by Avery Aster
“God, Dex. You were a kid. What were you supposed to do? Die in her place?”
“Maybe. No. It messed me up for a long time. I grew angry and at fifteen, I hit a growth spurt and I was no longer small. I hooked up with some bad kids. One thing led to another and the next thing I knew, I was fighting for my life five nights a week in an underground fight ring.”
The anguish in his eyes broke her resistance. He'd given a piece of himself to her that she'd bet her life he rarely gave to anyone.
“So now you see why I can’t be the gentle Dom you need. My father used violence to deal with his shitty life and when I couldn’t take it anymore I too turned to violence. When I stopped fighting, I came here for an outlet. History is simply waiting to be repeated.”
“Dex, don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way because what you went through was hell and no child ever deserves that kind of life. But using it as your excuse to shut me out at Eden… Well, that’s just bullshit. That’s not who you are, so I’m never going to believe you’ll morph into an evil clone of your father when you find a woman who means something to you. That’s plain dumb.” She was so angry she shook, torn between burying her face in his chest and clinging to the hope that had taken hold, or walking out on his ass. She was about to explode.
“My head knows that, but it’s taken a long time for the rest of me to believe it.”
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. “Why do you keep talking about me needing a gentle Dom? When did I ever say I wished you were gentler? Where is that coming from?”
“Jim was a Daddy Dom. You were his baby girl and you were happy with him.”
Bonnie snorted. “You’re right. Jim was gentle. Nearly always too gentle when it came to me. And I frustrated him. He would spank me when I needed punishment and I got off. I don’t think I was supposed to love it that much. So he’d spank me harder the next time and I still got off. Not long after that experiment, he introduced me to you. I guess why is kind of obvious now. I don’t need a gentle Dom, despite what you think, and he knew it.”
Dex dropped into one of the comfy chairs that occupied the lounge and his hands went through his hair again. “And I told him no,” he whispered.
“What did you say?" Bonnie strained to understand what he'd just said. "You told him no? To what?”
Dex didn’t answer right away, but he didn’t have to. They’d talked about this. “Oh my God. He did want you to take me didn’t he? You knew.” Bonnie wrapped her arms around her waist and slid against the wall until she was nearly to the floor. The weight pressing in on her chest was more than she could bear. The room started to spin. “I was right all along. Every man I’ve ever been with didn’t want me.”
The sound of blood rushed through her ears as tears splashed on her cheeks like wild rain. It was one thing to suspect it and another thing entirely when all her fears were confirmed. Bonnie banged her head on the wall and wished for the floor to open up and swallow her so she could escape this nightmare.
The next thing she knew Dex grabbed her by the shoulders and hauled her up to her feet.
“You are so damned wrong. In fact, you couldn’t be more wrong. Jim loved you enough to know you needed more. He loved you. And as for me…” Dex touched her cheek. “You’re my Bonnie sub. I’ve always wanted you more than anything in this world, but I was too afraid to do anything about it. I believed if I got into a relationship I would turn into something bad. Until I fell in love with you.”
Bonnie looked at him through blurry vision from the onslaught of tears. She wiped her running nose with her hand and tried to catch her breath. “You—you love me?”
He smiled down at her while helping her wipe the tears away as they continued to fall. “Yeah, I guess I do. How could I not? You’re so beautiful and perfect and sweet.”
“I’m not perfect, Dex. Far from it.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him chest to chest. “You’re perfect to me. What happened in the past doesn't matter. It's you and me now and that’s all that counts, babe. I am the Dom here after all.”
She couldn’t help but smile despite the puffy runny mess of her face. How could she not when this brash, stubborn and beautiful man had admitted he loved her? What he said about Jim would take some time to process, but he was right about one thing. It was her past and maybe, just maybe Dex really is her future.
“You Doms kill me. Always think you gotta be right.”
“Damn straight.”
“So what happens now?”
“First, we’re going to get you cleaned up and then we’re going out there and telling Gabe were both leaving.”
“I ca—”
“Don’t waste your breath. It’s high time we spent some time together away from the club, away from crazy islands, and do what normal couples do when they start planning a life together.”
“I’m afraid to ask what that might be. I don’t have much experience in normal.”
“I don’t either, but I know this. I've lived with a lot of fear and anger for a long time. I don't want to do that anymore. I need you and I need you now.”
Chapter Fifteen
Bonnie snuggled under the comforter and stared at the ceiling. Dex had been true to his word and whisked her out of Purgatory the moment they exited the employee lounge. Gabe hadn’t uttered a word in protest. Instead he crossed his arms and smiled. She could only imagine the gossip after they left.
Now she was in Dex’s bed, in his posh apartment above his tattoo shop, still in shock over the events of the night before. The sex had been explosive, but the time they spent talking, about his life after the violence and her dreams about school and a future career, had been the best part. He pulled her onto his lap and stroked her hair while she talked. And when he was busy telling her his stories, she traced all of his tattoos with her finger. They fascinated her.
Despite their decided lack of sleep, she was too restless to lie there and do nothing. She wanted to explore. There was so much about Dex’s life she couldn’t wait to see. The rest of his apartment, his tattoo shop.
She slid from the bed without waking him and padded across the room. She’d go to the bathroom and then check out his kitchen. Coffee first and then she’d see if she could scrounge up some breakfast. In the living room, she bent down and scooped up their clothes as she went and draped them across a dining room chair. The table was covered by dozens of amazing hand-drawn sketches that drew her inexplicably. She especially loved the tiger in mid-leap with his teeth bared. The detail was breathtaking.
From the corner of her eye, she saw a piece of another one that looked like an ocean. She pulled it free and came to an abrupt seat in the closest chair. She vaguely remembered seeing this drawing while on Eden. It had been on the table he bent her over.
Except at some point he’d added it to it. There was now a woman off to the side on the beach. A naked woman.
Her.
“Beautiful, isn’t she.” She hadn’t heard Dex approach until he whispered into her ear.
“It’s me. Outside your window.” She still couldn’t get over the way he’d drawn her. It was adventurous and erotic and he'd made her beautiful.
“I told you I couldn’t get you off my mind. I meant it.” He nuzzled her neck. “Good morning by the way.”
She smiled, not tearing her gaze from the art. “Morning. I was just about to see about coffee and breakfast.”
“Coffee yes, but I had something else in mind for breakfast.” He shoved the papers aside and lifted her onto the table, pressing her onto her back. The cool wood startled her.
“Dex.”
“Yes, just like that. You keep saying my name while I snack.” He crushed his lips to hers in a hard kiss filled with intensity that overtook her senses. His tongue slipped between her lips and she melted under him. If this is how he wanted to wake up every morning who was she to say no?
He pulled away from the kiss. “I still love you, Bonnie.�
��
Oh hell, one little sentence and her body came to full on blazing life as if the last eight or so hours hadn’t even happened. “I love you too, Dex. I mean, Sir.”
“Glad to see you still have manners in the morning, my pretty girl. Now lie back and spread those gorgeous legs for me.”
She did as she was told, completely exposing her pussy to him. The way he looked at her caused a shiver of desire to shoot up her spine. His hands went everywhere, stroking and caressing her shoulders, her breasts, her stomach and only stopping just short of the apex of her thighs. His hands grabbed each one in a tight grip before he blew on her sex. She writhed from the onslaught of pleasure his warm breath created across her center. Would she ever get used to how he affected her? He was turning her into an insatiable monster just like him.
His fingers spread the lips of her sex and he kissed her there with a feather light touch. She grabbed his hair. “Dex. Dex. Dex…”
He kissed her again, this time lingering a moment longer on her clit. His tongue touched the engorged bundle of nerves.
“Dex.” Already the tightening of her core began to build. The man knew his way around her body and it didn’t take long for her to want much more.
The light touches ended and he licked at her in earnest. Every stroke went far beyond her sex. She felt it everywhere. Her thighs, her stomach and her breasts. He’d lit the fuse and it couldn’t be stopped now. Pleasure poured through her.
“Dex,” she cried one final time before she lost all control. Her legs shook, her inner muscles clenched and she clawed at his back all while he incessantly worked her over.
He stood and lifted her legs over his shoulders. She still couldn’t speak but she didn’t need words to see what he felt. The look on his face said it all. Love, lust and awe. What a difference twenty-four hours made.
He leaned over her and pressed a quick kiss to her mouth, leaving a light taste of herself on her lips. She didn’t understand why he didn’t see how gentle of a lover he truly was. Whether they were in a scene, or simply making love like now, he always took care of her.
Her hands roamed over his shoulders and upper back. The flexing movement of his muscles excited her. She reveled in his strength. Riding high and feeling a little needy for more, she slid her arm between their bodies and grasped his erection.
He sucked in a sharp breath. “Dammit, Bonnie. I need to be inside you now.”
“Please,” she said, whimpering.
His hands were everywhere again. He dipped his head and grasped a nipple between his teeth and bit down. Bonnie arched against him as the contrast of pain and pleasure worked over her. She couldn’t breathe again.
With his mouth holding her captive, he pushed inside her in one achingly slow stroke that forced her muscles to give way. Every step of the way, he watched her, never taking his gaze from her face. Would she ever get used to the intensity of this man?
They’d both made mistakes in life, but each and every misstep is what brought them closer to this moment. What they were today was created by how they handled their pasts. And not for a minute did she believe he’d become something he wasn’t.
He thrust deeper and pulled her from her thoughts. “Stay with me, Bonnie. In my apartment. I think you’ll like it here.” He withdrew to the tip and stroked in again, making her moan as he caressed her nerve endings in ways a toy never had.
“The building is close to the college so it will make your life easier.”
“Yes,” she said through heavy breaths. “Whatever you want. Just don’t stop.”
He smiled down at her and she decided then and there she had to make him do that more often. “Never going to stop fucking you my, Bonnie sub. Not today, definitely not tomorrow. Or ever.”
His hips picked up their pace and Bonnie gave up on trying to talk. It was overrated anyway. Especially when Dex made her feel this good. Pleasure coiled through her as they raced together to the edge of bliss.
“Come for me, Bonnie.” His softly spoken command was like a flip of her switch. Her body tensed as the shimmering wave of a beautiful orgasm washed over her.
“Feels so good.” He fell right behind her, pumping in rapid, unrelenting strokes. It was a beautiful sight to behold and one she planned to watch every chance she got.
Neither of them could move for a long while. Their breathing slowed and their skin cooled. She loved the sensation of his weight pressing down on her after they were done. That flesh-to-flesh heavy connection always gave her comfort.
Eventually he withdrew and disappeared into the bathroom, returning minutes later with a warm cloth to clean her. Someday soon, she would find a way to make him acknowledge he truly did take care of her. He was the perfect gentle, bad-ass Dom.
He lifted her from the table and carried her back to the bedroom. “Just a little more rest and then we’ll face the reality of the day.”
“And maybe a real breakfast?” she asked.
“Are you kidding? That was the best breakfast ever.”
Bonnie laughed and snuggled under the covers. He had a point about the rest. She was worn out.
“Dex?”
“Mmmhmm.” His voice was fading as sleep once again started to take him under.
“Will you hold me close?”
His eyes didn’t open but a wide grin crossed his face. “With pleasure.” He tucked her in his arms and wrapped his body around her just the way she liked.
As it turned out, Dex had been the Dom of her dreams after all.
# # #
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed reading HOLD ME CLOSE as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I'm hard at work writing my next romance, but while you are waiting I invite you to check out all the books I have available to read in the meantime.
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To skip directly to the next story, click here.
More Purgatory Club Books
If you haven't read all of the books in my Purgatory Club series, may I suggest you start there? Here they are listed in published order, however, they do stand alone:
ROPED (Leo, Quinn & Katie)
WATCH ME (Rio & Emerson)
TEASED (Walker & Cass)
BURN (Zane & Ruby)
BOTTOMS UP (Riley & Jenn)
HOLD ME CLOSE (Dex & Bonnie)
You can see the full list with links on the books page of my website.
Other Titles by Eliza Gayle
Contemporary Romance
Purgatory Masters Series
TUCKER'S FALL
LEVI'S ULTIMATUM
MASON'S RULE
Purgatory Club
ROPED
WATCH ME
TEASED
BURN
BOTTOMS UP
HOLD ME CLOSE (this book)
Pleasure Playground Series
PLAY WITH ME
POWER PLAY
Stand Alone Books
SUBMISSIVE BEAUTY
Paranormal Romance
Southern Shifters Series
LUCAS
KANE
MALCOLM
BAD KITTY
BE WERE
SHIFTIN' DIRTY
Turn the page for an excerpt of POWER PLAY
Power Play
Eliza Gayle
She wants the escape. He wants control. They both need love.
Jennifer Croft is at the peak of her career. As a bondage model at Altered Ego, she’s become the crème de la crème of the fetish world, ensuring herself a top spot in her profession. The world is her oyster. Her personal life on the other hand… It’s not pretty. Only her fascination with pain p
lay keeps the ghosts of her past at bay.
After tragedy sends Daegan McKenna to the South for a much needed change of pace, the last thing he expects to find is a closet submissive hiding in plain sight. She’s hot-tempered and in denial — a heady combination that brings out the dominant looking for a challenge. He’s already loved and lost more than one man should, but the haunted look in her eyes prompts him to make her an offer. He’ll indulge her darkest fantasies, if she’ll agree to give up control. Then he’ll let her go.
Unfortunately, the past never stays in the past and old insecurities cause complications neither of them wanted. Now temporary is not enough.
Excerpt
“Mesmerizing, is it not?”
Jennifer Croft froze at the distinct lilt of the devil’s voice behind her. Her pussy squeezed. He might not have red horns and carry a pitchfork, but Daegan MacKenna was every inch the kind of man that normally sent her running in the opposite direction. At least that’s what she kept trying to tell herself. Someone like him knew how to lure a woman to the dark side with his sexy-as-hell dark looks and a voice that carried the sound of hot sex and dangerous need. He scared the shit out of her.
“Yeah.” Jennifer tightened the small silk robe that covered her nearly nude frame and did her best to ignore the ache between her thighs. She was going to have to go to the club tonight and get this situation taken care of. It wasn’t like her to stare at a photograph, even a masterpiece such as this one, and get so turned on she couldn’t think straight. She’d been so lost in thought Daegan had sneaked up on her without her knowledge.
“It’s incredibly erotic to imagine what must be going through Eve’s mind as Murphy pressed the knife to her throat. Chase is a genius to have captured such perfection on film.”
Despite her good intentions, Jennifer turned and glanced at Daegan. The man was a damned compulsion. Every time he came near her, she couldn’t decide whether she wanted to fall at his feet or slam a door in his face. The twisted ache in her stomach made no sense.
“Chase is definitely the best.” She tried to hide the tremor in her voice and failed miserably.