‘sir’?” she asked, anxiety flickering across her features.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I can’t make you any promises about the future, but I swear there won’t be any pain tonight.”
“But sometimes pain is easier, isn’t it?” she said, proving she understood the game far better than most people who had only just begun to play.
“It can be,” he agreed, withdrawing his fingers from her slickness and taking her by the hand. “Pain gives you a place to hide. But I can’t hide tonight. I’m not in the right headspace. So if you’d rather go to bed alone, I understand.”
“That’s the last thing I want.” She squeezed his hand. “Take me to bed, Jackson. If you’re not afraid, I’m not, either.”
Who said I’m not afraid?
He was afraid. So afraid. Of her, of himself, of the trust in her eyes and the affection in her touch. He would betray her trust and affection. He was certain of it, but still he held on tight to her hand as he led her through the sliding doors toward the bed.
He held tight because somewhere deep inside of himself, a voice whispered that maybe it wasn’t too late. He could never go back, but maybe there was a way forward, as long as he kept his eyes on this woman who believed that he could be something more than a monster.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Hannah
Pulse racing with a heady combination of desire and fear, Hannah stretched out on the bed, waiting with bated breath for Jackson to lie down beside her. This shouldn’t be more frightening than being spanked, punished, or locked in a cage, but it was. The look in his eyes, as he gazed down at her, was the scariest thing she’d ever seen.
He was so vulnerable, adrift and directionless, with all his carefully constructed armor falling away. He reminded her of a wounded predator, made more dangerous by the knowledge that his defenses were weakened. But he was also utterly captivating.
For the first time since she’d come into his keeping, she glimpsed the man she’d met that night in her sister’s bed, the man capable of trust and affection. He’d been wounded by betrayal and smothered by rage, but he was still there, nearly within her reach, and she didn’t want to do anything to scare him away.
As Jackson eased onto the mattress beside her, she was shocked to realize that she felt like the Dominant one tonight. The responsibility for his emotional well-being lay heavy on her shoulders, but she could handle the weight. She was stronger than she’d imagined she could be. Jackson had taught her that. He’d shown her the strength in submission and the core of steel that ran through her softness.
And tonight she would use her strength to begin leading him out of the darkness before it was too late.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, his palm skimming up her stomach to cup her breast reverently in his hand. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“Yes. I think stunning was another word you used,” she said, knowing it was exactly the word he’d used. She would never forget a single word he’d said to her, this man who had captured her imagination, her heart, and everything in between. “You’re pretty stunning yourself.”
“I’m glad I please you,” he said, rolling her nipple between his fingers, sending a sweet ache flooding through her core.
“You do more than please me.” She pushed gently at his shoulders until he rolled onto his back. “You drive me crazy.” She leaned down, holding his gaze as she pressed a kiss to the center of his chest. “I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.”
She moved higher, trailing kisses up his neck until she reached his mouth, where she let her lips hover a whisper above his. “Am I allowed to kiss you anywhere I want now?”
“Anywhere you want, sunshine,” he said, the pet name making her heart turn over. The way he said that word spoke louder than any promise. When he said sunshine , she heard I love you .
Someday soon, she hoped he would
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I can’t make you any promises about the future, but I swear there won’t be any pain tonight.”
“But sometimes pain is easier, isn’t it?” she said, proving she understood the game far better than most people who had only just begun to play.
“It can be,” he agreed, withdrawing his fingers from her slickness and taking her by the hand. “Pain gives you a place to hide. But I can’t hide tonight. I’m not in the right headspace. So if you’d rather go to bed alone, I understand.”
“That’s the last thing I want.” She squeezed his hand. “Take me to bed, Jackson. If you’re not afraid, I’m not, either.”
Who said I’m not afraid?
He was afraid. So afraid. Of her, of himself, of the trust in her eyes and the affection in her touch. He would betray her trust and affection. He was certain of it, but still he held on tight to her hand as he led her through the sliding doors toward the bed.
He held tight because somewhere deep inside of himself, a voice whispered that maybe it wasn’t too late. He could never go back, but maybe there was a way forward, as long as he kept his eyes on this woman who believed that he could be something more than a monster.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Hannah
Pulse racing with a heady combination of desire and fear, Hannah stretched out on the bed, waiting with bated breath for Jackson to lie down beside her. This shouldn’t be more frightening than being spanked, punished, or locked in a cage, but it was. The look in his eyes, as he gazed down at her, was the scariest thing she’d ever seen.
He was so vulnerable, adrift and directionless, with all his carefully constructed armor falling away. He reminded her of a wounded predator, made more dangerous by the knowledge that his defenses were weakened. But he was also utterly captivating.
For the first time since she’d come into his keeping, she glimpsed the man she’d met that night in her sister’s bed, the man capable of trust and affection. He’d been wounded by betrayal and smothered by rage, but he was still there, nearly within her reach, and she didn’t want to do anything to scare him away.
As Jackson eased onto the mattress beside her, she was shocked to realize that she felt like the Dominant one tonight. The responsibility for his emotional well-being lay heavy on her shoulders, but she could handle the weight. She was stronger than she’d imagined she could be. Jackson had taught her that. He’d shown her the strength in submission and the core of steel that ran through her softness.
And tonight she would use her strength to begin leading him out of the darkness before it was too late.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, his palm skimming up her stomach to cup her breast reverently in his hand. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“Yes. I think stunning was another word you used,” she said, knowing it was exactly the word he’d used. She would never forget a single word he’d said to her, this man who had captured her imagination, her heart, and everything in between. “You’re pretty stunning yourself.”
“I’m glad I please you,” he said, rolling her nipple between his fingers, sending a sweet ache flooding through her core.
“You do more than please me.” She pushed gently at his shoulders until he rolled onto his back. “You drive me crazy.” She leaned down, holding his gaze as she pressed a kiss to the center of his chest. “I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.”
She moved higher, trailing kisses up his neck until she reached his mouth, where she let her lips hover a whisper above his. “Am I allowed to kiss you anywhere I want now?”
“Anywhere you want, sunshine,” he said, the pet name making her heart turn over. The way he said that word spoke louder than any promise. When he said sunshine , she heard I love you .
Someday soon, she hoped he would
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