by Nina Pierce
RECLAIMED IN ECSTASY
by Nina Pierce
A woman unwilling to trust. A man testing his limits.
Two people with something to prove …
Sara Lancaster is a submissive with a wounded past. Derek Thomas is a Dom lost in his own uncertainty. Together they hope to fulfill each other's desperate need. The moment they step into the dungeon both feel the instant attraction and sexual heat. Though mind blowing sex and physical pain may satisfy their bodies, their wounded souls and broken spirits just may require something even more intimate—their hearts.
* Praise for BOUND IN ECSTASY (XTC Resorts fairs Series Book 1):
4 RAVENS, Blackravens Reviews ~ Nina Pierce did a great job of bringing these characters to life; really taking her readers on a journey along with both Claire and Jonathon. The location was breathtakingly detailed; the characters well developed. The erotic scenes were intense as well as sensual.
4.5 DELIGHTFUL DIVAS, Dark Divas Reviews ~ [Bound in Ecstasy] is a wonderful read…Ms. Pierce does a fantastic job of making each of the characters seem human and with that they each have their own set of faults and issues to work through. While at times I wanted to strangle both of them, this was a delightful read that I truly enjoyed and will read again in the future!
4.5 SHELLS, Siren Book Reviews ~ [Bound in Ecstasy] sucks you in at the beginning and doesn’t spit you out until the end. The back and forth interactions between Jon and Claire will have you on the edge of your seat.
4 BLUE RIBBONS, Romance Junkies ~ Nina Pierce’s [Bound in Ecstasy] is one delicious BDSM book!…I was highly impressed with how she expertly weaves Jonathon’s Dom role as an owner of an exclusive BDSM resort. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is new to BDSM and wishes to find a book that will give you an up close and personal look.
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* Praise for RECLAIMED IN ECSTASY (XTC Resorts Series Book 2):
4.5 DELIGHTFUL DIVAS, Dark Divas Reviews ~ A roller-coaster of emotion and some of the most emotionally dramatic BDSM scenes I’ve read in quite a while are contained within [Reclaimed in Ecstasy] by Nina Pierce…There’s a terrific balance of down-to-earth narrative, humor, and intensity that draws the reader along from the very first page.
5 STARS, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews ~ [Reclaimed in Ecstasy] is a quick read that will suck you right into the lives of Sara and Derek. I laughed and I cried at different points of their story. Nina Pierce does a fantastic job of giving you enough details to understand the plot and the characters without drowning in them. [Reclaimed in Ecstasy] is one of my new favorite books.
5 STARS, Romancing the Book ~ I was completely sucked in from the beginning. The characters had me hooked and I actually sat and read this straight through. I felt it was well written and also passionate. This book definitely took me on an emotional ride that I want to get back in line and ride again. This is going to be on my favorite list for quite some time and I will be getting [Bound in Ecstasy] the first book in this series as soon as I can.
Reclaimed in Ecstasy
Copyright © 2015 by Nina Pierce
2rd Edition
Published by Nina Pierce of New Hampshire. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Email
[email protected]
Cover Artist
Dar Albert
www.WickedSmartDesigns.com
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
~ Dedication ~
To Mr. Nina, the real hero of my life—who’s taught me to laugh and love without reservation and the true meaning of soul mates.
Chapter One
Sara Lancaster had definitely made the wrong decision.
Less than twenty-four hours ago she was sure this weekend was just what she needed. Eight hours ago, excitement had fluttered in her stomach as she’d left Boston, overjoyed to accept the invitation. Hell, just two hours ago she’d been giddy with anticipation as she’d collected her bags at the Key West airport and caught a taxi to the boat landing.
But her tiny apartment and the bungalow where she currently stood weren’t merely thousands of miles apart—a whole world separated the comfortable life she’d finally made for herself and the fantasy she was standing in.
What the hell had she been thinking?
Sara was fooling herself. Life didn’t offer people second chances. No one understood that better than her. The fates dealt crappy cards and a person either played them to the best of their ability or they folded and left everything to chance. Sara had tried it both ways and neither method had netted her anything but heartache and pain.
And a person could live with the agony of past hurts.
But heartache? Heartache ripped at the soul, leaving gaping holes of emptiness that nothing could fill—not even pain.
The tropical breeze lifted her hair and she absently brushed it out of her face. The salty aroma of the ocean curled around her nose, bringing back memories she’d stored away and tried to forget. Toying with the gold and sapphire choker in her hands, she let the tides of the past flow over her. Tears welled unbidden, distorting the sugar-white sand and turquoise ocean spread out before her. Sara thought she’d gotten beyond it all, but the memories expanded and crashed over the walls of her heart. Misery rushed in but still left her feeling hollow and alone.
Yeah, this had been a bad decision of colossal proportions.
A knock at her door pulled her from her morose thoughts.
“I’m coming.” She swiped her hand across her cheeks, trying to brush away the sadness as she rushed off the veranda and back through the sliding glass doors and into her room. She threw the choker on the end table next to the sitting area, nearly tripping over the overflowing suitcase she’d yet to completely unpack.
Inhaling a steadying breath, she forced a smile and opened the door. Her guest didn’t wait for a welcome. Burly arms swept her off her feet into a bear hug and swung her out the door.
“Sara!” A deep laugh rolled over her, soothing away the misery of a moment ago. “I knew you couldn’t avoid me forever.”
Despite the sorrow clogging her throat, a nasally laugh escaped. The big man set her back on her feet, his huge frame towering over her as they stood toe to toe on the stone path outside her bungalow.
“Ethan Jacobs.” Her palm curved around his strong jaw and he breathed deep, as if he could inhale her presence. “I’ve missed you, dear friend.” Tears stung the back of her eyes. She shouldn’t have stayed away so long.
He stooped to look her in the eyes. “Hey, those had better be tears of overwhelming happiness at seeing me again.”
Her mouth curved in the semblance of a smile. “I thought I was ready…” She paused, knowing Ethan, of all people, understood without her having to explain her trepidation.
“Has it really been three years?” he asked quietly, steering their conversation to a more comfortable topic. “I feel like you were here yesterday. You look as young as the day we first met.”
Though she worked out regularly, thirty-five years of gravity were working hard to sink the parts of her body Sara was trying hard to keep afloat. No doubt the long travel day accentuated the crow’s feet scratching at the corners of her eyes. She definitely wasn’t a college coed anymore, but she appreciated his flattery nonetheless.
“You’re a liar, Ethan Jacobs. But thank you.” She ran her hand
over the white polo sleeve that barely contained the muscular curve of his biceps. “You, on the other hand, look better than ever. I guess the resort has treated you well.”
“It’s a rough gig, living here in paradise and managing a resort with beautiful men and women running around half naked.” He shrugged. “But hey, someone’s got to do it, and I’m willing to take one for the team.”
“Very noble of you.”
“I’m nothing if not a gentleman.”
“You are that, Ethan.” She laughed and invited him into her bungalow. The initial punch of seeing him had worn off, leaving only the comfortable friendship that had developed over too many bottles of wine, late dinners and life lessons. It had been the last that had solidified their bond.
“I’m so pleased you accepted my invitation, Sara.” Ethan settled in one of the leather chairs in the corner of the room. “I debated whether to even send it.”
She’d known this conversation would be coming, and she tried to ignore the dread knotting cold and hard in her gut. “It’s hard to say no to you, Ethan.” Sara reminded herself it was all part of the healing processes and no one could help her over this final barrier better than Ethan. Needing to keep busy, she grabbed two bottles of water from the mini-fridge and handed one to him before settling in an identical chair across from him. “Though it was a little bit of a shock to find it mixed in so innocently with the sale flyers and electric bill after so many years.” She laughed.
“I figured it was time. You’ve been in Chicago a couple of times in the last few months, I figured you were working your way back into the scene,” he said. Casually tipping back the bottle, he took a long pull, his eyes never leaving hers.
The water bottle froze halfway to her mouth before she dropped her hand to her lap in stunned disbelief. Water sloshed onto her bare thigh, but she barely noticed the chill. What the hell? With just a simple sentence, Ethan turned their happy reunion into something ugly. The feelings she’d been working to dismiss steamrolled over her heart, keeping her from replying. Hell, at the moment, she couldn’t even swallow her fear and incredulity. He’d spoken the words so nonchalantly, but they implied something she didn’t want to contemplate.
Leaning forward, he braced his forearms on his knees, his eyes turning to deep pools of ebony. “It’s a small world we live in, Sara. You didn’t think after all that happened I wouldn’t be watching over you?”
“Spying on me is more like it.” Anger blossomed hot and hard in her chest, making it hard to breathe. How dare he? Unable to handle the turmoil of emotion bubbling inside her, Sara pushed to her feet and stalked away from him, hoping the space would allow her to think. “I thought you were different.”
“Sara—”
“No.” She turned on him, venom dripping from the word. “No, Ethan. You can’t justify this. I walked away, and there’s no way in hell you should’ve followed. Not after everything I’ve been through.”
“Bullshit!”
Ethan slammed the water bottle on the table next to him. He was up and standing only inches from her in a single breath. She craned her neck to look at him and it took every bit of willpower not to cower at the intensity of emotion flaring in the narrow slits of his eyes and the hard set of his mouth.
“That’s bullshit and you know it,” he said through clenched teeth. “It was because of what you went through that I did it. Marc was one of my first regulars here at XTC Resorts. I considered him a friend. What he did was reprehensible. Forgive me if I haven’t forgiven myself for everything you went through.”
She should have known Ethan would lay their ugly history on the table. But what he’d just admitted didn’t make sense. Ethan was a Dom. Aware and in charge of his environment. “Your responsibility?” She softened. “How could you blame yourself?”
“It all happened on Paradise Cove. In my dungeon.” The knife edge of self-recrimination dissolved into disappointment. “I should’ve known what Marc was putting you through. I should’ve seen it. That’s my job.” He brushed his knuckles tenderly across her cheek, the hard knot in his jaw relaxing. “But more importantly, you’re my friend and I let you down.”
She shook her head, denying his words, knowing it had taken a long time to stop blaming Ethan for ever having introduced her to her late husband. But years of therapy and a new life had helped her realize it had been her mistake. A mistake she had no intention of repeating—ever.
Ethan’s long fingers swept hair from her forehead, his piercing gaze raking her face, conveying the profound sorrow they both felt. “An apology doesn’t begin to cover what I owe you, Sara. But if I could take all the years back…”
The bands of tension around her chest released, making room to fill her lungs. She breathed deep, closing her eyes and focusing on the warmth of his touch. Ethan hadn’t been spying. He’d been watching over her. Despite the fact that he was younger by a couple of years, Ethan had always been as protective as a big brother. Years and circumstances would never change that.
“No, the blame falls squarely on my shoulders alone.” She covered his hand with hers, staring into his eyes so filled with love and compassion. I loved him too much,” she said quietly. “Was willing to give up too much.”
“Still, there were signs I missed.”
“I should’ve been brave enough to ask for help.”
“But I—”
“Stop.” she said quietly, her finger pressed to his lips. “Ethan, no one but Marc is to blame, and if he weren’t dead, I’d kill him all over again.” She tried to lighten the mood, but her joke fell flat. “Anyway, I stopped playing the blame game years ago. Coulda, woulda, shoulda won’t change the past for any of us, and it’s time we all moved on.” She wrapped her arms around him, finding comfort in the solid warmth of his embrace. “Obviously since I’m playing in Chicago, I’m trying to find the balance in my life again.”
He gently kissed her forehead and steered them back to the chairs. “Sara, it wasn’t like I was spying on you.”
“Of course you weren’t. It was a knee-jerk reaction,” she said, settling on the edge of the chair and setting the water bottle on the floor. “It just sort of took me by surprise when you mentioned Chicago, though I don’t know why. I mean, I did make it rather obvious I was at one of XTC’s BDSM clubs on more than one occasion.” She shrugged and wrapped her hands around Ethan’s. “I guess even I believed they’d look after me.”
“I made sure of it.” He winked.
“I have no intention of history repeating itself. I’ve definitely learned from my mistakes.” Her lips curved in a trembling semblance of a smile. “But a little backup never hurt.”
He laughed—a deep rumble that seemed to smooth the rocky ground they were navigating. “What I don’t understand is why you didn’t go to the clubs in Boston.” He shrugged, giving up any pretense of secrecy. “I had people there watching too.”
“Riiiiight. I’m sure Boston General would love to find out that Nurse Lancaster of the pediatric wing has a thing for leather and bondage.”
“I meant discreet clubs.”
“Yeah, well, Chicago just seemed safer all the way around.” Though they’d found equilibrium again, her confession made her restless. Sara picked up the water bottle again, toying with the label. “I actually went there to prove to myself that I didn’t want it anymore.”
“And?”
“And I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Some things are a part of us, Sara. Ignoring your sexuality would leave you incomplete.”
“I wanted to walk away, to blame my shortcomings on the lifestyle. But the truth is being submissive is who I am. I just happened to give the honor of dominating me to the wrong man.” She took a long swallow of water, washing away the hot coal of sadness burning her throat. “And that will never happen again, I assure you. This is a new chapter for me. Unencumbered sex. No attachment. Your invitation couldn’t have come at a better time.”
“I’m really glad you accepted. I’
ve missed you.” He picked up the gold choker on the table next to him, toying with the sapphire pendant. “I thought you would’ve left this behind with the relics of your former life.”
“That choker had nothing to do with Marc and everything to do with a dear friend.” Ethan had given it to her on one of Sara’s many visits to XTC Resorts before she’d met her husband. With no one left to celebrate her birthdays, Ethan had surprised her with a small party and the beautiful piece of jewelry. It meant more to her than the vows she’d recited a year later. She’d hidden it from her jealous husband and only recently had begun wearing it again. “It was a gift, given in love by a friend. Of course I couldn’t part with it.”
He arched a well-manicured brow. “It has nothing to do with me. It’s about who you are. You know it and I know it.”
She sat back, a smile lifting one corner of her mouth. “Yeah, well, like I said, my fetish is what drives me. I tried dating men who weren’t in the scene, but there was something missing.” She shrugged. “I march to the snap of a different kind of whip, what can I say?”
“Don’t we all.” He laughed as he winked at her, both of them enjoying the lighthearted banter.
Sara shook her head, still unsure of her decision to accept Ethan’s invitation. “After all I’ve been through, it just seems so foolish for me to be opening myself up to it all again.”
“Sara, your sexual propensities are hardwired into you…into all of us. There’s no black-and-white when it comes to the human psyche, only varying shades of leather.”
She laughed.
“If you had become a nun and given up sex, I guess I could see you walking away from the scene.” He reverently set the gold choker in her palm, wrapping her fingers around the warm metal. “But being submissive is as much a part of you as your gorgeous blue eyes.”
She bravely met his gaze. “It took me awhile to come to terms with it, but that’s the conclusion I’ve come to as well.”