Reckless Curves by Sienna Stapleton

don’t know that I was really in love with Tracy,” he admitted as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “ When she decided to leave, it left me with a strange emptiness that I couldn’t quite shake. It wasn’t so much sadness or loneliness, but deeper and less identifiable. Actually, I think maybe it had always been there, but her leaving brought it to the surface.”
    “Why did she decide to end things?” I asked, hoping I wasn’t prying too much.
    He sighed heavily. “She said that our relationship had become too intense for her. That she couldn’t take the pressure anymore.”
    I arched a brow. “Wow. She sounds more like an employee quitting a job than a girlfriend quitting a relationship.”
    He nodded then looked up at me with sad eyes. “That’s probably because I treated her more like an employee than a girlfriend.”
    A warning sounded in the back of my head as his words took root. “How so?”
    At least a full minute of silence passed between us and I began to worry that I’d overstepped my boundaries when he finally spoke. “There’s something about me you need to know, Shannon.”
    The fine hairs on the back of my neck stood up and my pulse accelerated with his warning. “Which is?”
    “I’m a Dominant.”
    For a moment I simply stared at him, waiting for more. When I finally realized that was all, I leaned back in my chair and smirked. “That’s it?”
    Shock and indignation raced across his face. “What do you mean that’s it? Do you even know what a Dominant is?”
    I nodded. “Someone who likes to be in control during sex. So you have a kinky streak? Big deal.” Actually it was a very big deal, but I didn’t want him to think I couldn’t be open -minded.
    He stared at me with disbelief in his eyes. “ I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to figure out a way to tell you my secret and all you can say when I finally do is...that’s it?”
    “I just don’t think it’s as big a deal as you’re making it out to be. So what if you like kinky sex? As long as all parties involved are willing participants and nobody gets hurt, I don’t see where there’s any real harm being done,” I replied, even as my insides shook with excitement.
    “Really?” He arched a brow. “So you’d have no problem if I wanted to tie you up, blindfold you, and spank that luscious ass until you couldn’t sit?”
    Despite his words making me wetter than I could imagine, I managed a nonchalant shrug in response. “I don’t know. I’ve never done anything like that before, so I don’t know if I’d like it or not.”
    “Well, Tracy didn’t like it. She told me upfront that she didn’t like it, but submitted to me anyway because she knew it was what I wanted.” He paused and his eyes developed a faraway look. “I should have broken things off after our first session, but I didn’t. I kept thinking that as long as she was willing to submit, it was easier than trying to find another playmate.”
    The regret in his voice tugged at my heart. “But it wasn’t easier, was it?”
    He looked me square in the eyes. “No. I used her to relieve my stress and I did my best to try and give her pleasure, but we never could seem to find a middle ground. I was actually relieved when she finally said she was leaving.” He smirked. “Can you believe what a cold-hearted bastard I am? I spend over a year tying up and fucking a woman who didn’t really want to be my submissive and I couldn’t even feel any remorse when she finally left me.”
    I shifted to sit next to Brent and placed a hand over his. “I seriously doubt you’re a cold hearted bastard. It sounds more to me like you simply didn’t love her and when there’s not love, there’s nothing.”

Chapter 9
     
    With the weight of our afternoon conversation still resting on my shoulders, I leaned against the garage wall and watched as Brent’s team worked on their back up car. The afternoon race ended hours ago, and, although the