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Master.”
    “Set of twenty, love.”
    “Twenty, Master.”
    “Count.”
    Seth flinched, unprepared as Kaden nailed her with the whip, striking her squarely in the middle of her left ass cheek.
    “One, Master.”
    His face a mask of concentration, Kaden slowly worked through the set, Leah keeping count with each strike. It was obvious Kaden knew what he was doing, making it look effortless and apparently striking his intended spot each time.
    It was also equally obvious that Leah was ... enjoying wasn't perhaps the best word but she definitely wasn't upset about it despite the tears running down her face by the time he finished.
    Kaden coiled the whip. “Where are we, love?”
    “Green, Master.”
    “Very good, love.” He walked over to her and knelt beside her, touching his forehead to hers, whispering to her. She nodded and cried. He pulled her into his arms and sat on the floor, holding her in his lap for many long, tender minutes as she sobbed, her agonized screams echoing through the otherwise silent house. Kaden remained silent as she clutched him, his face buried in her hair.
    Now Seth felt even more uncomfortable. He wanted to get up and walk out and give them privacy, yet felt that would disturb them more than him just quietly sitting there.
    Kaden nuzzled the top of her head and that's when Seth spotted his friend's tears.
    Leah eventually composed herself. Kaden whispered something to her, then tenderly kissed her temple. She nodded, stood, and left the room.
    From his place on the floor, Kaden wiped his eyes and looked at Seth.
    Taking a deep breath and knowing he could not refuse his friend, Seth softly said, “I'll do it.”
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    Chapter 3
    Kaden stood and turned his back to Seth for a moment, wiped his face. He finally took a deep breath and then turned and nodded. “Thank you,” he quietly said. “I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate this. It takes a huge burden off me.”
    Seth felt emotionally drained. Not only from his own feelings, but from what he'd just witnessed.
    He also worried he might not be able to step up and take over. Could he deal with that responsibility?
    He was the perpetual fuck-up. Could he ever truly be strong and steady Kaden?
    “You won't let her down,” Kaden said as if reading his mind. “You'll do fine. I know you will.”
    Seth shook his head. “What am I getting myself into?”
    “Let's go talk. Give her a few minutes to recover.” He grabbed his shirt and glasses and led Seth back to the living room where they settled on the large sectional sofa. “Do you have early classes tomorrow?”
    “No. I have one at eleven.”
    “Why don't you spend the night? I'm taking off the rest of the week for Leah. I need to finish up some things at work over the next few weeks, and then I'm going to stay home for her. I still have some projects going on that I need to wrap up or hand off. I can mostly work from here until they're taken care of.”
    Here he was, dying, and still talking about doing things for Leah.
    Seth's eyes flicked to the hallway. “I don't know if I should spend the night tonight, dude. I mean...” He didn't know how to finish, so he didn't.
    “Get used to seeing her naked. It's how she usually dresses. Unless it's chilly or she's not feeling well, she's usually wearing only her collar. I mean, how many times have you dropped by unexpectedly and caught her ‘just out of the shower’ and wearing only her robe?” Kaden used finger quotes around the phrase.
    Seth mentally reeled. He'd joked with her that his timing always sucked and that she needed a new bathrobe. He caught her wearing it fairly frequently, always pulled high around her neck...
    He closed his eyes. “Shit.”
    “Yep. Makes sense now, doesn't it?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Come on, I mean, really. Did you honestly think she manages to take showers just when you show up?” Kaden laughed, amused. “That's why it's usually hanging behind the front