All I could think about was Luca.

Running my hands through his soft strands, seeing the kindness in his eyes that he inherited from me, touching those small hands and bringing them to my lips. A lot could change in three years. In the five years that I’d been with him, he grew so fast. Now I couldn’t imagine how much taller he was, how much stronger he was.

I hoped he would remember me.

I hoped he wouldn’t hate me for leaving him.

Maybe one day, he would understand. When he got older, he would want an explanation of where I ran off to. The last thing I wanted him to think was I left voluntarily, that I’d been a coward like his father and disappeared. The only reason I was gone was because someone forced me.

Otherwise, I would never have left his side.

Living in the new mansion was a dream come true. With a beautiful landscape and high walls, it was a realm of peace and quiet. The customized furniture filled out the home well, and my bedroom on the second floor immediately felt like home. Luca would have the room beside mine, but I imagined I would want to sleep with him for a while.

Egor was rich as well, but I never could take advantage of his luxuries. I was always starved and beaten. With Carter, I could make this place my home. I had a good degree that had allowed me to have a stable job, but that salary never would put me up in a place like this. I wasn’t sure how long Carter wanted the two of us to stay here, but Luca had a lot more resources staying here than he did if we were on our own.

Truth be told, I wanted to be free. I wanted to have a little apartment with my son, to put our lives back together. I used to be a strong and fearless woman, but those days were over. Being a prisoner for so long had changed my mentality. Carter was the only man who could have possibly gotten me out of that situation. The idea of being on my own again, being unprotected, gave me a jolt of anxiety. If I stayed here, I would have a man who could protect my son as well as me.

It was a weak thought to have. I’d never depended on a man before, and I didn’t want to start now. But the truth was in my heart. It was undeniable. With these powerful walls surrounding the house, along with Carter’s presence, no one could touch me. He asked me to submit to him in return, and that seemed like a reasonable price to pay.

I kept the house in tip-top shape and prepared all of Carter’s meals. I’d learned what he liked and didn’t like, and I tried to make new things so he wouldn’t get tired of my cooking. The house was so big that I had to clean the other floors just so they wouldn’t get dusty.

My bedroom on the second floor had its own bathroom and a nice balcony that overlooked the yard. I had a private living room with a TV and a fireplace. It would be a perfect place for me to spend time with Luca. I sat on the couch and visualized my son playing with his toys on the ground.

I didn’t have any toys for him. I didn’t have any clothes. I didn’t have anything for my son. Without a penny to my name and no assets, I wasn’t sure how I would give him what he needed. I refused to ask Carter for money. I had more pride than that.

Carter tapped his knuckles against my bedroom door.

I lifted my chin to look at the door, to listen to the sound that shattered my eardrums. It was hard to believe I had so many rights. He didn’t just barge in here. He knocked, approaching my space with respect. The little things like that made me tear up. My life with Egor had been torture. I couldn’t even use the bathroom without someone watching me. Carter gave me a completely different life, one where I felt safe and respected.

He knocked again when I didn’t answer. “Sweetheart?”

“Come in, Carter.” I rose from the couch and slid my hands into my back pockets.

He stepped inside, wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. His muscular arms stretched out the fabric, and his powerful chest filled out the clothing well. His wide shoulders led to narrow hips, and just above that was his chiseled eight-pack. If I saw Carter across the room somewhere in public, I wouldn’t be able to leave without making a pass at him. He was beautiful, sexy with classic Italian features. I’d buy him a drink in the hope of getting his number. Now I was living with this beautiful man, and I was sleeping with him too. To the best of my knowledge, there hadn’t been another woman in his life in the meantime. I was the only one. It wasn’t exactly the way I wanted to start a romance, but if I had to be in this situation, I’m glad it was with him. If I had to do this for the rest of my life, never get married or have more children, it wouldn’t be so bad. At least the man I was bedding was the sexiest man I’d ever seen.

He stopped in front of me, his head tilted slightly as he regarded me. Concern came into his expression, his dark eyes flashing with intensity. “Everything alright, sweetheart?” He invaded my personal space, stepping toward me and sliding his fingers up my arm. His fingertips were callused from gripping a pen while he worked. They were probably also worn from typing on the keyboard all the time, maybe from working on cars too.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I cleared my throat. “It’s just…never mind.” My head tilted toward the floor, seeing his waistline and long legs.

His fingers moved under my chin, and he forced me to look at him. “No, not never mind. Tell me.” His brown eyes were comforting to look into, to see the pool of chocolate that was innately peaceful and intense at the same time. “I never want to hear you say never mind again.” The backs of his fingers brushed against my cheek before they moved into my hair.

My body warmed until it became so hot I started to melt. The tender affection reminded me of the lovers of my past, of being a participant in an intimate moment. But the touches Carter gave were different, packed with possession and a new level of desire. It made my fingers tingle, my stomach tighten. To top it off, it made me feel safe. When I first met him, I thought he was a monster like Egor. But he turned out to be quite different…in every good way possible. There was no confusion as to who he was. He was transparent, telling me he wanted to hurt me like Egor, but giving me freedom at the same time. There were lines he never crossed.

“Sweetheart?” he pressed.

“It’s nice hearing you knock…” My eyes shifted back to his face again, seeing those pretty eyes set in a hard face. He didn’t shave so his beard was coming in, but the hair couldn’t disguise the sharp lines of his jaw. “I never had those kinds of freedoms before. Now I do…”

His eyes fell in sadness as his hand moved to the back of my head. He pulled me in for a kiss, giving me a soft embrace on my lips. He felt me for an instant, his mouth taking the lead as he guided me into a deep kiss.

All thought ceased to exist in my mind.

He pulled away, affection in his look. “A woman like you shouldn’t have to be grateful for that.” He tucked my hair behind my ear then moved his hand to my waist. He’d been busy working the last couple of days, taking care of a new model that he was releasing. He went into his office, and I didn’t see him much.

“I know.” I shouldn’t be grateful. I shouldn’t be grateful that Carter saved my life in exchange for my sexual servitude. But since I liked sleeping with him anyway, it seemed like I was getting a great deal.

His powerful arms circled my waist and rested in the steep curve of my back. His large hands gripped the fabric of my shirt and squeezed me. He held me like I was his lover, not his slave.

I wondered when he’d want me to fulfill my end of the bargain. So far, he’d given me full rein to do whatever I wanted. And when we were in bed together, it was always the kind of sex I liked.

“I wanted to ask if we should start picking up things for Luca. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it—I don’t know shit about kids. But he probably needs a new bedroom set and toys. Some school supplies too.”

I wouldn’t ask Carter for anything. Luca was my son, not his. “You don’t need to do any of that. He has a place to sleep and food. We don’t need anything else.” I didn’t want him to spend a dime on us, not when he risked his life to get me away from Egor.

“I want you two to make yourselves at home. Do as I ask and pick up whatever Luca needs.” His tone turned harsher, wanting me to obey him without question. “You pay your way around here every day—and every night.” He squeezed my waist before he kissed me again, this time a lot more aggressively. He sucked my bottom lip into his mouth and gave it a nibble before he released it. He gave me a final look before he turned away, a warning in his gaze. “Pick up what you need. You’ll pay for it tonight.”

I spent the whole day shopping in Florence. I got Luca clothes and supplies for school, and I got him new decorations for his bedroom. The last thing he liked before I left were dinosaurs, so I picked up toys and a new duvet. I put everything on the credit card Carter gave me, feeling guilty for spending his money like it was my own.

But I knew tonight he would make me pay for it.

I carried everything into the house and set up Luca’s bedroom. I washed the new sheets and duvet before I made up his bed, and then I put his toy chest in the corner along with everything I bought him. A new backpack and school supplies sat on the desk. With a few changes, I’d turned the elegant bedroom into a child’s haven.

I stared at the bed before I sat on the edge of it. My weight sank into the mattress, and I brought my hands into my lap. My eyes scanned the room, the place where my eight-year-old would live right next door. Tears burned in my eyes, and before I knew it, I started to sob.

The tears were mixed with both sadness and happiness. I had lost so much time with my son, and I feared how difficult his life must have been without me. I was afraid his teachers were mean to him, that other kids picked on him. I was afraid he wouldn’t remember me, that he wouldn’t forgive me for leaving him. But I was happy that he would be in my arms again soon, that I could cry into his shoulder and feel his little body in my embrace. We were a family, and I was finally getting the other half of my soul back. I’d never loved any man the way I loved Luca. There wasn’t any room in my heart for someone else. I’d dated on and off, but nothing ever stuck. The only man I’d ever felt any real affection for was Carter.

But the rest of my heart belonged to my son.

The bedroom door opened, and Carter looked at me with sadness in his eyes. He was in his sweatpants, bare-chested and barefoot. He was getting ready for bed and probably came to retrieve me. Once he heard my sobs on the other side of the door, he probably didn’t have the patience to knock. Wordlessly, he joined me on the bed and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. He comforted me, knowing exactly why I broke down into tears.

I turned my face into his shoulder and closed my eyes, letting my tears smear against his warm skin. My hand moved against his chest, and I felt the impressive muscle under my fingertips. I felt safe for a moment, knowing nothing could hurt me when this powerful man was beside me.

“He’ll be here before you know it, sweetheart.”

“I know…I miss him so much.”

Carter moved his fingers through my hair, gently consoling me while he let me cry into his chest. “He misses you too.”

“I can’t wait to hold him, to talk to him. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love him. I can’t even explain it.”

“You don’t need to.” He lifted my gaze so I would look him in the eye. “My mom still loves me like crazy, and I’m a grown man. I’m successful and strong, and she still brings me soup when I get sick. I’m not a parent, but I understand the way you feel about your son…because it’s the way my mother feels about me.”

Despite Carter’s rigidness and aggression, he was sweet underneath all that muscle. He was caring, sympathetic, and compassionate. “Your mom sounds lovely.” I wiped away the moisture from the corners of my eyes, making the tears stop.

“You’ll probably meet her eventually.”

“Really? I thought you would hide me from your family.”

He shook his head. “That will be impossible. I’ll tell them you’re the maid and nothing more.”

“And Luca?”

“You come as a set.” He rested his hand against the back of my neck then pressed his lips to my forehead. “I know you’re anxious, but he’ll be here soon. My guy told me he’s in perfect health and he’s a happy boy.”

“Really?” I whispered.

“Yes.”

I moved my cheek against his shoulder again. “That makes me happy.”

“And you’ll be even happier when he’s here.”

Since I was upset the night before, Carter gave me the night to relax. I slept in his bed by his side, but there was no sex that evening. He spooned me from behind and kept me warm in the middle of the night.

The following day, his patience had worn out. After he worked all day and had dinner, he wanted to cash in on his reward. I already knew it was coming because he didn’t want tame sex forever. The first time we slept together, that was what he had in mind. But he caved and gave me what I wanted since it was better than nothing at all.

I walked into my bedroom and found a white box with a black ribbon around it. Carefully tied into the perfect bow, the material was made of fine lace. I gently tugged on it so the material would come apart and reveal the logo on the box.

Barsetti Lingerie.

I recognized Carter’s last name and also the brand. I’d never put the two together before. I opened the lid and saw the black ensemble sitting inside. Stitched with real diamonds, it was sexy and classy at the same time. I felt the material in my hands, touched the soft lace in my fingertips. Partially see-through, it would cover most of my skin while revealing it at the same time. It was two-pieces, a push-up bra and a G-string that hardly covered anything. There was a note on top, so I unfolded it and read.

---

Sweetheart,

Put this on. Come to my bedroom. Kneel.

---

His instructions were simple and to the point. It didn’t surprise me in the least. He’d had me wear lingerie before, but he’d never bossed me around so aggressively. The last instruction was difficult for me to accept, but I knew I had to obey.

Kneel.

He wanted me on my knees in front of him, submitting to him completely. He wanted all the power, the authority to hurt me, fuck me, and do whatever he wished. Like all other men, he wanted to dominate a woman, to treat her like a slave instead of a person. After being degraded by Egor, I never wanted to be in that position again. I wanted a man who would treat me right.

But I owed Carter a debt I could never repay. I would hate every moment of this, but it was my duty. And I also wanted to make him feel good, to enjoy me the way he wanted. He had a dark side, but that didn’t make him an evil man.

He did the right thing when it mattered.

I pulled the lingerie out of the box and changed. It fit me perfectly, like he’d measured my body before he picked it out. I kept myself barefoot since I would be removing my heels anyway. I fixed my hair and then climbed the stairs to the third floor where he would be waiting for me. My heart was pounding with adrenaline, fearful of the pain about to come my way. I would have more bruises and scars on my canvas. I would be the object of cruelty and punishment. I anticipated the pain with fear, but I knew I needed to suck it up. It wouldn’t always be this way. There would be nights when Carter would take me slowly and gently, making me come as I lay on my back and enjoyed him.

I arrived at his bedroom and walked inside. The second I stepped into the room, I saw him standing at the foot of his bed. In his black boxers and with a hard expression on his face, he didn’t look like the man who comforted me yesterday.

He looked like he didn’t possess an ounce of compassion.

Fueled by testosterone and muscle, his hard-on was outlined in his shorts. The muscles of his chest and stomach were tight in anticipation, like he wanted to rush me and pin me to the ground. His arms were crossed over his chest, the muscles of his biceps flexed with power.

I was caught off guard looking at him, detecting his carnal mood the second I was in his presence. He’d given his direction very clearly, so I obeyed and lowered myself to my knees in front of him, sitting on the rug in front of his bed.

He stared at me with a mixture of carnal desire and ferocity. His eyes trailed over my body, appreciating the way the lingerie cupped my tits and formed a deep cleavage line. He lowered his hands to his sides and straightened. “Eyes down.”

I moved my gaze to the floor, obeying the command without question.

He watched me for a full minute, the silence stretching between us. He’d probably anticipated my resistance since I’d always been a bit sassy. But now that he gave me back my son, I was loyal to him completely. He probably got hard from it, aroused by the sight of my complete submission.

He pushed his boxers down and let them fall to the floor. Then he walked toward me, his large feet thudding against the rug as he approached. Only his legs were visible to me, his muscled calves and thighs impressive as he moved. He stopped in front of me, standing over me. “Suck me off.” His fingers moved under my chin, and he lifted my gaze to meet his. His throbbing cock was tinted red from all the blood that moved into the thick length. He grabbed his dick and positioned it down, prepared to slide it into my mouth.

I opened my mouth, ready to take him.

But he didn’t close the distance between us. He flashed a look of anger. “Yes, sir.”

I brought my lips to the head of his cock and kissed it. “Yes, sir,” I said quietly.

His intense gaze deepened when he heard those words. His hand moved to the back of my head and kept me in place as he inserted his dick all the way to the back of my throat. During our nights together, he was always gentle and slow, taking his time like he was in no rush. But now he was quick and hostile, thrusting himself into my throat without gentleness. “Wider.”

I opened my mouth farther so I could take his length deeper and harder. He was moving so fast, it was difficult for me to breathe. I had to time my inhalation with his thrusts to keep myself breathing. I flattened my tongue and tasted the goodness that oozed out of his tip. His desire was obvious in his taste, in the way he thickened even more than usual. I moved with him and took him as deep as I could go without gagging.

“Look at me.”

My eyes landed on his, and I watched the hardness of his jaw, the way his eyes burned with angry desire. It was like he’d never wanted to fuck a woman so much, but also had never hated someone more. It was an intense and terrifying experience because he’d been so different that morning.

“You look beautiful with my cock in your mouth.” He gripped my neck and thrust himself a little harder, hitting me even deeper.

I kept my mouth open and refused to gag, knowing that would ruin his pleasure. His cock was bigger than my mouth could handle, but I kept up with him, doing my best to be what he wanted. When I saw how much he enjoyed it, it made me enjoy it too. I could feel the moisture seep into my thong and weigh it down. Saliva spilled over my lips and dripped down my chin and to the rug beneath my knees. My hands gripped his thighs for balance, and tears burned in my eyes because my throat was being rubbed until it was raw. I kept going anyway, letting him fuck my throat without mercy.

Ten minutes passed, and he kept going, his cock thick but not on the verge of exploding inside my mouth. He obviously had other plans that night, and coming in my mouth wouldn’t be the finale.

He finally pulled his dick out of my mouth, and the saliva dripped off his length and onto the floor. “Up.”

I moved to my feet, unsure what he wanted next. Egor did a lot of twisted things to me, but I suspected Carter would never take it that far. Perhaps he had a taste for the darker things in life, but not the evil things.

We stepped into the room across the hall, a bedroom with a four-poster bed and walls that were different from the rest of the house. Judging by the thickness, these walls were probably soundproof. I wiped away the spit that dripped down my chin, his taste still on my tongue. The bed in this room was completely black, along with the rest of the furniture. There was an assortment of whips, chains, and cuffs. But there were no knives or fire…to my relief.

“Bend over.” Uttering commands with the least number of words as possible, Carter turned into a dictator with one thing on his mind. He wasn’t the man who comforted me yesterday, who told me I deserved a better life. Now we’d been reduced to a man and a woman, stripped down to our basest purposes.

I didn’t look at him before I moved to the edge of the bed and leaned over it, my torso propped on my elbows while my feet remained on the ground. My ass stuck out, and the curve in my back deepened. The bed was a little high, so I had to move onto my tiptoes to be elevated enough.

Carter came up behind me, pressing his dick right in between my cheeks. His hands started at my shoulders and slowly migrated down, feeling the small muscles of my back as he moved down to my ass.

I closed my eyes as I felt his touch, felt his cock in between my cheeks. Hot and throbbing, it ached for me. Once it felt the moisture I produced for him, he would fuck me even harder in pleasure.

Carter opened the nightstand beside the bed and pulled out a few things. A little bottle of lube and a small butt plug. I’d never used one before, but I recognized what it was. Carter didn’t seem like he was into any of those things, but perhaps I was wrong.

He peeled my thong down to my thighs then squirted the lube over my ass cheeks. His large palm rubbed the liquid into my skin, making me smooth everywhere. Then he pressed two fingers inside me, pushing into my entrance before I had a chance to prepare for it.

I took a deep breath but didn’t wince.

His fingers explored me while his breathing turned deep and heavy. He pulsed inside me, feeling my asshole relax as I got used to his probing fingers. When he removed himself, he inserted the butt plug in his place.

I tensed when I felt it stretch me apart, but I knew I had to relax. His cock was much bigger than that, so I had to prepare for it. If I couldn’t handle this, handling that would be so much more difficult.

He pressed his cock in between my cheeks again as he stood right against me. His palm moved across my cheeks before it stopped on the right side of my ass. Without warning, he struck me, hitting me so hard I jerked forward.

“God…” I gripped the sheets of the bed and breathed through the unexpected pain. I felt the device inside me with the momentum, felt it stretch me even more.

Carter rubbed the mark he’d made before he hit me again.

I jerked forward but remained silent this time, prepared for the blow.

Again, he hit me, striking me as hard as last time. He didn’t start off gentle, hitting me with the full force he could unleash. His palm slapped against my ass and made a loud echo in the room. Skin on skin, the hit stung and made the area throb. I felt the blood rushing to the surface, felt the bruise before it even appeared.

When he hit me again, I felt his cock throb against me. With the sound of his heavy breathing, it was obvious how much he enjoyed this, how much he got off on hurting me.

His arousal turned me on in a twisted way. If hurting me made him feel good, then I enjoyed it in some way. But every strike hurt more than the last, and I couldn’t keep my whimpers at bay. My moans started off as whines and grew into something deeper and louder. Soon, tears spilled down my cheeks, and my voice cracked with my pain. It was better than the painful whips I’d received from Egor, but this still hurt.

When Carter heard me cry, he stopped. He rubbed the area with remorse as he listened to me get my breathing under control. He leaned over me as he continued to rub the area, his forehead against the back of my head. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. But I love hurting you…I really do.” He turned my face so he could look at me, see the tears himself. The arousal in his eyes only intensified at my pain. He kissed one tear away before he pulled back and positioned himself against my ass. He pulled the plug out of my ass then quickly slipped his massive length in, stretching me apart as he inched his way farther. My body resisted him, never having had anything that large inside me before.

His hands pressed against the mattress on either side of me as he rested his forehead against the back of my head. He sank deeper, showing gentleness for the first time that evening. When I was on my knees, he shoved himself hard inside my mouth. When he spanked me, he never slowed his twitching palm. But now, he entered me as delicately as possible. When he was as deep as he could go, he stopped and breathed against me. “Jesus…”

I breathed through the pain, felt the immense stretch inside my ass. Carter was much bigger than Egor was, and I could feel the difference every time he was inside me. Tears welled up in my eyes again as I fought the pain down below.

He breathed into my ear as he started to move, his hot breaths packed with arousal. He could feel me shake underneath him, could listen to the sound of my muffled tears. Everything turned him on, especially the power he had over me. He fucked me in the ass like he owned me—because he did own me. “Your ass feels even better than your pussy.”

If I didn’t find Carter so attractive, this would be a different situation. But since I found his looks as appealing as his soul, I enjoyed feeling him enjoy me. I liked being the object of his fantasy, even if that involved being uncomfortable. When he was turned on, I was turned on.

He grabbed my neck with his large hand and squeezed me as he fucked me harder, slamming his enormous dick deep in my ass. He moaned as he pumped, losing himself completely.

I whimpered at the pain but loved the way he enjoyed it. I could feel his cock thicken a little more, feel him hit the threshold of his pleasure. I knew he was about to come inside me, knew he was about to finish. “Come in my ass.”

He paused and moaned at the same time, aroused by what I’d just said. “Sweetheart…not without you.”

Carter made me enjoy sex when I didn’t think that was possible. After what Egor put me through, I thought I would swear off men for the rest of my life. But Carter rekindled a fire inside of me that continued to burn bright. Sex wasn’t only enjoyable…but amazing. It was the kind of sex I thought was only depicted in movies. I’d never had that kind of passion with any of my lovers, but then again, maybe the men I’d been with weren’t as experienced. But right now, I didn’t think I could climax with this huge dick in my ass. “It hurts…”

“I know, sweetheart. Why do you think I’m enjoying it so much?” He moved his hand underneath my belly and snaked his way to my clit. His hand found the wet area, his fingers getting covered in the moisture that leaked from my slit. “Seems to me like you’re enjoying it,” he whispered into my ear.

“I’m enjoying you enjoying me…”

He rubbed his fingers hard against my clit, moving in a circular pattern to stimulate me as much as possible. His face hovered near mine, and he breathed hard as he thrust inside me, his cock continuing to hit me deep.

The second his fingers touched my aching nub, I felt the fire in my belly. I was wet from feeling him enjoy me, and now that he touching me even better than I touched myself, I felt my body prepare for the climax.

I couldn’t believe it. His enormous dick was practically ripping me apart, but that didn’t stop me from teetering on the edge. My body swayed closer to the finish line as his fingers worked. Coupled with his hot breaths in my ear, the effect was immediate. “I’m gonna come…”

He moaned in my ear as he pounded his dick into me without mercy, taking me even harder than he did before. He shoved himself deep inside for the finish, coming far inside my ass while his fingers kept up the action against my clit.

I came the second I felt him thicken and explode inside me. I couldn’t feel his come like I could in my pussy, but knowing he was filling me made my climax even stronger. The pain somehow made the pleasure even better, made my previous orgasms seem like nothing in comparison.

“Fuck.” He growled in my ear as he finished, his cock twitching as he dumped every drop of his seed inside me. His hand stayed on my neck until he was completely done. When he started to soften inside me, he rested his face against the back of my shoulder, breathing heavily as he recovered from the pleasure we’d both experienced.

My eyes were red and puffy from the tears I’d shed. Now that the sex was over, the pain from his spankings came back to me. The skin stung because of his powerful palm. My ass started to relax as his cock became smaller. Despite the pain I’d just endured, it ended with a climax that matched the intensity.

He slowly pulled out of me. “Alright, sweetheart?”

“I think so…”

He walked away into the bathroom, and a moment later, the water was running. He came back to me and took me by the hand before we both stepped under the warm shower together. Once he was satisfied, he turned back into the man I knew, the gentle one with a kind soul. He grabbed the soap and rubbed it into my skin, showing me the right gentleness to balance out the harsh way he handled me before. Carter seemed to be two different men, one who cared and respected women, and another who wanted to be a tormentor.

He faced me, the water dripping down his hard chin until it fell to the tile beneath our feet. “I’m sorry for being what I am. I’m sorry for getting off on your tears. A part of me is ashamed. Another part of me wants nothing more than to do it again.” He held my gaze like he wanted me to say something in response, as if he’d posed a question.

I looked into his dark eyes and didn’t see a monster. Egor broke my bones and tortured me to a psychotic degree. Carter’s actions were tame compared to my former master. But I didn’t say that, not when it would only hurt him. “You don’t owe me an explanation, Carter. You told me what you wanted, and I accept that. You’ve shown me your good side. When I said no, you listened. When I asked you to help me, you did. After what you’ve given to me, I can give this to you.”

He pressed his forehead to mine and closed his eyes. “I’m glad you don’t hate me.”

“I could never hate you.”

“A real man shouldn’t enjoy listening to his woman cry…”

“You don’t. When I cried over Luca, you were there for me. You didn’t enjoy it. It’s a different situation.”

“I’ve never been this way before. I’ve never wanted to hurt a woman before.” He lifted his gaze to look at me again. “When I saw the scars on your back…it started all of this. There’s something about you that makes me into a different man.”

“A better man, I think.”

He cocked his head, his eyes narrowing on my face. “How so?”

“Look at everything you’ve done for me, Carter.”

“I should do that out of the goodness of my heart, not for something in return.”

“And you did,” I whispered. “I know I could say no at any time. You never told me that, but I know it’s true. I submit because I want to, because it makes you feel good. I enjoy turning you on, regardless of how sinister it is.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, my words affecting him somehow.

“What did I say?”

He opened his eyes again. “Hearing you say you submit because you want to…is very sexy. You’re obeying me because you want to. You’re listening to me because you choose to. Makes me feel like less of an ass.”

I moved into his chest and rested my forehead against his powerful body. The water rained down on both of us, the drops cleaning our skin and washing away the past. It was difficult to see Carter as anything but my champion. Without him, I wouldn’t have the freedom I was enjoying that very moment. “I want half and half. I’ll give you exactly what you want if you give me what I want.”

“What is that, sweetheart?”

I lifted my gaze to look at him. “The slow sex…”

“You want me to make love to you.”

“Yes.” It was exactly how I liked it, slow, deep, and gentle. I liked the kissing and the touching. I liked taking our time, my legs spread as he sank me into the mattress. It was the best sex I’d ever had in my life, having this powerful man on top of me. “You give me what I want, and I’ll always give you what you want.”

“That sounds fair.” He rubbed his nose against mine.

I rubbed mine back. “Yeah. I think it is.”