Her request makes me smile. “Eva.” I reach for her face, cupping her cheek gently in my hand. My thumb swipes along her lower lip, causing the light pink gloss to smudge and I imagine making her face streak with makeup while I own her. While I finally take her as mine and collar her.

Her eyes are glistening with unshed tears as we stare at each other for a long while.

“If you can’t see by now that I love you, I’ll spend each day for the rest of my life showing you. Yes, I want to be your Dominant, but more than that I love you so goddamn much you drive me out of my mind. Never ever question that.”

Once again, I swipe my finger along the smooth skin of her cheek, wiping away a fallen tear. I watch her swallow, her lips part, and I wonder what she’s about to say. My chest tightens when she reaches for me. Her delicate hand on my face as she regards me with passion so fierce I’m stunned.

“Nate, I love you too.” Five words and I know my life is complete. I know that no matter what happens from here, we’ll be okay. Things will work out.

“Come home with me,” I ask her, lifting my thumb to my mouth, tasting the saltiness of her emotions on my tongue. When she takes a moment to answer, I know the answer will be yes. She doesn’t have a choice.

“Okay,” she says.

Her response has me releasing a breath I’d been holding in anticipation. Relief sags my shoulders. It won’t be long until Marissa comes strolling into my office threatening me, but if I have Eva beside me, I know I’ll be able to make it through.

When I pull the door open, I find Carrick glaring at me from the other side. “Are you okay?” His gaze falls on my woman. He doesn’t move, as he waits for her response.

“Yes, Rick.” She smiles, pulling away from me to circle her arms around him.

I watch him plant a kiss on the top of her head. A friendly gesture, but it still prickles me with jealousy to see how close they are. In a way, I’m glad she had someone to go to when she needed it, but I’m possessive, and from now on, she’s mine. Only mine.

He pins me with an angry glare, and utters his warning. “Hurt her again…” I nod before he can say anything more. He doesn’t need to tell me what I did, because I know. We’ll fight to the death for one woman. I can see he cares for her. It’s not love. Not the all-consuming affection that I have for her.

“Thank you, Carrick, for looking after her when I couldn’t.”

He nods, offering me a hand and releasing my girl. “If you ever need anything…” He smirks in that asshole way he’s got. I don’t know how he’s never found the right woman. Perhaps because he’s too much like me in a way. He indulges with too many women, but doesn’t allow love into the equation. But for me, there’s no more playing with others. I’ve found my one. The only one I need.

“There might be something you can help me with. Let me get Eva home and we’ll talk later, I’ll give you a call,” I tell him, our eyes meet in understanding. Carrick has connections in far reaching places. And I have a feeling he’s the one who will be able to get Marissa out of our lives for good.

Leading my girl down the hall, I can’t help my mind racing with a plan that will once and for all free us from an agreement that I stupidly put myself into. I want that bitch out of my life, but not just mine, Eva’s as well. Her body nestles herself into me as we get to the parking lot.

The lights of the car blink twice when I press the key fob. Opening her door, I help Eva into the passenger seat. Rounding the car, I make my way to the driver’s side and slip into my seat. Silence lingers as we both figure out what to say. When I glance at her in the seat beside me, I can’t help smiling. It’s where she belongs.

Her gaze is on me and a soft smile plays on her lips as they quirk into a grin. “I’m tired, Nate.”

“We’ll be home soon,” I say, starting the engine and pulling out onto the road. Home. For me it’s always been a place to sleep, to perhaps relax, but it’s never been a place I wanted to go after a long day. Which is why I spent my time in casino’s, throwing my hard-earned money away.

Now I realize that home is more than just a house with expensive things. It’s a place where you feel happiest. A space that allows you to be yourself, and to love yourself. And mine is with her. My home is Eva. With her forgiveness, I feel like I can finally allow myself that luxury. Love.

The drive is silent, the air feels heavy with unsaid words and thoughts. I want to ease her fears, but I don’t know how. Pulling into the parking lot, I turn off the engine and exit the car. When I reach her door, I snatch it open, scooping Eva into my arms and carrying her into the elevator. Her face nuzzles into my neck, her steady breaths are calm, warming me all over.

I’d like to play a scene with her, to connect with her, but I think more than anything, I just need to hold her. In the hallway, I manage to get the door open and us inside before slamming it closed with my foot. The place is in darkness as I make my way up to the bedroom—our bedroom—with her.

She’s sleeping beside me, no questions asked. There’s no guestroom anymore. This is where she belongs and it’s where she’ll stay. I lean down, setting her on the soft navy sheet, tugging the comforter over her small frame.

I’m about to say goodnight, but her eyes are already closed, her breathing even, and her body curled into a ball. Her long flowing hair fans over the white pillow making it seem as if she’s flying.

She’s so goddamn beautiful.

Leaving her, I make my way through to the living room and pull out my phone. I need to talk to Carrick about helping me. If there’s one man who can fuck over anyone it’s him. I tap the call button and wait. Three rings in, his smooth baritone comes from the other end.

“Nate, calling so soon?”

“Rick, we need to talk. Marissa Gallagher, she’s a client of Seven Sins,” I start.

“Gallagher?”

“Yeah, she’s Eva’s mother,” I respond, but he sounds as confused as I feel.

He sighs then, frustration clear over the line. “Jesus, will she never learn.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I found Eva, she was a runaway. Over time, she trusted me with her past, with who she was. I’d found her mother not long after Eva and I stopped…” He trails off and jealousy burns through my veins. He and my girl were together. I don’t need to know that, but he’s telling me without words that he’s there for her. That he cares.

“Carrick, tell me what the fuck you know.”

“Marissa came to me the night you walked in and requested Eva. She spoke to me, gave me some bullshit story that she wanted to sort out things with her daughter. I told her to fuck off, that she no longer had a daughter. I told her to leave my club and I watched her walk out. I didn’t realize what her ploy was… She must have wangled her way back in after I left.” He explains slowly as realization dawns on us both. I can see his mind racing with thoughts as he rakes his hand through his hair. “The bitch infiltrated my club when I wasn’t here. Mason doesn’t know her. He has no idea about Eva’s past. So, she came to you? She wanted you because of your kink.” He says as the truth tumbles free and he sighs.

“I want you to book The Chambers, tell her she has to be there. I’ll make sure she talks,” I tell him, confident that I know one person who is able to fix this for me. I didn’t think about asking him before because he’s busy training a new submissive. But it’s time I call in the sadist.

“We can do that no problem, but I need to know what you have up your sleeve and I’ll do what I can. Marissa isn’t stupid, she’ll know something’s wrong, but right now, I don’t give a fuck. I’ll call in a favor, have one of my contacts take her out clean.” I know he means that offing the bitch would be an option, and as much as I’d enjoy that, it’s not going to work. Not for what I have in mind.

“No. We need more, we need leverage,” I tell him, urging him to listen to me.

“Okay. How?” Eva isn’t going to like it, but if her mother wants to play dirty, I can do that. I can certainly fucking do that. There’s only one man I know that can make this work, I need Carrick to provide the venue, and I’ll provide the entertainment.

“Oliver Michaelson.”

He’s silent, and I know he’s weighing his options. Either do this and help Eva, or allow the girl he cares for, perhaps a little too much, to walk away. Because there’s no doubt, I’ll take Eva and run if I have to. I’ll cross borders and oceans for her.

I settle at my desk, opening my laptop poised to type an email to the one man I know can manipulate as well as he can defend. The lawyer, and sadist, and one of my best friends.

“Call Oli, I’ll set up the room for this weekend,” Carrick says, I hear the smile in his tone. He knows as well as I do that this is going to be the death of an ice queen.

“I’ll sort it out. Make sure she’s in The Chambers at ten on Saturday night. Also,” I say, leaning back in my chair as another idea pops into my mind. “Set up three cameras, one in each corner.” The room in question is odd shaped, almost triangular, which allows the three cameras to pick up every angle.

“Done. See you then. And Nate,” his words halt for a moment. “Don’t hurt her again. Or I will be forced to end you.”

“Not going to happen, Rick. She’s mine now. I love her.”

He doesn’t say anything before the line dies and I’m typing out an email to my old friend Oli.