by Sherri Hayes
Grace had no idea how much time had passed before she garnered the courage to pick the envelope back up and turn it over. She carefully broke the seal and removed the two sheets of paper inside. Once they were in her hands, the words staring back at her, she froze. “I can’t do this.”
Alexander reached out again. He grasped her free hand in his and held on tight. It was as if he could sense how much she needed his strength.
She wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of one hand and held Alexander’s fingers in a death grip with the other. He was the only thing keeping her grounded.
Her hand shook as she began to read.
My Grace,
I had dreams for us. Big dreams. We were going to go on a road trip across the country and stop at all the interesting towns along the way. We were going to go on that Alaskan cruise and watch the whales playing in the bay. Hike the Grand Canyon and make love under the stars. So many things we wanted to do together once my tour was up.
But if you’re reading this, it means we aren’t going to get to do those things together and I’m sorry about that. Something has happened to prevent me from returning to you and you know that only death would keep me away. You are my heart, my soul. You are everything good and beautiful in this world, my Grace.
When I sat down to write this letter, I knew in my mind what I wanted to say, but now the words won’t come. I don’t want to say goodbye to you, Grace. I don’t want you to have to say goodbye to me, but you have to. I know it will be difficult at first, but you are strong, Grace. You always have been.
You have to move on. You have to live.
With that in mind, I am giving you my last orders, my sweet submissive.
I want you to move back home to St. Louis. Your family is there and you will need their support. Let them love and comfort you.
I know you will need time to grieve. I want you to take that time, but I also don’t want you to hide inside yourself. You have to live, remember? Make new friends, travel. Do all the things that you and I talked about doing together.
And lastly, I want you to find a new Master. I know you’ll most likely go home to St. Louis, so before my deployment I did some digging and found out about a local club there called Serpent’s Kiss. It’s run by a woman named Katrina Mayer. I think it will be a good place for you and she can help you and make sure you find a good Dom who will take care of your needs.
I know what you’re thinking, Grace, but I’m asking this of you. I’m asking you to move on. To let me go. I will always love you. Never forget that. Never doubt that. But as much as I wish it weren’t so, I can’t be there to care for you anymore.
Alexander is a good man. If you need anything, ask him. I have no idea if he is in the lifestyle or not, but I trust him.
Please do not mourn for me too long, my Grace. You have a lot of life left to live.
Kurt
He couldn’t mean it. He couldn’t.
“Grace?”
She heard someone call her name, but it sounded far away.
“Grace.”
This time the voice sounded louder. Closer.
“Grace!”
A hand shook her arm, causing the letter to fall to the floor. She reached for it without checking her balance. Only a set of strong arms wrapping around her torso kept her from face-planting onto the floor.
Those same arms helped her to right herself, but all she cared about was the letter. She had to read it again. Surely she had misunderstood. She couldn’t . . .
Grace scanned over the words again, but they were the same as they had been the first time. Kurt wanted her to find another Master. The rest she could do, she was already trying to do as best she could, but that? How?
Something made her look up. Alexander Greco knelt beside her on the floor, deep concern etched into his features. He must have been the one who’d called her name.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Acknowledgments
A special thank you to my beta reader, editor, and proofreaders, who make what is a very painful process for most authors tolerable. My stories wouldn't be as good without you.
Other Titles by Sherri Hayes
Strictly Professional
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B6PJ01M/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i11
A Christmas Proposal (A Strictly Professional Holiday Story)
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JV7R1YA/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i12
Finding Anna
Slave
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JGNOZDY/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i7
Need
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JGPV5MG/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
Truth
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JGPV5MQ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i5
Trust
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JGPV5NU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i6
Daniels Brothers Romances
Behind Closed Doors
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MRCZM18/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4
Red Zone
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N7Z56KU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i8
Crossing the Line
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NHEVDKH/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2
What Might Have Been
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HG3PWBU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
Serpent's Kiss
Welcome to Serpent's Kiss
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P7Z6T1C/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i10
Burning for Her Kiss
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QGC2AA4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i9
One Forbidden Night
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FB273B0/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i13
Longing for His Kiss
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076PZZPLF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3
About the Author
Sherri picked up her first romance novel when she was twelve and immediately she was hooked. She would stay up reading long after everyone else in her house had gone to bed, needing to see the hero and heroine get their happily ever after. But Sherri never imagined becoming an author.
At the age of thirty, all that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternative ending to give the characters the happy ending they deserved.
Since then, writing has become a creative outlet that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create.
Find Sherri Hayes
Website
https://www.sherrihayesauthor.com/
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http://www.amazon.com/Sherri-Hayes/e/B004MIO9O4
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https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sherri-hayes