DevilsBoudoirSeriesSecretLove

by Secret Love [MF] (epub)

  Chapter Nine

  He wasn’t sure what he expected to find when he got home, but as he pushed open the door and was greeted by deafening silence, he knew something was off. Sprinting down the hall to his room, he threw open the door, expecting to find Arianna sleeping peacefully in his bed, but the rumpled sheets and empty bed dashed his hopes and twisted his heart.

  “Arianna? Are you here? Annie?” He checked the bathroom and the kitchen but found himself right back in his room next to the empty bed. Sheets already cold, he knew she’d been gone for a while . Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he pulled off his shirt then kicked off his blackened shoes, making a mental note to have the white carpets cleaned. As he stood to head into the bathroom, he caught a glimpse of pale pink paper on the desk. Sinking into the supple leather of the desk chair, he fingered the edges of the note before opening it. His heart ached as he read her goodbye, and he cursed himself a thousand names for not telling her how he felt. She loved him? How could he not have seen it? Her slightly sad demeanor from the night before replayed in his head as pain tore across his chest anew. She’d been planning to tell him goodbye all along, and he’d been too selfish to notice. H e’d cried only once in his life before that moment, but his misty eyes began to water, and he squeezed his eyes closed, letting one tear trickle down his cheek. He loved her. She loved him. And they’d both been too proud or stubborn to say it. Now, the y’d both lost what could have been the best thing to ever happen to them. For the second time in the same night, the ringing of his phone broke through the silence, tearing him away from his emotions and thoughts. Looking down, he saw Rissa’s number and couldn’t answer it fast enough.

  “Hey honey, I saw your place on the news . I was so worried, I …” Before she could finish her sentence, Myles cut her off.

  “She’s left, Rissa . I let the best thing in my life walk away because I couldn’t tell her I broke my own rule and fell in love with her. She loved me, and I didn’t even know because I was so wrapped up in myself . I love her, Rissa, and now she’s gone.” Not one word about his club or the fire, none of that mattered or hurt nearly as much as losing Arianna.

  “Who left ? Arianna? Oh Myles…” Silence on the other end of the line for a moment, Myles heard shuffling on the other end and a man’s voice picked up. One of his best friends, Evan, took over.

  “Suck it up, butter cup . If you love her, go after her. Tell her. Rejection is a hundred times better than a lifetime of regret and not knowing. If you love her, go get her. ” The phone clicked, and Myles sat dumbfounded for a moment. Evan was right. He would never be able to live with himself if he didn’t tell her how he felt, even if she chose to walk away anyway . But where to start? Punching in her number, the call went straight to voice mail. He dialed the number for her building, and the doorman could only confirm that she’d come home and left a few hours later with luggage .

  Racking his brain, he tried to think of where she might go. If she was really as hurt and sad as the tear stains on her letter indicated, she would go home. Houston. He grabbed the phone and dialed Rissa’s number .

  “I need your help Reeses . I don’t know for sure, but I’d bet she’s gone to Houston; that was the only home she ever knew before she moved here. You have that friend at the airline; can you see what flight she’s on, if she is on one? Pay someone, beg … hell, bribe someone if you have to. I have to find her. I’ve lost everything tonight, I can’t lose her too . I can’t lose my heart. Not now.”

  “Ok ay, Myles. I’ll make a call . We’ll get her back, I promise.” He knew Rissa would help him find her if she could. If anyone could make it happen, Rissa and Evan could. Those two together could make anything happen.

  Tossing his phone to the side, he jumped up out of the chair and bounded across the bed toward the shower. Washing quickly, his heart raced, and he tried to stay focused despite the myriad of things running through his head and his heart. He didn’t know what he was going to tell her, or how he was going to convince her to stay, but he had to try. He needed her to know that she was his perfect match in every way, and he didn’t want to go another night without her in his bed or wake another morning without her in his arms. Losing everything else he’d ever worked for in one night made him realize how much he didn’t want to lose her too . Buildings could be replaced. The one love made just for him never could. Climbing out of the shower, he practically jumped into a pair of tight jeans and a t-shirt. Shrugging on a leather jacket, he stomped into his boots then paced by the door until Rissa called back.

  “She’s on the next flight out . We have half an hour before takeoff. We have tickets on that flight courtesy of my soon-to- be husband and you’d better get your ass outside if you expect to get there in time. ” He knew she’d come through. Reeses always did. Throwing open the door, he found Rissa and Evan in a large Hummer by the curb. He didn’t bother to lock the door , just ran down the steps, lunging into the car as Evan sped away from the curb.

  “So…we can put her down as your plus one, right ? And will she be having the Chicken Florentine, Steak Diane, or the Crab Stuffed Atlantic Salmon? ” He should have known she’d try to mix wedding planning into saving his heart, but that was her way of reassuring him that they would get to her before that plane took off. Since finding Evan, Rissa had brought her ex-boyfriend, Deacon, and Evan’s sister , Eve, together. She seemed determined to see to it that everyone she cared about found a love like hers — even if it meant bribing a flight attendant with expensive French treats and a blind date with one of the Doms from what used to be The Iron Cuff.

  “Just help me get her back , and then we’ll talk about a plus one.” He tapped his fingers on his knees and tried to calm his nerves as Evan tore through the streets of town, skidding to a stop just outside of the airport. Passenger drop off was packed, but he couldn’t wait for the other cars to move.

  “Let us out here , w e’ ll run it. Come on, Reeses, we have ten minutes before that plane takes off with my heart on it, and I lose her forever.” He jumped from the still moving car, but waited for it to come to a complete stop before watching Evan lean over and kiss Rissa. Hurrying them along, he yanked open her door and grabbed her hand, running toward the airport door. Tickets in her hand, they showed their IDs and scanned their tickets, rushing through the security checkpoints and making a break down the terminal for the gate. Myles was in a near panic, running like hell with Rissa apologizing and trying to explain to everyone he left in his wake, hoping they’d have enough heart to understand the desperation of nearly losing a love when you’ve just found the courage to tell them.

  “Last call for flight 1091 to Houston.” The flight attendant was already closing the door as they clamored for attention.

  “Wait! We’re here! We made it! We made it!” Leaving Rissa behind to show their tickets, he tore down the plank walk and out onto the tarmac. The swollen clouds above the airport ruptured as buckets of water blew around him. Squinting into the blinding rain, he caught a glimpse of wet red ringlets tucked into a tan trench coat.

  “ANNIE!!!!” He shouted through the crowd of people and hoped she’d hear him, but she climbed the stairs and entered the plane without turning around. Sprinting up the stairs, maneuvering through people, he heard Rissa shout at him as she ripped out onto the tarmac behind him, trying to keep up.

  “Annie! ANNIE! Wait!” She stopped and turned around, a look of shock etched into her damp features.

  “Myles? What a re you doing here?” He couldn’t answer her, couldn’t find the words, so he did the first thing that came to mind . Stalking toward her, in the middle of a crowded airplane, he wrapped his hand around the side of her neck and tilted her to face up to him before crashing his lips down on hers, plundering her mouth with his tongue while the world around them felt like it began to disappear. Pulling back only when lack of oxygen made him, he silenced her unspoken question with an act of desperation. Bending down, he threw her over his shoulder then turned back toward the door,
hauling her back down the stairs as she struggled and demanded to be put down.

  “Sorry ... I’m just going to take her luggage back…have a nice flight!” Practically squealing, Rissa tried to smooth over the captivated and increasingly impatient audience. “He loves her!”

  Delicate fists pounded against his back, landing close enough to his kidney to make him stop in the middle of the tarmac in the pouring rain. Setting her on her feet, he started to explain when she cut him off.

  “What are you doing, Myles? I said goodbye. Why are you making this worse? I won’t ask you to love me. I just wanted you to know that I love you before I go.” She was shouting over the pounding of the rain against the concrete, but even through the rain, he could see she was crying, and it tore at his heart, still tight and aching in his chest. His stomach in knots, he tried to explain, wishing they were anywhere but in the pouring rain with an audience.

  “Don’t go, Annie . Why are you leaving? Why does it have to be goodbye? Stay. Please. For me?” He was begging, but right now was not the time to let his pride or his rules get in the way.

  “ I have to, Myles! I can’t stay . I can’t stay here and pret end that what we have is enough. I t’s not ! I want more, I … I … need more! I… you don’t know…I just…just go, Myles ! Let me go! ” Her head dropped and the tears fell faster, harder. Gut wrenching sobs spilled from her unabated as he wrapped his hands around her shoulders, leaning to look in her face.

  “You what, Annie? Tell me. You can’t leave me without a reason ! I can’t let you go , don’t you see that!? I can’t lose you!”

  “I’m pr egnant, Myles. ” Exasperated and beginning to weep uncontrollably, she said the words as though they hurt her to say them. She tried to turn away from him, but he pulled her into his chest, wrapping his body around hers and cradling her close.

  “Why didn’t you tell me, Annie? You should have told me. But I should have told you something too. ” He pushed her back just a bit, lifting her chin to look at him. “I love you, Annie . I always have. The moment I saw you in the foyer of my club, I knew you were made to be mine; my perfect match, but I pretended I didn’t need love . I was wrong. I need love. I need you, Arianna Marshall. Say you’ll s tay. The rest …we’ll figure out …t ogether. ” He held his breath waiting for her to answer him. She sobbed harder, but threw her arms around his neck, and he lifted her off her feet, turning her in a circle.

  “Yes, Myles . Yes, I’ll stay!” Cheers and whistles sounded over the rain and thunder from the plane behind them as he set her on her feet. Looking into her eyes, he pressed his lips against hers in a tender kiss, tangling their tongues and losing himself in her. When Rissa came up behind him to interrupt, he pulled away and looked where Rissa was pointing. The plane was trying to taxi, but they were in the way. Taking Arianna’s things from Rissa, he wrapped his arm around her , walking her back to the steps of the plank and back into the airport to a cheering crowd. The blush on her cheeks made him laugh before he leaned down.

  “I promise, the next time you’r e blushing in public, it will be for a completely different reason.” She tucked herself under his arm and into the crook of his body as they made their way, drenched and freezing, outside to Evan’s waiting hummer . When he came around despite the rain to open Rissa ’ s door and help her up, she leapt into his arms and kissed him deeply. With everyone settled in the car, Evan turned back to Myles and Arianna in the back seat.

  “He’s one lucky man to have found his soul mate . Even luckier that he was able to catch you before you got away. It’s nice to finally meet you, Arianna.”

  The drive back to his house was uneventful, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long. As soon as he got her into the house and to the bedroom, he wasn’t letting her out from betwee n the sheets for a very long time. He loved her. She loved him. And he intended to prove it to her over and over again until they both understood just how much they belonged together.

  Chapter Ten

  Even though it felt like weeks since he’d dragged her caveman style off of an airplane to confess his love for her, it had been only three days. Three blissfully lazy, pleasure-filled days of sex, pampering, sex, sleep, and more sex. Her body ached all over, but it was a wonderful soreness. She would be content to stay in his bed, ravished by him every minute of every day for the rest of their lives, but Rissa had helped him bring her back, helped them keep each other, and they owed her too much to miss the wedding and collaring.

  The wedding had been beautiful, and the reception equally so. But now, sitting in a red velvet- lined chair in the decadence of Evan’s opulent club, nestled close to Myles, she felt like she was about to witness something truly special. Her fingers intertwined with his, she held onto his hand and watched as Evan stepped up. The love that Evan and Rissa had for each other shined from deep within their souls, and they seemed like nothing else mattered but each other. Wrapped in their own little world, theirs was the kind of love that legends and the greatest romance stories of all time were written about. Truly connected on another level altogether, she could see that those two belonged together. And when Myles squeezed her hand and kissed the top of her head, she could feel that she and Myles belonged together the same way. Laying a hand on her belly where their child was growing, still too early to show anything, but far enough along for her to have already fallen in love, she leaned her head into his shoulder and closed her eyes to savor the moment before the collaring began.

  A beautiful red and black baroque collar wrapped around Rissa’s neck as she knelt before Evan and he knelt before her, whispering his promise. Promises to love her, cherish her, protect, and keep her always. To cherish the gift of her submission, to earn her trust, and never break it. When he stood, Rissa stayed on her knees beside him and whispered her promise to always honor and obey, to treasure each gift he gave, and to love him always.

  Between Rissa’s whispered promises, Myles leaned over, murmuring into Arianna’s ear while she turned to him. Taking his hand, he stood and led her away from the ceremony; far enough away so as not to disturb the collaring. He pushed the door open to a private room and closed it behind them.

  “Myles? What is it? What are we doing here? We’re going to miss the ceremony…” He shushed her with a firm finger placed across her lips. Looking down as he held out his hand, she sucked in a soft breath. In his hand lay two gifts, making her jaw drop slightly. A bright blue teardrop crystal with silver branches crawling up the side hung from a short silver chain. Next to it, a platinum band served as the setting for a beautiful cushion-cut diamond lined with bright blue stones. Her eyes watered, and she could barely find a word. She looked up into his eyes anthend wrapped her hand around his empty one, holding on tight as he sank to his knees.

  “My sweet Annie . I used to think that love was something that came into your life and left on a whim until I met you, and I learned, finally, what real love is. I found the other half of my soul in you, and I never want to feel the panic or pain of losing you again. However unplanned or unexpected, we are a family, and I never want to be without you or our child. I promise I will love you until time stands still. I will cherish you and protect you; I will take care of you for the rest of our lives if you will let me. Will you marry me, Arianna? Be my wife, my submissive, be mine?”

  Her heart stopped beating, and she had to remind herself to breathe. Days ago, she was trying to convince herself leaving this man behind was for the best, and now, there was no way she could imagine her life or the life of their child without him in it. Sinking to her knees, she looked into his eyes and nodded, smiling as he slipped the ring onto her finger and the necklace around her neck. It fit close, like a collar. She lifted her hand to the cornered stone, fingering the silver branches that wrapped around it, seeming to grow up the side, growing together the way she and Myles had.

  “I would be honored to be your wife and even more so to be your submissive, Myles. I would like nothing more than to be completely and utterly yours in
every way. I love you. ” With a kiss, he stood up, and she stayed kneeling at his feet.

  “Well, in that case, my love, this room is ours for the night , and there is a restraint table with your name on it. What do you say we start this new chapter of our life together the right way — with you writhing in ecstasy against my cock until we’re both fully satisfied?” Leaning down, he whispered roughly in her ear. “You’ve shown me what it is to really love . Let me show you what it is to reall y be loved.” When she nodded, he lifted her from the floor and set her on her feet. “Then strip . Let me see you bare, on your hands and knees on the table. Let me see your anticipation glistening, my sweet Annie.” There was only one thing he needed to hear — answering him made her slick with the excitement and expectation of what was to come.

  “Yes, Sir.”