My phone beeped in thecorner.

Justin: He's here. Nina will take you to the private rooms fromtheback.

I took one last look in themirror.

Brooklyn: I'm onmyway.

Ishiveredas I enteredtheroom.

I hugged myself, unable to stop fidgeting. I couldn't sit still. I paced the floor, keeping my steps steady and sure. I didn't want to fall flat on my ass in front of him. I inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm my nerves. Itdidn'twork.

Tonight could end up great, or it could end in disaster. Either way, I had to taketherisk.

I had so many questions. I forgot how to be a sub, especially with no instructions. Despite the cool room, beads of sweat rolled down my back and my stomachflipped.

I ran my hand down the spanking bench on one side of the room. I thought of draping my body over it, but it seemed contrived. I thought about getting naked and greeting him in the middle of the room on my knees, but it seemed presumptuousofme.

The voices outside the door made my heart thumped hard in mychest.

Where would hewantme?

How did Iaddresshim?

I needed him to tell me these things, but he didn't know Iwashere.

I stepped toward the bench but switched direction. My heels got caught in the carpet, and I fell on the bed. I righted myself and smooth my dress down before the dooropened.

"I promise. No strings. No feeling, just have fun. You remember fun?" Justin's voice increased when the dooropened.

"I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I can't. Not right now,"Harrisonsaid.

My throat hitched at the sadness in Harrison's voice. I blinked back tears as I placed my hands on my lap andwaited.

When he entered the room and turned to face me, my heartstopped.

We both stared, not sayingaword.

I tookhimin.

If this was the end, I wanted to remember him dressed in black jeans and a black t-shirt. He had cut his hairshorter.