Erik’s heart pounded at the sight of Paul manhandling Kalie, a few other men he didn’t know gathered around, awaiting their turn.

Kalie’s gaze shot to him, her bosom rising and falling in rapid breaths as he closed the distance between them.

Paul released her and Erik grasped her arm, breaking her out of her frozen terror. She sucked in a breath in a half sob and threw herself into his arms. Her fingers curled around his shoulders as she pressed her head against his chest. He tightened his arm around her, nearly knocked down by the stunningly strong protective instinct that raged through him.

Despite the intensely erotic sensation of her naked body pressed tight to his, all he could think about was making sure she was safe.

He started to walk, guiding her slowly back to the quiet path that lead out of the resort and back to the beach. She was shaky, so he walked slowly. Once they were back at the beach their bare feet padding along the warm sand, she relaxed a little.

“You knew that man,” she said in a shaky voice. “Will the other woman...?” She sucked in a breath. “Will she be okay?”

He squeezed her. “She’ll be fine, Kalie. She and Paul come here several times a year to play out that same fantasy. She wants the experience to feel as real as possible. She loves it when other men join in and she loves struggling against them.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, God. I feel so stupid. I should have realized.”

He pressed his lips to the crown of her head, the delicate fragrance of her floral shampoo tickling his senses.

“She makes it look very real and you’re new to a place like this. I admire the fact that you saw someone in trouble and did something about it, especially when no one else did.”

She pressed tighter to him. “Thank you.”

“And I’m sorry. I should have said something when you asked me to help her. I was too caught up in my role.”

“No. I should have realized. You’re a good man. You wouldn’t just ignore something like that if it was real.”

He stopped walking and turned to face her, immediately missing the curve of her body against his.

“Why do you say that, Kalie? You really don’t know me.”

She gazed up at him with her innocent, doe-eyes and warmth washed through him at the trust he saw there.

“I just know. I can feel it.”

His gut clenched. She shouldn’t be so trusting. She could get hurt that way.

The house was ahead and he lifted her in his arms and carried her the last several yards. He tapped in the combination on the door, then carried her into the living room and set her down on the couch.

“Want a drink? Or some wine?” he asked as he removed the collar from her neck.

She nodded. “Some wine would be nice, thank you.”

He grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses from the bar and sat down beside her, then filled the glasses.

“You’re not treating me like your prisoner.” She took a sip of her wine.

He smiled. “Are you disappointed?”

She leaned back against the couch, still holding her glass. He had to fight the urge to glance down at her perfect breasts.

“Not at all. I’m just wondering why.”

“You’ve had a shock. I thought you’d like some time to deal with it. Maybe to talk.”

“Thank you.” She smiled and sipped her wine again. “I’m sure this will help.”

He waited for her to say something, but when she didn’t he finally prompted, “Would you like to talk about it?”

She shook her head. “I just feel stupid about the whole thing now.” She sat back and gazed at him again. “And I feel a little uncomfortable sitting here talking to you naked. May I put something on?”

He smiled at the fact she asked rather than just doing it.

“I like you just like this.”

He hadn’t told her she couldn’t get dressed, yet she didn’t move. That meant she wanted to please him.

“So tell me, Kalie. Why did you decide, after our brief time together during your fantasy scenario, that you wanted to continue seeing me?”

She stared down at her wine glass, circling her finger around the rim.

“I felt a real connection to you. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“I was playing the role of your captor. I commanded you. I overpowered you.”

“Knowing I was willing.”

“Yes. And I understand how realizing a fantasy like that heightens your emotions as well as your desires. But you knew nothing about me except that I could act out a role.”

She shook her head. “I knew a lot more than that. I could feel your power and strength. And the control with which you wielded it. I knew you would never really use it against me. I knew I was absolutely safe with you.”

“So that’s what you want from a relationship with a man? To feel safe?”

She frowned. “There’s so much more to what I said than that. There’s trust. Mutual respect. Caring.” She locked gazed with him. “And what I saw in your eyes that last night we were together… the tenderness…”

His gut clenched. They were treading into dangerous territory.

“Sweetheart, let’s get something straight right now. I’m not falling in love with you.”

“Love?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “I didn’t say anything about love. What I’m looking for is someone I feel a real connection with. Who is strong and caring. Someone I can trust, who’ll be honest with me.”

“Honest in what way?”

She leaned forward and set her glass on the table.

“Look, I went out with this guy for six years. We were in love. Or so I thought. We moved in together and I assumed we’d wind up getting married and starting a family. I was always clear that that’s what I wanted and he said he was on board. Just not yet.” She frowned, her fingers tapping nervously on the coffee table. “The problem was not yet became an all too familiar refrain. We never seemed to get any closer to him making a deeper commitment.”

“What happened?”

She leaned back against the couch with a sigh. “I finally broke up with him. It tore my heart out. It was messy and painful and…” She frowned, her hands clenching into fists. “You know what really killed me? A year later he was engaged. He and his wife are expecting their second child now.”

She gazed up at Erik, a sheen on her eyes. “So apparently it’s not that he didn’t want to get married. He just didn’t want to marry me.”

Erik hated seeing the pain in her eyes. He slid his arm around her and drew her closer.

“You really loved him.”

She shook her head. “No. I mean I thought I did at the time, but I came to realize I really didn’t. It was just what I was supposed to do. Find a good man, get married, have kids. Boom boom boom. But I know better now. I shouldn’t do anything to please my family or my friends, or to meet society’s expectations. I need to do what makes me happy.”

His eyebrow arched. “So finding a good man isn’t on the agenda?”

“Oh, yes, it is. But not the other stuff. The marriage and kids. The being a couple forever. That part’s too hard. I just want to find someone who wants to be with me. For a little while or a long while. Whatever works. I think without the pressure of all that other stuff on the agenda, a relationship is bound to work better. And when he’s ready to move on, I just want him to be honest with me. Just as I will be with him.”

“And you think I’m a man you can have this kind of relationship with?”

“I do. The chemistry between us is phenomenal. And I love how strong and dominating you are, yet at the same time, you can show tenderness and compassion.”

He scratched the back of his head. “I must say. I find this… surprising. The way you practically stalked me, I was sure you’d decided you were madly in love with me.”

She grinned and stroked his cheek. “Well, your sexy masculinity does drive me a little mad with lust.”

Then she slid a little closer and ran her fingers through his hair.

“You know, I am still naked.”