by Lea Bronsen
Fire singed her cheeks, and warmth coiled in her stomach drifted lower.
“I want more of that, my dear. So much more, and acknowledging this truth has brought me to a stark realization. I need you to be here because you choose to, not because I’ve forced you to remain.”
He wanted more. Of her. Her skin tingled.
“I am sure I have made clear I enjoy the BDSM lifestyle, but I misled you when we first spoke. I have never had a slave. Submissive girls eager to please?” He winked. “Absolutely. My fair share. Not all of them were girlfriends in the typical sense, but most were. A dominant submissive relationship requires an intimacy beyond the norm, one that fosters a strong bond, even when it comes to no strings playmates.”
Her thoughts tumbled to their first session. Blindfolded. Tied and at his mercy. His.
Mercy.
Lexi gave herself a mental shake and fixated her attention on his lips, praying it would help her focus on the words.
“I won’t allow you to be a slave to me any more than I will allow you to be a slave to your addiction, Alexis, so I’m letting you go. You are no longer a prisoner here. If you choose to go to the police, I won’t lie about what I’ve done. Nor will I lie about why. I’m not sure your life choices could withstand the scrutiny, but everyone has choices to make. I’ll leave that one to you. But, should you choose to stay, which I sincerely hope you do, you will do so as my girlfriend and fledgling submissive. I won’t be able to treat your addiction anymore, but I will find a suitable therapist who can. One who works more in the confines of acceptable methods.” He grinned, flashing a row of perfect white teeth, and, of course, the disarming dimple.
“And you will need to go to rehab. The whole point of all this was for you to get well. To have the light return to you, so, on that subject, I will not bend. If that doesn’t work for you, then I have to walk away from the potential I see, and ask that you leave with my hope you find a path to sobriety. No one can force you to get better. I know you know that. So I need you to be strong enough to choose to.”
Lexi sat dumbfounded. Girlfriend? Rehab? Was he for real?
Superman, remember?
After a few moments of silence, Mark spoke again. “You can speak now. I’ve had my say.”
She thought she nodded, but wasn’t sure. Her brain moved a mile a minute and she had trouble nailing down a rational thought. “Uhm…wow.” Lexi glanced at the polished desk top. She wanted nothing more than to stay, to spend more time with Mark, and the idea of doing so without the walls of therapy held its appeal, but rehab?
“You must have questions.”
She shifted her attention upward. “About a million.” He chuckled and prickles of pleasure danced along her spine.
“I’ve got time.”
“How long do I have to decide.” Maybe she could kick the Vicodin without rehab.
“I’m afraid I’ll need to know your answer now. You can have a few hours to make arrangements if you decide you need to go, but I’m local, and happy to pay for a cab if you need one.”
“Can I agree to get clean without rehab?”
“No. I’m afraid my sister has taught me better than to believe you can do that from where you are right now. I’m sorry.”
Lexi tried to shake off the terror surging through her veins at the thought of rehab. What if it didn’t work? What if she hated it? Besides, it was a lot like trading one prison for another, wasn’t it? But a stint in rehab held a reward beyond sobriety. A dangling carrot she wasn’t sure she could deny. She’d have Mark. He’d be her boyfriend. Her lover. Her dominant? “What exactly does being a fledgling submissive entail?”
“It means you’re willing to learn. To explore more of what we’ve shared. You’d need to be willing to concede that I am capable of deciding what’s best for you, of protecting you. You’d have to be able to trust me. Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” Without hesitation. She’d been at his absolute mercy for two days. If he’d planned to hurt her, he’d have done it long before now.
“Would I call you sir?”
“Eventually. Sometimes. When appropriate. You’d learn when that is.”
“I can’t afford rehab.”
“I can. And if that poses a problem for you, we’ll find you a suitable job once you’re out and you can repay me the cost.” Mark got up from his chair and came around the desk, resting his bottom on its surface. He took Lexi’s hands in his. “I want you to stay, in case that hasn’t been clear enough.”
She got lost in twin pools of unmasked desire. Her fear evaporated as the heat of his palms warmed her, and she knew what she wanted. If she were brutally honest, exactly what she needed.
Lexi stood and maneuvered into his embrace. He wrapped his strong arms around her waist. She was sure of where she belonged. Her arms drifted up to encircle his neck. She pressed her lips against his in the softest whisper of a kiss. “I think I’d like to stay.”
Mark’s grip tightened. He took her mouth in a soul searing kiss, his tongue branding her as his.
Her fingers tangled in his hair and her heartbeat quickened.
By the time he drew his lips away, Lexi was lightheaded and breathless.
The dimple appeared at the corner of his brilliant smile. “I was really hoping you’d say that. I wasn’t sure I would be able to let you go. I fear I may have developed an addiction to you.”
Lexi returned his grin with one of her own. “Well then, we can work on our recovery together.”
The End.
About the authors
D.C. “Desi” Stone is a best-selling romance author and full-time fraud investigator. She lives in California with her incredibly supporting husband, two kids, and the ever-growing family of cats. After serving eight years of service with the United States Air Force, she went on to transition into the world of financial crimes and became a lead investigator for many years. Reading has always been a passion of hers, getting lost in a good, steamy romance is one of her favorite past times. She soon after discovered her own love for writing and recreating stories and characters in her head. Her writing concentrates on romantic with specifics in paranormal, suspense, and erotica. Now, when she isn’t trying to solve a new puzzle in the world of fraud, she is engulfed with coffee, her laptop, and all those crazy characters in her head.
Find her on D.C.Stone.com
Kastil Eavenshade is a multi-published author pandering her romantic shenanigans. When not catering to the whims of three rescued kitties, she's dreaming up her next heart-beating tale. No period in history—past, present, or future—is safe from the clutches of her muse. Her passions beyond writing are drawing, cooking, and watching Pittsburgh Penguins hockey. She credits her parents for her free spirit as they've always supported her in every aspect of her life. Without them, she wouldn't be here. She finds pleasure in writing anything from fantasy to romance-which sometimes parallel each other.
Find her on Kastil.com
Award-winning author Lea Bronsen likes her reads hot, fast, and edgy, and strives to give her own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with her debut novel Wild Hearted, she divides her writing time between psychological thriller, romantic suspense, and erotic dark/contemporary romance.
Find her on LeaBronsen.com
R. Brennan is a subbie brat with a bitch streak, an IT geek for the state of New York, and reformed gaming addict living in the rolling hills of Upstate NY. (You know, where it takes a ten minute drive to buy a gallon of milk, and the smell of cows lingers on the breeze.)
Find her on BexBookNook.com
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