by Sadie Haller
Heath takes my hands in his, and I’m comforted to find they’re shaking almost as much as mine.
“Heath and Georgia have written their own vows, which will be followed by the vows required to make this marriage legal. Heath, please make your vows to Georgia.”
“Georgia, the time I’ve spent with you has been the most frustrating, crazy, terrifying, and wonderful time of my life. Every day we’ve been together, you burrowed a little deeper into my heart until one day, I knew I didn’t want a life without you by my side. I couldn’t imagine it. It took me too long to do something about it. But I’ve learned from my mistake. I will always find ways to show you how much I love and cherish you.”
I’m used to hearing him say he loves me, but for him to say these words so publicly sends tears sliding down my face, and now I’m going to have to pull Frances’s hankie from my cleavage and say my vows while I cry. Before I can do that, Heath lets go of my hand, pulls a handkerchief from his pocket, and wipes my tears away.
When he’s done, he takes my hand again, and gives the officiant a short nod.
“Georgia, please make your vows to Heath.”
It’s my turn, and my heart is pounding so hard, I can hardly breathe. I close my eyes for a moment to find my focus. “Heath, I gave up on love a long time ago. Then you showed up. And kept showing up. And when I needed you most, you showed up.”
I pause a moment while I take a deep breath and pull myself together. Heath gives my hands a small squeeze, then smiles at me as he wipes my tears again.
“After a lifetime of feeling numb, you made me feel. And it was scary. Because when you feel, you can hurt.”
I stop again, aware of all the eyes on me while I make a fool of myself, and question the wisdom of writing our own vows. Heath gives my hands another squeeze, letting me know he’s right here with me.
“But somewhere along the way, you convinced me to take a chance. A lot of chances, really. Turns out I hadn’t given up on love, I think my heart was holding out for you to be my happy ending. I love you, for always.”
“Do you, Heath, solemnly declare that you take Georgia to be your wife?”
“I do.”
“Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and keep her as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“As a symbol of your promise, please place the ring on Georgia’s finger.”
I hold out my left hand as Heath carefully slides the ring on my finger.
“Do you, Georgia, solemnly declare that you take Heath to be your husband?”
“I do.”
“Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and keep him as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“As a symbol of your promise, please place the ring on Heath’s finger.”
I take the ring from the officiant and as I slip it on, Heath smiles wide and curls his fingers around mine.
“In as much as you both have consented to be united in the bonds of matrimony and have exchanged your wedding vows in front of all those present today, by the power vested in me by the laws of the state of New York, I now pronounce you married. You may seal your vows with a kiss.”
Heath kisses me in that gentle way that tells me I am loved. I know later he’ll kiss me in that way that tells me I am irresistible.
Epilogue
Georgia
Five years later…
* * *
I’m in the kitchen crumbling feta on the salad when my father comes in.
“Something sure smells good. What’s for dinner? I’m starved,” he says as he pulls me in for a hug and busses my cheek.
I look up at him and grin. “Your favorite. Greek salad and spanikopita.”
“Excellent.” He pauses a moment and his eyebrows knit together. “Are you okay?” he asks. “You’re looking a little pale.”
Damn. I was hoping it wouldn’t show. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure. I know it’s been years, but who knows how—”
“Dad. I’m fine. Truly.” Some days I almost wish for my distant father back, because my concerned father can be a bit of a handful.
“If you’re sure.”
“I am. Seeing as you’re here, you can put this on the table,” I say, holding out the bowl of Greek salad.
Frances walks into the kitchen carrying a glass of wine as I’m pulling the pan out of the oven. “Oh, that looks delicious. Is there anything I can do?”
“No, it’s all under control. Dad’s already taken the salad in, and I just need to slice and plate this up. If you want to get Dad and Heath to the table, I’ll be there in just a moment.”
A few minutes later, I enter the dining room and catch Heath’s eye. He gives me a small nod, then pops up from the table. “Back in a minute.”
As I’m taking my seat, he returns with two boxes wrapped in rainbow striped paper. He places one in front of each parent.
“What’s going on?” Frances asks. “Did I miss something?”
“Just open them.” Heath says impatiently.
It’s all I can do to keep from bouncing in my chair.
It’s comical watching my father slowly unwrap his box, clearly trying to make sure Frances opens hers first.
Moments later, Frances pulls the mug from the box, and her face lights up. The expressions that pass over my father’s face as he processes the words make my heart melt.
“This explains why you look so tired,” Dad says.
“See? I told you I am fine.”
“When are you due?”
“June fourth.”
“Your mother’s birthday,” my dad whispers.
I hadn’t really given that any thought. Maybe because babies come when they come, not when some arbitrary calculation says they should.
“Oh, Georgia, that would be lovely, if our little bean makes her appearance then.”
“Hold on with this ‘her’ business, Franny,” my father blusters, “It could be a him.”
“Oh pish. Of course our little bean is a girl.” Frances winks at me, and it’s all I can do not to laugh.
I press my palm to the little bean in my belly and bask in the love that fills this room.
I’m truly blessed.
* * *
Thank you for reading Chief of Perversion
Keep going for a sneak peek at Agent of Denial, the next Power Broker Novel
* * *
Looking for more?
Then be sure to sign up for the Sadie Haller newsletter. You’ll receive all the latest release updates, so you can get your hands on the next hot story as soon as possible. As a bonus, the newsletter will also occasionally include exclusive updates on ‘Stuff Your ereader’ sales, so you can stock up on Sadie’s books and more for great discounts.
And don’t worry, you won’t be drowned in spam!
Click here to sign up and upon confirmation you’ll get access to 2 short stories
More by Sadie Haller
Prime Minster (Frisky Beavers #1)
Gavin:
Ellie Montague is smart, sensitive, and so gorgeous it hurts to look at her. She’s also an intern in my office. The office of the Prime Minister of Canada.*
That’s me. The PM.
She calls me that because when she calls me Sir, I get hard and she gets flustered, and as long as she’s my intern, I can’t twist my hands in her strawberry-blonde hair and show her what else I’d like her to do with that pretty pink mouth.**
Ellie:
How much I like the PM varies on a daily basis. He’s intense, controlling, and a perfectionist in every way—and he demands the same of his staff.
How much I want him never wavers.
There’s something about him that tugs at me deep inside, and makes me wish that just once he’d cross the line in a late night work session. I’d take that secret to the grave if it meant I got a taste of the barely restrained beast inside him.***
FOOTNOTES:
* Thi
s is a fictional erotic romance. No prime ministers or interns were harmed in the making of this book.
** Except it’s a BDSM romance, so they were hurt a little.
*** Spoiler alert: she gets more than a taste. And she likes it.
* * *
One Gold Heart (Dominant Cord, Book 1)
Finn Taylor is an asshole. So why does he keep showing up in Mac’s late-night fantasies as the Dom of her dreams? She can’t even ignore him, because she’s stuck working with the fellow musician for the Christmas concert season.
Mac Wallis is a mess, and Finn can’t fall for a submissive who’s so damaged she needs medication just to get through a performance. But he’s drawn to the beautiful oboist, even as he keeps pissing her off. He can’t resist trying to take care of her--in every way.
One Gold Knot (Dominant Cord, Book 2)
She didn’t do relationships. She didn’t even do all night.
After years of avoiding her teenage crush, Hildy Klein is shocked to come face to face with Wilson Kennedy.
Her uncle’s wake isn’t the place to unravel all the ways that Wilson could leave her emotionally vulnerable and exposed, yet his gentle persistence is impossible to ignore.
But Wilson is no longer that boy in her fantasies, and now Hildy must decide if she will give up control and commit to the protective, kinky Dom he’s become.
One Gold Triquetra (Dominant Cord, Book 3)
A decade ago, a bad play-date turned composer Ella Hudson off BDSM.
Now she's been offered a performance opportunity too good to pass up, but it means working closely with Jackson and Griffin--world class musicians, lovers, and Doms intent on adding her to their relationship.
While Ella struggles to deny her true desires, maintaining her vanilla facade becomes increasingly difficult as the men re-introduce her to a world she'd written off.
Agent of Denial
A Sneak Peek
Alasdair
* * *
My gaze keeps sliding back to the timid little mouse slouching at a table in the corner. The one Georgia rescued from her abusive husband.
Katie.
I shake my head. She’s not for me.
Oh, there’s a piece of me that wants to wrap her in my arms and keep her safe. The problem is, the protector part of me has zero control over my sexual appetite.
That part of me is feral. A beast who wants to tangle my fist in her hair, forcing her to her knees so I can shove my cock deep in her throat until she gags, then push farther. A beast who wants to bind her naked to a spanking bench and stripe her with a cane, over and over, until her ass and thighs are completely covered in my marks. A beast whose imagination is limitless. A beast who wants to make her sob and scream and beg for mercy. A beast who wants to break her.
No, she’s definitely not for me.
I shift in my seat, willing away the erection that’s taking up way too much space in my pants. Why the fuck did I even come to this thing?
Right, because it’s Heath’s fucking wedding and I’m fucking obligated to be here.
And it just fucking figures my cock is ignoring the few potential hook-up options in favor of an already broken toy.
Someone flops onto the seat next to me, shifting my attention away from the little mouse. “Heath. You should be with your lovely bride.”
“Soon. First, I have a huge ask.”
“Anything, you know that.”
“I’m so glad you said that.”
Oh hell, I’m going to hate this.
“It’s kind of a two part thing. I need you to take Katie back to Virginia with you. And I need you to be her Dom.”
“Come again?”
“When you leave tonight—”
“Oh, I heard you. I just didn’t think you could possibly be serious.”
“Deadly.”
“When I said I’d do anything, I meant anything but the Dom bit.” I can’t believe he’d ask such a thing of me.
“Why not?”
“She’s already broken. I could really damage her.”
“She needs this. And she’s going to get to a point where she’s desperate, and she’ll seek out someone to give her relief. She’s done that before, and look how it turned out. The fact that you recognize that she’s broken and are concerned about making it worse already tells me you’re the right choice. Besides, I didn’t miss the way you were eyeing her up at the wedding. You wanted her. Now you can have her.”
“No. It’s not right. She needs to heal. If she really wants to be involved in BDSM, then she needs a gentle Dom. Someone who will give her a nudge as she’s ready. Not a hardcore sadist like me who will push her right to the very edge of sanity.”
“She’s a masochist, Dair. She needs more than a Dom who’ll give her a barehanded over-the-knee spanking as a Saturday night special treat. She needs someone who’ll give her real relief. She needs you.”
“I—”
“What does Georgia do?”
“She rescues abused women.”
“Do you think she’d recommend a dangerous situation for someone she’d rescued?”
“Of course not.”
“Yet, she recommended you as the right person to give Katie what she needs.”
“Fuck off. There is no way Georgia would risk Katie’s emotional safety like this.”
“You’re right on the part about Georgia not risking Katie’s emotional safety. Georgia is seriously concerned about Katie doing something reckless. And quite frankly, so am I.”
“Why, what’s she done?”
“Nothing…yet. Not that we can tell, anyway. But it won’t be long. She’s going to need some relief, and the more the pressure builds up, the more likely it is she’ll do something reckless. Plus, she’s safer if she’s out of town. We weren’t planning to ask you so soon, but Georgia got a call from the prosecutor this morning. That abusive fucker managed to make evidence disappear and witnesses recant their statements. He’s been released, so we need to come up with a long-term plan now her ex is no longer going to trial.”
“Why not just get me a big ol’ neon sign that says Dair’s Safe-house of Pain.”
“Hey, that has a great ring to it.”
“Fuck off, Heath. I’m not a babysitter, and I sure as fuck am not a service sadist.”
“In all seriousness, Dair, she needs help on a bunch of levels, and you’re the one person who can provide it.”
I rake my fingers through my hair in frustration. I want to do the right thing. I just don’t know what it is.
* * *
Agent of Denial Coming 2018
Acknowledgments
Elle Rush for Billie Jean Cosmetics.
* * *
Susan Hayes, as always, for brainstorming and moral support. And solving that last XXX!
* * *
Zoe York for being the voice of reason in addition to so many other things.
* * *
Tymber Dalton for club related info—anything I got wrong is entirely on me.
* * *
Jean Siska for answering some general legal stuff, even though she was warned up front that I will warp anything she tells me into whatever I need it to be in order to work for the story.
* * *
Elianne Adams for doing a last minute speedy read-through even though she was on a tight deadline.
* * *
Dayna Hart, the most amazing editor goddess for not running away screaming from the hot mess I sent her, for finding a way to get it all done under tight timing in less than ideal circumstances, and for holding my hand through it all.
* * *
And finally, my sweet husband for being away through the final stages of this book, making it easier for me to pull all-nighters.
About the Author
Surrounded by mist-covered mountains, Sadie Haller lives a quiet life with her husband and fur-babies.
Where to find Sadie
sadiehaller.com
[email protected]<
br />
Copyright © 2018 by Sadie Haller
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.