Forbidden Love Series (SubmissiveRomance) Complete Collection by Lucia Jordan

back. “Get up.”
    Olivia stood, thankful for the reprieve from kneeling, but she had a feeling that what was about to happen was going to be so much worse than being forced to kneel for a longer period of time. Dean closed the gap between them and took her face into his hands. Then he did something she didn’t expect. He kissed her. It started hard and fast, laced with despair, and then it slowed to a soft, passionate, all-consuming burn. She knew without him saying it that it was a kiss goodbye. More tears flowed down her cheeks. Dean released her lips and wiped her tears with his thumbs. Then he rested his forehead to hers, allowing his eyes to close momentarily. What he said next crushed her.
    “I cared about you, Olivia. A lot. In fact, I was going to collar you tonight. But now,” he dropped his hands from her face and stepped back, “well, now I can’t. You’ve broken my trust and that’s something I just can’t forgive.”
    She’d noticed he was no longer using his dominant voice. His words stung. He had wanted to collar her, to make her his submissive; something he’d openly admitted he hadn’t done in a long time. And now he could barely stand the sight of her. So, that was it. It was really over. Just like that. It hurt so bad she didn’t know if she could breathe let alone walk out of this room, this club, and his life forever. It wasn’t fair.
    “Dean, please, just…please give me another chance. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she pleaded.
    “So am I.” He shook his head and once again turned away from her. “Just go, Olivia.”
    “What?” She prayed to God that she’d misheard him, but her gut told her she hadn’t.
    “I said go.” He faced her. “I’m no longer capable of training you. So, it’s best if you just leave right now.”
    “Oh God!” she sobbed and clutched her hand over her chest. No. This could not be happening. It just couldn’t. But sure enough, Dean gathered her coat and handed it to her. She swallowed the sob that threatened to erupt. Part of her wanted to drop to her knees and beg him not to do this, but she knew that wouldn’t do any good. So, she took her coat and slipped it on. “I really am sorry, Dean.”
    “Me too.” Then he walked further into the room and sat on the leather couch in the corner.
    Olivia wiped her tears, straightened her shoulders, and walked out of the room and the club with her head held high. As she passed the bar, she noticed Master Steve eyeing her. That man made her skin crawl. Even though Dean was no longer her Master, she still wouldn’t dream of letting Steve anywhere near her. Hell, she had no intentions of coming anywhere near this club ever again. This part of her life was over.
    ***
    When Olivia left the room, Dean turned and looked at her retreating back. Tears pooled in his eyes. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d wanted to cry over a woman, but Olivia had cut him deep. Dean had truly believed that she was different, that she wasn’t like other women, and that she was genuinely interested in him and this lifestyle. But no. She’d only been using him so she could write an article for her job. Letting her go had been hard. But it had been even harder to hear the truth. When he’d overheard her talking to that man, he’d desperately wanted to believe he’d heard wrong, that because he’d come in during the middle of the conversation that he’d taken it out of context. Unfortunately, he hadn’t.
    Olivia had lied to him. She’d used him in one of the worst ways possible.
    And that damn article! What would she say in it? Would she portray the lifestyle favorably or would she misrepresent it like so many others? Was she going to use his name? He stood and paced. How was all of this going to affect his reputation here at the club? And as a Dom? He’d forever be known as the Dom who got played by his sub.
    He needed a drink. Dean left his dungeon room and went back out to the main room. He sat at the end of the