“I’m not. You stood in your bedroom and said all that stuff. About being used, about being manipulated. That you weren’t out for revenge with this lifestyle you’re leading. And you said…”
“Stop telling me what I said. I was there, remember?”
“So was I. And you said you wanted to try.”
“You just don’t give up, do you, Scarlett?” He stood, and for a moment he towered over her. She wanted to pull back from him, from his intensity, but something snapped inside and she stood up, planting her finger against his chest.
“You know what you are? You’re afraid. You’re a scared little boy, playing the bully, trying to get me to leave you so you don’t have to feel bad. If you want this to end, then end it. Otherwise, don’t tell me you weren’t serious before about trying.”
He held his ground and she held hers. Beneath her finger, she could feel his heart beating, the rise and fall of his chest. He was angry, but she didn’t care. She’d said what she wanted to say.
Then his eyes flickered away from hers briefly, and something in the way he held his body changed, his shoulders dropping, the tension between the two of them lessening a fraction.
“Scarlett, this isn’t what you want, is it?” He looked back, and the anger was gone from his eyes. “Trying to convince me it’s worth trying, I mean.”
“I want you, Wesley. Whatever it takes. Getting mad at you, you getting mad at me. If we’re in the same room, even if we’re arguing, at least we’re trying.”
He shook his head. “You’re really something, you know? Bull-headed, stubborn…”
Scarlett held up one hand. “You’re not the first one to tell me this. And, yeah, I’m stubborn. When I think I’m right.”
“And you think you’re right about us? Do you really think we can have any kind of chance at a relationship?”
“Do you want to try?”
They were still standing in the kitchen, practically toe to toe. Wesley reached out tentatively, setting his hand on her arm. He was quiet for a long, long time, looking anywhere but at her face.
“I’m scared, Scarlett.” He brought his eyes up to hers.
For the first time she heard the fear in his voice, the uncertainty. She reached up, took his hand, and pulled him into the living room. He followed obediently, sitting beside her on the couch.
“It’s okay to be afraid, Wesley. It’s normal. I’m afraid. Everyone is when they start something new.”
“It’s not that. I’m afraid I’m going to hurt you. And that’s the last thing I want.”
“So you think if you make it impossible to start, give up before we even try, I won’t get hurt? I’ve got news for you, Wesley. It doesn’t work that way. You don’t get to decide for me what I want. I’m willing to try for us. All I want from you is the same commitment. To try.”
“You make it sound simple.”
“It’s not rocket science, you know. We try. It works, or it doesn’t. But unless we try, we’ll never know.”
He reached out, hand against her cheek. “So this is it then? We’re in this thing, this sort of a relationship thing?”
“We don’t have to give it a name, if that helps you. It’s just us, you and me, Wesley and Scarlett. It does mean no club for you, no girls from Diablo. It’d be good, I think, if we stuck to seeing just each other. Okay?”
He smiled, a genuine smile, dimples and all. “Can I still tie you up and spank you?’
She returned his smile. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.” Her smile faded a little. “About that…I think I’m banned from the club.”
Wesley’s smile widened, and then he laughed. “Stacy runs a tight ship. You’re not banned, exactly. You just can’t go there alone. But you’re still welcome to come with me. Besides, why would you be there without me?”
“True. There’s no reason for that, is there?”
He took her hand, tracing a line along her palm. “No reason at all.”
They were quiet for a moment, and Scarlett wondered what was going on inside Wesley’s mind. She’d always been the open book in a relationship, telling all, expecting to hear all in return. But she’d learned the hard way guys didn’t operate like that.
“Scarlett, I’d like to ask you something.” He looked up from her hand. “Even though you said no labels, can we talk about being…about dominance and submission? If you’re still interested in that.” His eyes held a mixture of longing and hope.
She leaned back against the couch cushions, Wesley still holding her hand. “I am interested. It’s just…it’s hard for me to separate being a submissive from being in a relationship with you.”
“There doesn’t have to be a separation. It can be a lifestyle.” He winced. “Yeah, I know, I tossed that word around like it meant something before. You’re right, I was full of bullshit.”
Scarlett’s heart hurt for Wesley, for the pain he’d gone through, for the effort he was putting forth now.
“It really means that much to you, to want to be a dominant?”
“Not just a dominant. I want to be yours. And to have you as my submissive.” He leaned forward, eyes intent. “Just you, only you. No others. I’d give up working at Diablo if it would help you decide.”
Her eyes widened. “Wesley…I can’t ask that.”
“You’re not. I’m offering.” He blew out a breath. “Let me tell you what happened tonight, how I ended up at the club, what happened.”
Scarlett closed her eyes. “I don’t need to know, really.”
“But I need to tell you. I want to start fresh, not just telling you the truth, but telling you how I feel about it. Just hear me out.”
She looked at him and nodded. It was what she’d asked of him earlier, truth and communication. There was no backing out now.
“I left your apartment and everything seemed okay. Once I was back in the car, I went to Diablo, to see if I could pick up a shift or two next week. The place was packed. I was sitting at the bar, waiting for Jeremy—he’s the manager—to check the schedule. Then this girl comes up, sits next to me. I don’t recognize her, but we start talking.”
“Wesley…I really don’t want…” She shook her head.
He ignored her, too carried away to stop. “She said she knew me, knew of me. Asked if I was interested in playing at the club. I started to say no, but then I heard your voice, your words from before. And I got mad, all over again. Or still. Or something.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“I know. But it still hurt. Your words hurt. And I wanted to prove you wrong, that this wasn’t just random, it was my life…how I live my life. And damn it, that I was happy living it this way.” He let go of her hand and stood, pacing the small room.
“Suddenly I wanted that girl like I’ve never wanted anyone before. And all the while we were driving to the club, when I had her in that room, when she was there in front of me…” He paused, closed his eyes briefly. “…all I could think about was you, that I wished you were there.”
Scarlett sat forward. “Why? Why on earth…” She couldn’t imagine what would make him want here there, to watch him with another girl.
“To make me see the truth. I couldn’t do it on my own. I needed you.” He drew a ragged breath. “I need you, Scarlett. More than I want to admit.”
His voice broke and he turned to her, anguish written across his face. Scarlett stood and crossed the space between them. He pulled her into his arms, burying his face against her neck.
“Wesley…” She had no words, but she realized none were needed. His shoulders shook slightly and she thought he was crying. She held him more tightly until he lifted his head, looking down at her. His eyes were bright, but there were no tears.
“Scarlett, you’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. I was an ass tonight, a complete jerk to do what I did to you. To us.”
“Yeah, you were.”
She caught his look of surprise and smiled. “But I believe in second
chances. Sometimes third chances.” She shrugged, his usual move, but it felt right.
“We start fresh. Again. And again, if we have to. We don’t give up. Okay?”
He nodded. “I have an idea. Something symbolic.”
Scarlett frowned. “Symbolic of what?”
“Wait here.” He let go of her and left the room. She sat back on the couch, frowning. A moment later, he came back down the hall with something in his hand.
“This…it’s not perfect. But I think it will work until I can get a new one.”
In his hand was a thin black leather collar with a delicate silver buckle.
“What is it?”
“It’s a submission collar. You’d wear it.” He held the collar out to her almost reverently. She took it, her hand shaking. This was totally unexpected and obviously extremely important to Wesley.
“What does this mean? To wear a collar?”
“It can mean a lot of different things. I think, for us…” He glanced at Scarlett. “For now, it’s the start of our journey together.”
“Do I wear it all the time?”
He took the collar back. “You can. Or you can wear it during play sessions. At the club, it would tell everyone you’re mine, my submissive. Turn around.”
She shifted on the couch, lifting her hair. Wesley put the collar around her neck, and she heard the clink of the buckle. The collar was heavier than it looked, but it felt smooth against her skin. She let her hair fall down and turned around.
“How does it look?”
She met his eyes, and his expression was tinged with apprehension. “It looks good. How does it feel?”
“Scary.” She smiled. “But it feels right.”
The smile he gave her lit up his face. “I’m glad. Really glad.” He leaned forward, lips brushing against hers. The kiss deepened and he pushed her back against the couch. After several minutes she broke away, looking up at Wesley.
“Am I under obedience now?”
His body pressed against hers, the weight of him, the hardness and warmth familiar but strangely new. “Let’s take this one day at a time. For now…we’re here, together. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Wesley rose, holding out his hand. “What I really want now is to make love to you, no ties, no bindings. Just you and me.”
She took his hand, letting him pull her to her feet. “I like how you think.”
He took her to the bedroom, standing her by the side of the bed, undressing her slowly, until she was standing naked in the dim room. He pulled back the sheets and she climbed onto the bed. He shed his clothes, sliding beneath the sheets with her.
Wesley reached out, gently fingering the collar around her neck. “I like you like this, wearing just a collar.”
Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck as he moved over her, settling himself between her legs.
“I could get used to this.” She smiled as he lowered his head, covering her mouth with his, tongue flicking against hers. She responded, heat and passion building inside.
They came together slowly, so very different than anything she’d experienced with Wesley. She was conscious of every movement he made, how gentle he was, attentive to every response she made.
When she came, it was slow and languorous and seemed to go on forever, building to a crescendo. As she came down from the high she felt Wesley shudder over her, crying out against her shoulder. He tensed, and the warmth of his climax filled her.
They lay quietly for a long time, arms and legs wrapped around each other. Finally she turned, curling against him, sleepy and satisfied.
“So this is it then. We’re starting new, together.”
“Together.” He said the word as if it was something from a foreign language. “Yeah, together. I like that.”
Scarlett nestled closer, letting sleep take her, his words the last thing she heard.
About The Author
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Hunter writes contemporary and paranormal romance stories that feature irresistibly powerful alpha heroes and beautifully curvy heroines.
Connect with Adriana on her website at http://www.AdrianaHunter.com and subscribe to her official newsletter at http://www.SpicyTales.com for details on upcoming books!
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Also By Adriana Hunter
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Sweet Surrender
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Fight For You
ROMANCE NOVELLAS
Truth Or Dare
Something Borrowed
For Keeps
Made For The Billionaire
Learning Curve
PARANORMAL ROMANCE STORIES
All American Wolf
Taming The Alpha & Claiming The Alpha
Better Mate Than Never
ANTHOLOGIES
Curve Crazy
To Love An Alpha
Dangerous Desires
Calling All Hunters & Huntresses!
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