I walk unsteadily from so many powerful orgasms out of the stranger's apartment building. I blink against the morning light. Where the fuck am I? How am I going to get home? I consider calling Scott, but it would just prove him right.

"Hey."

I jump at the voice before recognizing it. I spin around. "Scott? What the fuck are you doing here?"

He shrugs, not even a little sheepishly. "I followed you."

"You what?" I hiss at him so we don't disturb anyone at this god-awful early hour of the morning, and lead him away from the stranger's place.

He huffs. "I was worried about you. Which you already knew. A picture wasn't going to be enough. And I saw him take you away in an Uber. How did you plan on getting home?"

I gape at him, his words true, but I'm too pissed off to admit it yet. "That wasn't your problem. I'm perfectly capable of calling an Uber myself or a taxi or even finding a bus. I'm a grown ass woman, Scott."

He looms close to me, making me stumble back. He's so close my sore breasts brush against his chest with every breath. They harden in response and I want to curse them. "You are my best fucking friend. I didn't think you should do this, but I backed off because you're right. You are a grown ass woman. With a fine ass by the way. But I wasn't going to sit by when you could be in danger. I was going to make sure you were safe. So I followed you. And waited for you while you fucked a stranger. Because I am your best friend and I am always going to have your fucking back."

He waited for me for hours. I don't even know if I'm still pissed of relieved. He makes me feel loved and suffocated all at once.

My fury flies away and I slump. I don't want to fight anymore. "Let's go get food. It's like five AM and I'm starving." I worked up quite an appetite and need to replenish my calories.

He blinks, the fight melting out of him, and grins at me with cocky relief. "Sounds wonderful."

I slide my arm through his and let him escort me to his car. I guess he won this round, but I'm still flying so high from multiple orgasms that I really don't care. And I'm tired of the tension between us. I want things to go back to normal. I hate fighting with him. It always ruins my day.

The car ride is thick with tension and I don't know how to fix it. I don't know how to fix us. We've had fights before, but this one felt different. I don't know if it's because of the sex or what. I have been changing a lot lately, doing things I've never done before or even knew I wanted to do. Maybe he thinks he's losing me. Or maybe he doesn't like who I'm turning into.

We don't talk much until we slide into our usual booth and order our usual meals. I'm glad I don't have classes today because I'd have to beg off. Exhaustion pulls at me, but the smell of frying bacon perks me right up, giving me a second wind. Or maybe more like a seventh by now. I can't believe I was fucked all night long.

Scott turns to me while we wait for our orders. "So, how'd it go?"

I raise a brow. "You sure you want to hear about this one?"

"Of course. You're back safe, none the worse for wear except for the way you're walking. That's two struck from the list, so tell me how was it?"

"I'll tell you about it in a bit. First, we need to talk."

He sighs. "I know. Look, Amanda, I know I pissed you off and almost ruined it for you, and I'm sorry. I really am. You apparently had a good time and you're still alive, so I guess I freaked out for nothing. I was just so worried."

I frown at him. "Clearly. You sort of stalked me. And honestly, you were probably in more danger than I was, lurking around the building all night."

He grins, unrepentant. "I'm not sorry for that. I'll always be there if I think you'll be in danger. I just regret I got so mad at you and caused a fight between us."

"So, you haven't started disliking who I've been turning into?"

His mouth falls open. "Of course not. I love how free and adventurous you've been lately. You might think you're changing, but you aren't. You're back to who you always were before that jackass came into your life. And it's been a huge relief to me to see it. You've been a shadow of yourself for six years and I've missed my friend being herself. And even if you did change, I'd still love you. I haven't stopped yet."

Relief melts through me at his words. What did I ever do to deserve such loyalty? "Oh, thank goodness. And look, I know what I did was probably stupid and I know I’m taking this whole thing way too seriously. I guess I'm just trying to make up for lost time. Find myself again, you know? I want to graduate myself with no hint left of the puppet Adam turned me into."

"I get it. I do, love. Let's not fight again, okay?"

"Deal."

He kisses my cheek, catching the corner of my lips with his. Warmth spreads from it and into my cheeks, which pink a little. "Now tell me about your night. I take it it was good since you're walking a little...awkwardly."

I flush at his teasing me about my awkward stride. A thought strikes me. A rather disturbing one. "Could you hear us? Or me?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"I mean, while you were waiting for me all night, could you, uh, well, hear me?"

He grins. "You mean, your screams and moans of pleasure?"

I flush, but nod. "Yes, that's what I mean."

Scott leers at me. "Oh yeah I could."

I bury my face into my hands. "Shit. I'm surprised you didn't burst through the door, certain I was being murdered."

He brings his lips to my ear like the stranger did last night. I shudder even harder from Scott's closeness. "You forget, love. I know what your screams of pleasure sound like."

If it's possible, I turn even redder. "Oh, hell."

"Don't be embarrassed. Not with me. Besides, it was hot as hell."

I raise my head to look at Scott. "You didn't...look in or anything?"

He scowls. "Of course not. I'm not a damn peeping Tom. I'd never invade your privacy like that."

"I know. I know." Though I'm not sure I would've cared if he had. "I wouldn't have been pissed if you had."

He cocks a brow and leers at me some more. "Oh really?"

I backtrack. "I mean, I know you were worried about me, so I would've understood you know, if you had wanted to check and make sure I was okay."

"Do you have a little exhibitionist fantasy, love?"

"Maybe."

"Wow." He shakes his entire body like a wet dog. "Okay. Tell me what happened."

"He...he was into BDSM. He gave me a little tutorial in the lifestyle."

Scott's breathing hitches and his eyes widen. "And?"

"And what?" I look down at the white fabric-covered table.

"And are you interested in the lifestyle?" He nudges me with his elbow.

I cock my head to the side as I consider. "Well, I definitely enjoyed everything he did to me. But it was also super intense, and he went easy on me because I'm not in the scene."

"What did he do?" Scott asks.

I tell him in whispers about the feathers and clamps, and the crawling and begging, turning cherry red from embarrassment now that I'm no longer pulsing with desire and horny. I pout a little when I tell him about the orgasm denial, though I do admit to him it made the orgasms stronger.

Scott clears his throat, his pupils big and dark in his blue eyes. "Would you want to do it again? Go further?"

"I'd definitely do those things again. And I'd be willing to try other things, but I still have no interest in extreme pain. I think spankings and clamps is as far as I can go."

"BDSM isn't all about pain, love. It's about giving up control and submission. Or taking control and domination. Sometimes there's no pain at all. Even the fun kind. It all depends on what you need and want."

I frown at him. "How do you know so much about it?"

He grins and tickles my ribs. "I read. And Google."

I laugh. "Are you sure you aren't a Dom and just haven't told me?"

A strange look crosses his face, but it's too fleeting for me to read. "I tell you everything, love."

I pierce him with a glare, fighting to keep the smile from my face. "You better. Lord knows I've been telling you way more than I probably should."

He scoots closer to me and wraps an arm around my back, resting his hand on my hip. "Of course you should."

I rest my head on his shoulder, breathing in his ocean breeze scent. That weirdness is back. Being here with him is so easy, so natural. So right.

The waitress brings out drinks and food and he raises his glass. "To no more fights."

I clink them together. "No more fights."