by Cindy Jacks
“Yes, that’s what you’ve told me, but what you show me is something different. Hell, that’s what you’re doing now—demanding that I stay, demanding that I quit my job. You can tell me when and how to suck your cock, but outside the playroom, you aren’t going to tell me how to live my life. Period.”
He didn’t reply, he didn’t move, he didn’t even look at me.
Fine. Whatever. It had been a mind-blowing weekend and maybe that was the best I could hope for from someone like him, from a situation like this.
I’d known all along that this type of sexual exploration was outside the norm and there was nothing wrong with that, but I wasn’t ready to commit to…to whatever he was asking me to commit to.
Shouldering the laptop bag, I turned to leave then thought better of taking the gift with me. Gently, I placed it on the counter.
“See you when I see you…sir.”
He didn’t reply so I strode toward the door. Then I heard him murmur something. I hadn’t quite caught what he’d said and I froze. My hand on the doorknob, I knew I could leave. I could be free, free of whatever strange codependence was forming between me and Black.
Instead of moving forward, I asked, “What did you say?”
After he cleared his throat, he replied, “I said my name is David. My real name is David Denegro.”
Shock rippled through me. It was the only concession he’d made in the past three days. Taking a deep breath, I turned around.
I walked up to him and took his right hand in mine. “I’m Georgia Reilly. Nice to meet you.”
Nodding, he fixed his gaze on the floor. Was it so hard for him to share this vulnerable moment with me? I realized it must be difficult for him to relinquish even a tiny bit of control and yet he’d done it. For me.
In that moment I understood. As much as I longed to please Black—no, not Black, David—he longed to please me just as much. I had equal power in this budding relationship. Somehow I’d stumbled on to the one man who completed me. Yes, completed me—as unpopular a notion as it was these days.
He was the darkness to my light, the night to my day, the Dominant who craved my submission. We’d forged a powerful bond, one that would take some time to comprehend. But if I didn’t make my stand now, would he ever really respect me?
“I—I don’t know if I can stay here with you,” I murmured. “And Mika.”
Head shaking almost imperceptibly, he looked at me. “That’s not what I’m asking of you.”
“Isn’t it?”
Again, he fixed his stare on the floor. That was all the answer I needed.
I kissed his cheek. “We’ll talk after I’m off from work.”
He released my hand, wrapping his arms around himself, and with that David was gone, replaced again by Black’s cold stare.
I nodded and took my leave.
Once out the door, I breathed in the cool, crisp autumn air. The leaves on the trees had turned various shades of magenta, scarlet and buttercup yellow. What the hell was I doing, running away from the most exciting man I’d ever met to hurry off to a shitty job I hated?
But could I do this? Could I give myself to a man who ate, drank and breathed so foreign a lifestyle? Would he lose interest in me after he’d forced my total submission? Would I allow him to dominate me completely? Was that what he wanted?
Maybe it was really what I wanted. The thought sent a shiver up my spine.
More questions ricocheted around my brain, but I ignored them.
Once in my car, I willed myself to start the engine, then I willed myself to pull out of the driveway. One step at a time, I found myself finally in my cubicle at work. It seemed grayer and smaller than usual. No matter how hard I tried to banish the memory of Black’s hands on my body, the sensation haunted me. My cunt still ached from the pounding he’d given me the night before, my skin still raw from the elaborate bondage. The thought drew my nipples into painfully tight buds.
Blinking away tears, I shook my head. I’d never make it through the day at this rate. Minutes seemed like hours and hours stretched into days, but finally six o’clock rolled around. I collected my purse, clocked out and bid my coworkers goodbye.
As soon as I exited the building and entered the parking area, I saw him— Black stood by my car, bearing a bouquet of flowers.
A grin pulled at my lips—yet another concession from him. “What are you doing here?”
He shook his head. “Can you honestly say that today was better than your weekend with me?”
“No but—”
“But it’s something you can call yours. I know.” He held up the bouquet. “These are yours as well. I want you to have whatever you want. I want you to have a choice. That’s all.”
“Didn’t sound like a choice this morning.” I took the flowers.
“Because I don’t understand why you would choose this.” He motioned to the squat gray building, chuckling. “Other than sheer stubbornness.”
My turn to laugh. I put the bouquet to my nose. The fragrance of tuberose, jasmine and violets flooded my nostrils.
“They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
Though I appreciated that he’d met me this far, I still had more questions than answers. He demanded so much of me and gave so little. If he expected me to take the next step, he had to show me more.
“You’ve spent a good deal of time forcing me to examine my motivations, but I know nothing about why you enjoy dominance and inflicting pain.”
Fixing his stare on some faraway point, he nodded curtly. “It’s something that took a very long time to figure out and it’s not something I tell just anyone.”
I remained quiet. I wasn’t just anyone, he had taught me that. The silence stretched on but I would not budge, not until he had given me what I asked for.
Finally he went on. “I haven’t always taken artistic photos. I was an embedded journalist for over a decade. Somalia, Kosovo, Iraq. I saw people do terrible things to each other and I had no control, no power to stop them. All I could do was chronicle those atrocities and that made me feel inadequate.”
Of all the things I’d expected him to say… Well, I hadn’t really expected this much. My heart broke for him. I tightened my grip on the bouquet, a little sorry I’d stripped him so bare. “As a Dom, you feel powerful.”
“And in control. The darkness of my youth, it’s a permanent part of who I am. I crave it.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, he looked at me out of the corner of his eye. “And…and I didn’t mean to muddy the waters by sharing with you what I shared with Mika. I see you for who you are. Surely you know that.”
I did know it. Perhaps my own insecurities had flared, making matters worse. “I just thought… I don’t know what I thought. What we share, what we do—it dredges up a lot of emotions.”
“As it should.” He tucked a curl behind my ear. “We can feel this out together. That’s what we’re supposed to do.”
I nodded. God knew I wanted to. Would I be weak to give in to him or would I be stronger for taking on the exploration of body, mind and soul?
“We don’t have to decide everything today.” He held out a hand, which I took.
“Okay.”
“Where would you like to go now?”
“My choice?”
“Your choice.” He arched one eyebrow.
“Let’s go to your place.”
Casting his gaze skyward, he shook his head and sighed. “Wouldn’t it have been easier to stay this morning and talk all this out than to go through this whole song and dance?”
“No.” I sniffed the bouquet again. “And I don’t think it would’ve been much of a challenge for you if I had.”
He pursed his lips as if considering what I’d said then replied, “Agreed.”
Black advanced on me, pinning me to my car with his body weight. Kissing me hard, he raked his teeth over my bottom lip.
“Leave your car. I’ll have my assistant drop it off later.”
“Okay.”
“Not ‘okay’. Yes or no.”
“Yes.”
He pushed one knee between my legs, his hands roaming over my body, his mouth capturing mine again. Other people milled around the parking garage. I didn’t care if they saw. I had a feeling I’d worked my last day at this godforsaken place. Black retreated, punctuating the kiss with a few pecks to my chin and neck.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes sir,” I replied, pressing my teeth against my stinging bottom lip.
The darkness of David’s world closed in on me again, but this time it was different—enticing instead of strange or menacing. I slipped into the passenger seat of his car, letting his hold over me consume me. I fell into his blackest night, unsure of what the future would bring. But whatever resulted, it would be of our own making. Together.
About Cindy Jacks
Prior to becoming a multi-published writer of romantic and erotic fiction, Cindy went to college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and graduated with a BFA in Art. After a brief attempt at an art career, she decided the “starving artist” life wasn’t for her. She worked for ten years in the corporate arena, but now spends her days as a full-time author.
When not chained to her laptop, she enjoys hanging with her family, belly dancing and exploring the culinary arts.
Cindy welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Cindy Jacks
Another Man’s Wife
Leap
Love Game
Phantom Touch
Pirates at Heart 1: Landlocked
Pirates at Heart 2: Smuggler’s Blues
Pirates at Heart 3: Sailor’s Knot
Ravish Me
Waking Maggie
Print books by Cindy Jacks
Just a Little Byte anthology
Pirate’s Passion anthology
Reclaimed
Straight from the Heart anthology
Wedded and Bedded anthology
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Blackest Nights
ISBN 9781419944871
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Blackest Nights Copyright © 2013 Cindy Jacks
Edited by Jillian Bell
Cover design by Perry
Cover photography by guwu-123rf.com
Electronic book publication July 2013
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