Broden stood staring at the ocean, barely cognizant of the waves lapping at his feet. The sun was just beginning to set and while this was normally the time of day when he was very much at peace, today he was antsy. He hadn’t been able to get either Samantha or Kaela off his mind for a second. He could swear he’d been hearing Samantha whispering to him, telling him to let go of her and move on. The sad truth was he was ready and his instincts told him Kaela was the woman for him. There was something powerful about his attraction to her, both emotionally and physically.

What in the hell could he offer her? He was a broken down man who had little to offer anyone. He sighed, his heart aching as tears welled in his eyes. Clenching them closed, he tried to shut out everything, longing to dull the pain.

“I know a man, one who is so very powerful in everything he does, and he told me trust isn’t something you can give, trust must be earned. He also said that opening your heart, allowing yourself to free the demons we harbor in our souls can be done easily by holding out your hand and asking for help.”

He stiffened, every part of his body shaking. “Whoever said that was wrong.”

“No, he wasn’t.”

Blinking back the tears, he turned, shocked to see the sight of Kaela in bare feet, wind whipping through her cotton dress. For a few seconds he remained speechless, his mind racing as to how and why she was here. “Kaela. Why are you here?”

“Because you are and we weren’t finished.” Kaela nodded and walked toward the shoreline, keeping her distance from him. As she stepped into the water, she inhaled and tipped her head toward the waning sun. “It’s beautiful here.”

“This is my place of solace, one special spot on earth I can relax and regroup. Or try to, anyway.” He could barely look at her. She’d come all this way to see him?

“I love the ocean.”

An awkward silence settled in. Sighing, he looked toward the sky, concentrating on the tangerine clouds floating across the sky. “I shouldn’t have left the way I did. I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”

“You had your reasons, Broden.” She looked away and brushed her hand through her hair.

“Not good enough.” He needed to kick himself in the ass. Slipping his hands into his pockets, he walked toward her. “Why did you come and find me?”

“Because I wanted to. That’s not true. Because I had to.”

“Why?”

Kaela turned to face him. “Because we had a deal, a contract, and I plan on honoring it.”

“I told you I released you.”

“No!”

“Kaela.”

“Because I’m falling in love with you,” she interrupted.

The words weren’t what he expected. Taken aback, Broden’s eyes darted back and forth across her face. She was being sincere. “You can’t be.”

“Well, I am. I didn’t plan to fall in love with you. I didn’t plan on doing anything but having a wonderful night of passion with you, but something happened along the way. Then you ran away as if I was a horrible person.”

“That’s not it at all. This has nothing to do with you. Nothing.”

“Let me finish!”

He sucked in his breath. Seeing her conviction, her trust in him right here and right now, was too much. “You need to leave.”

“I’m not leaving. Period.” She inched closer, wrapping her hand around his forearm.

He just couldn’t do this. Gently pulling his arm away, he turned around. He wasn’t going to bring his demons to life in her soul the way they lived in his.

“Don’t you dare pull away from me! Don’t you dare. I came here because I love you and I know you love me. I can see it in your eyes. I want you to own me. I want to become your submissive, but there’s more between us. You know it. You feel it.” Her voice was pleading, anguish in every word.

He stood still, his heart thumping wildly. “I’m no good for you. Don’t you understand? I could… I could hurt you.”

“You’re already hurting me. Talk to me. Share with me.”

He’d never been good at sharing his emotions and this was gut wrenching. “I just can’t. You should leave.” He longed to be able to walk away from her, but he couldn’t. Just couldn’t.

“I know about Samantha.”

Horror swept through him. Of course she’d be resourceful. He fisted his forehead, his legs shaking. As much as he wanted to run away, flee the past and the wonderful woman who had such love in her voice, he couldn’t. Dropping onto the sand, he eased down on his hands, lowering his head and wept.

“Oh God, Broden.” Falling behind him, Kaela wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head on his shoulder. “It’s okay. I’m here. I won’t leave you. I won’t.”

Broden rocked back and forth, tears of anguish and despair falling rapidly. The warmth of her body and heart was almost too much, but he remained, refusing to leave her again. Several minutes passed. When he was able to breathe and finally talk, he said the words out loud for the first time. “Samantha was my lover and my submissive. We explored the life together and no one knew we were embroiled in a D/s relationship. We kept it a secret because of her family, mostly. They were very religious. She was a special and enticing woman and the more we tried things, getting into aspects of BDSM, the more she wanted. She hungered to experience pain. We studied the lifestyle together. We went to some clubs, but she still wanted more.”

“A pain junkie?” Kaela eased around him, sitting on the sand. Taking his hand into hers, she intertwined their fingers.

“I didn’t know that then, but yes she was. She was an extremist. The more extreme she became the less I wanted the heavy kink. I think I was falling more in love with the woman, but that’s not what she wanted.”

“She needed the pain to feel alive?” Kissing his fingers, she kept her voice even.

“Yes. I wanted to please her and she had this crazy idea about some kink I honestly never wanted to try. When I told her no, she threatened to leave.”

“Asphyxiation? That’s what she wanted to try?”

Shocked, he tipped up his head. “You know.”

“Breath play. Very dangerous.”

“She lost her life because I gave in and tried it with her. I didn’t know what I was doing. I, I killed her.” Broden growled and raised his fist to the sky.

She crawled onto her knees, cupping his face in her hands. “You’re wrong.”

“I was there. I know what happened. I know.” He could barely say the words.

Kaela shook her head and leaned forward, brushing her lips across his. When she eased back she refused to let him go. “She died because she had asthma and never should have been attempting something so dangerous.”

Opening his mouth, he gasped. “What?”

“You didn’t know, did you?”

His body shaking, he tugged his hands away and stumbled to his feet, backing away. “No! No. I would have known.”

“Yes, it was in the medical report, but the final report wasn’t issued until after you left. You ran, thinking you were the reason. She had an asthma attack. That’s why you were never charged. It was truly an accident.”

“But I allowed that shit to happen.”

“Yes, you did!” Kaela challenged. “Maybe you shouldn’t have, but you can’t blame yourself for the rest of your life because she pushed the envelope. Samantha did, knowing what could happen. Don’t you understand?”

“To a degree, but that doesn’t matter. I should be punished for what I did.”

“For what, being stupid? Not knowing what you were getting into? Okay, maybe, but you’ve blamed yourself for almost two years and you refuse to be alive, preferring to live your life in the past with a dead woman. I’m alive and breathing and ready to give you all of myself. Do you get it at all?” She walked toward him, her eyes full of fear and frustration. “Don’t you?”

Almost a full minute passed before he could speak. “Yes, but I can’t, Kaela. I just can’t.”

Her eyes opening wide, she blinked several times and finally shook her head. “So that’s it? I’m dismissed? You are just shutting down completely?”

Broden glanced toward the water, a myriad of thoughts racing in the back of his mind. “There isn’t a future for us. There just isn’t.” He could see the look of hurt on her face and he longed to break free of the noose around his neck, but the fear was too great. “I’m sorry.” A few minutes passed by and he was aching, longing to take her into his arms.

Kaela nodded over and over again. “Not as much as I am for allowing you into my life.” She stumbled backward before turning around and racing toward the house.

For a few seconds he stood still, simply watching the woman of his dreams, the woman he was desperately in love with, leave him and his life and he had no doubt permanently. Suddenly he heard her voice and her laughter. Samantha. He didn’t need to hear her words to understand the blessing she was. Smiling, he wiped his tears and ran toward Kaela. Sweeping her off her feet, he struggled to keep her in his arms.

“No! Let me go. I don’t want this. I don’t want you!” Kaela moaned, beating his chest with her fists.

“No, you’re right.”

“Let me go!” Wiggling hard, she almost tumbled out of his arms.

“Stop. Kaela.” Grabbing the back of her head, he did the only thing he knew to do. He crushed her mouth with his.

She continued to struggle, her mews and moans floating between them, her fingers clawing into his chest.

Broden held her tightly, sliding his tongue inside her mouth. She fought him hard for several seconds. When she finally relinquished control, she slipped her arm around his neck, tears falling from her eyes. He took long strides toward the house and while he wasn’t certain what the hell he was doing, he knew he couldn’t be without her ever again. Breaking the kiss, he bounded up the outside stairs two at a time, kicking open the door with his foot.

“Broden.”

“Shh. No more talking.” As he walked into the bedroom and eased her down on her feet, he brushed his hands down her arms, intertwining their fingers. “This isn’t about control or domination or anything but making love with the woman who’s stolen my heart.”

Her smile timid, she took a step back and slowly drew her dress over her shoulders, allowing gravity to take the material to the floor. She slipped two fingers under the thin elastic of her thong and eased the silk down her hips, stepping out of the slender confines.

“God, you’re beautiful.” Broden had never seen a more luscious woman in his life. Tugging his shirt from his waistband, he jerked it over his shoulder and could barely manage to get his shorts off. He had to have her, needed to be inside of her. Hunger coursing through every cell in his body, he shuddered as he walked closer, knowing this was the defining moment, one that would forever change the course of their relationship. He had to give her his all. She deserved no less. When he gathered her into his arms, sliding his hands down her back and cupping her ass, he tingled, excitement roaring through him in a way he hadn’t felt in years. She’d unlocked something deep within him and he was alive again, eager.

Shuddering, she arched her back, pressing her body against his. Shifting back and forth, her nipples scraped against his chest.

He eased his hand behind her head, pulling her forward until their lips barely touched. He licked across the seam of her mouth and dragged them both backwards toward the bed. Easing back, he cupped and kneaded her breasts, watching her expression, the way her lips curled. There were so many things he wanted to say to her, so many aspects of raw emotion but he needed to be close to her first, expressing his fondness and his growing love.

Her eyes opening wide, she brushed her fingers down from his lips to his neck, tilting her head as she followed the path down the length of his chest. Swallowing hard, she leaned her head forward, licking the underside of his chin.

Broden wanted nothing more than to drag her down onto the bed, but the gentle way she was touching him, reminding him he was a man first, was incredible. Flicking his fingers back and forth across her nipples, he laughed when she pushed his hands away and leaned over, sucking on his nipple. “Oh. Yes.” They were sensitive and the way she licked and dragged her tongue back and forth sent shivers down his spine.

Kaela slid her mouth across his chest to his other nipple, swirling her tongue around the hardened bud. Purring, she eased her hand down his chest, wrapping her fingers around the base of his cock.

The moment she began to pump up and down, he slipped his fingers into her pussy. Dear God, she was wet. Thrusting in and out, he tossed his head back and let out a long breath, enjoying the sensations roaring through every cell. His entire body was shaking with need, anticipation building to the point he was nearly blinded.

As she eased back, a smile lighting up her face, she nodded, the look was of complete devotion, total submission. She dropped to her knees. Instantly, she wrapped both hands around his cock, bringing the tip to her mouth. Licking around in lazy circles, she tilted her head back to look at him.

“Mmm, always a tease.” Very tentatively he placed his hand on her head, reminding himself this was give and take, not control.

The purring long and slow, she pumped the base of his dick with one hand as she wrapped her fingers around his balls, rolling the tender sac between her fingers. Opening her mouth, she took his shaft down an inch, using her jaw muscles to suck as she squeezed his balls.

Moaning, Broden opened his legs wide, dropping his head, beads of sweat dripping down from his forehead onto her face. He jutted his hips forward, the action pushing his dick further into her mouth.

Kaela clamped around the thick muscle, holding his cock in her mouth. Very slowly she pumped the base and removed his shaft from her mouth, dragging her tongue down the underside to his balls.

“Sweet Jesus!” The second she took one of his balls into her mouth and began sucking, he squirmed and hissed, the husky sound floating into the air. He blinked, his entire body trembling as she sucked and licked first one ball then the other, her tongue moving back and forth.

She concentrated on her efforts, finally dragging her tongue all the way up his shaft and engulfing his cockhead.

When she relaxed her throat, he placed his hands on both sides of her head. He began to drive into her mouth in slow and easy thrusts.

She whimpered, her mewing sounds slipping past her lips.

He lifted up on his toes, his thrusts getting more savage and for a few seconds he wanted to drain his cock down her throat. He knew she would enjoy giving in to whatever he asked, but he had to slide his dick inside her pussy. The need to completely take her, show her what he was feeling, became overwhelming. Reaching down, he slipped his hands under her arms and pulled Kaela to her feet.

For a few seconds they locked eyes, until she lowered her gaze. “Please.”

There was so much emotion in the single word, so much longing in her voice and for a few seconds he was swimming in a sea of possibilities, hopes for the future. A single tear rolling down his cheek, he gripped her arms as he laid her down on top of the bed, his eyes never leaving hers.

She lifted her arms, tugging her hair from behind her head and fanning the long strands like a halo. Her lips were quivering, but she said nothing as he lowered his body on top of hers.

Broden inhaled the sweet fragrance of the woman lying beneath him and for the first time in his life, was taken aback, unsure of how he wanted to take her, claim her. Maybe that was the point, he only wanted to share with her. The thought was startling and as he planted his hands on either side of her, lowering his body, he closed his eyes. He didn’t need to guide his cock to her sweet pussy. Kaela eased the tip inside.

“Take me. Make me yours.” Her words were subtle, barely a whisper, but her voice held such emotion, raw and unbridled.

Opening his eyes, he leaned down, keeping his lips pressed against hers as he slid his cock inside. “Yes. Ah, yes.” The instant sensation of warmth and pressure was nothing like he’d ever felt. For almost a minute he couldn’t move, refused to move, and in those precious seconds, the connection between them grew to the point of never being able to turn back.

Kaela groaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist. “You still me.”

The words echoed in his mind, thoughts giving him chills. He kept his lips pressed against hers, his tongue darting out as he pulled out his dick, shifting back and forth. Very slowly he moved in and out of her sweet cunt, every move deep and yet so very calculated.

“Oh, Broden.” Closing her eyes, she arched her back, the angle forcing his shaft deeper inside.

He panted as he continued plunging into her, trying not to ravage her body. This was unchartered territory, making love to a woman in a sensuous way. He was used to taking what he wanted. Now this was almost too much. In and out he thrust, his heart racing. He needed more, so much more. Grabbing first one leg and the other, he forced both legs up over his shoulders.

“Yes!” Moaning, she licked her lips as she gripped his shoulders.

“Kaela. Oh, Kaela.” His entire body was on fire as he continued to plunge his cock inside, her pussy muscles contracting and pulling him deeper inside. When she clenched her cunt, the grip was enough to create a tide he couldn’t stop. “Baby, I can’t…. hold back and I…”

“Come inside of me.”

“Come with me.”

Her eyelids opening and closing she squirmed, a hoarse whimper erupting from her mouth. ‘Yes. I… Oh…” Her body bucked, pushing hard against his.

“Kaela…” His whisper was barely audible as he continued thrusting harder and faster, the momentum shoving the iron posts of the bed into the wall. The clattering sound matched the wild thumping of his heart and no matter how hard he tried to tamp back the inevitable he couldn’t stop the raging tide. “Come… for… me.”

“I…” Jerking up from the bed, her mouth flew open, her eyes opening wide.

“Come!” The second he said the word, he felt her pussy contracting around his cock, dragging him into the mouth of her cervix. His heart racing, he threw his head back, only a hoarse hiss escaping his lips.

“Oh… ahh…” She clawed his arms, her nails digging into his flesh. For a few seconds, she remained breathless, unable to focus.

He gazed down at the beautiful woman, his thoughts mixing with memories of his past. As the last wave of his orgasm matched hers, their bodies shimmering with perspiration, he covered her body with his, his heart racing.

“I love you.” Her soft breath skipped against his skin.

Now Broden was completely terrified.

* * *

Kaela heard the sound of the ocean first and while she was still sleepy, she knew instantly what had happened, the hot sex shared with the man she loved. Lifting her head, she glanced out the set of French doors, stretching. She’d known the very second he left the bed, the warmth of his body leaving her empty inside. Rolling over, she swept her arm across the surface of the bed. She tried to fight the tears brimming in her eyes, but they continued to fall. Making love with Broden had been wonderful and after the third time, they’d fallen asleep, at least for a little while.

Nuzzling into the pillows, she knew in her heart she had to try and figure out the last piece to the Broden puzzle. This wasn’t just about Samantha. The horror and the angst was more about his soul, a challenged psyche. They’d made love, there was no doubt in her mind, yet he was still haunted, his actions stilted. If she could only get him to trust her implicitly then maybe she could break through his hard shell. Maybe. It was the maybe that was killing her and she knew why. Struggling with her own personal inner demons had left her cold to men, and distrustful.

Shivering, she thought about the last time she allowed a man to tie her up. She’d thought she’d trusted him but in the end, he’d been a sadist. She rarely thought about Joseph, or about the day she’d almost died. You think you know someone and suddenly they change during the course of having control. The early months had been so sweet and loving and she’d learned to trust and to want more in a D/s relationship. And then… Balling her fist, she slapped her hand down on the bed. The asshole wasn’t going to ruin this, not with Broden and never again. There were so many questions in her mind and few answers, but she had to find them.

She dragged her body up from the bed and scanned the room. Broden had left no indication of where he’d gone, but she suspected the beach. Walking usually helped her. Glancing at the clock, she wasn’t surprised it was past noon. She only hoped he would come back soon so they could talk.

Finding a robe on the back of the bathroom door, she pressed the dense material to her face, inhaling his tangy scent. Her heart ached just trying to put the pieces together, thinking about the words they’d whispered to each other after moments of passion.

She managed to find the kitchen and a coffee pot. There was no evidence he’d even walked into the kitchen. There was no indication of where he was at all. Shaking her head, Kaela hit brew and walked toward the door leading to the back deck. The sun was waning, the clouds rolling in. As she walked out onto the deck, she could smell a storm on the horizon. Shivering, she folded her arms and looked up and down the shoreline. There was no sign of him. She could see his car still in the driveway, so he hadn’t gone far.

Kaela tried to figure out what to do and for a few minutes she was simply full of sadness. She had several thoughts, but knew it was going to take her breaking down her last wall, utterly and completely trusting Broden. The single time he’d attempted to tie her down she’d nearly freaked and then never told him why. The time spent with the Master Dom, the very interesting friend of Angel’s, had helped her understand the difference in a Dom and a sadist. No one in her life had been able to explain to her or cared to try. She’d never told anyone the details of her brutal beating, preferring to keep that part of her life private. Suffering alone had taken its toll.

The Master had been good enough to give her books and articles to read and before she’d left for Hilton Head, she’d poured over them. Both she and Broden were experiencing grief as well as trust issues. For them to have a chance, they both needed to be open and honest. She had a feeling this day would be the telling, the true beginning. Or the ending. She needed time for her own personal reflection, and to make a decision. If she wanted to keep the man she’d fallen in love with in her life, she was going to have to give him the ultimate gift. A challenge she only hoped wasn’t too great.

* * *

Broden was tired of being an asshole. He was over running from his demons and from the woman he’d fallen so desperately in love with. As he polished off his beer, the one he’d been nursing for well over an hour, he glanced out at the ocean and knew what he wanted for the first time in his life. He’d been sitting in the same spot at his favorite little bar right on the water for almost three hours, watching the waves lapping at the sand and trying to figure out what to do. The late afternoon sun reminded him just how long he’d been gone. Either Kaela had left him outright, which she had the right to do given his ridiculous behavior, or she was waiting until he returned to put him in his place.

Right now, he hoped for the latter. He was tired of playing the wounded coward routine. Tossing a twenty on top of the bar, he walked outside, standing just long enough by the shoreline to garner his last bit of strength. He chuckled. For all his bravado and the bullshit he gave in the office, he was really a simple man who wasn’t certain of himself or the future. The very idea that he hadn’t known Samantha had asthma bothered the hell out of him, but the woman had been very private about her life before him, and even when they were together, preferring to live alone. She’d had her work and her set of friends and when they shared times together, mostly involving BDSM, they talked little. As he thought about his past and about Samantha, he realized he knew nothing about her, really.

Even after her death and the way his hometown and her family had acted, he knew almost nothing about her family except how devout they were to their religion. And for Kaela to have found out more than he knew was quite interesting. He inhaled the scent of the sea and glanced at the sun, making a promise to forgive himself, just like Kaela had asked.

He began the mile or so walk back to the house, his hands in his pockets and his heart on his sleeve. One thing he knew very clearly. He wasn’t going to let Kaela go without a fight. If she’d have him back.

When he walked up the stairs to the back deck, his realized he was happier than he’d been in years. The moment he opened the door he heard music and there was an incredible scent coming from two directions, mixing together in a sensuous way. As he walked farther inside, he could tell the sexy woman had been busy. “Kaela?”

Broden glanced around the living room. From the candles lit on the mantle and coffee table, to the wafting of what had to be spaghetti sauce coming from the kitchen, his cock was tingling. He walked toward the kitchen. As he walked inside he stopped short. There was evidence of cooking, but what drew his attention immediately was a silver foil bag flanked by two wine glasses and an open bottle of red wine. Propped up against the bottle was a note.

Slowly he walked toward the island and for some reason his heart was racing. He could tell this wasn’t goodbye, but still he was shaking. As he pulled out the crisp linen paper, he titled his head and was shivering.

You gave me the ability to trust again and for that I’ll forever be grateful.

You allowed me to enjoy the woman I knew was buried deep inside.

You gave me the greatest gift you could ever give a damaged woman.

Now it’s time to give you what you once called the greatest gift.

If you’ll accept…

Kaela

Broden shuddered, his heart racing. As he glared at the bag, a nagging feeling churning in his stomach, he listened for any sounds of her. There was nothing but the waves crashing against the shoreline and the subtle yet powerful guitar strains. As he peeled back the layers of tissue paper, much like she’d peeled back his horrendous mask, he exhaled upon seeing the contents of the bag.

The rope was knotted, tan in color and the moment he lifted the piece out of the bag, he knew what her gift was. Exhaling slowly, he held the rope in his hands, brushing his thumb back and forth across the twists and knots. Very carefully he laid it down and yanked the cork out of the wine bottle. Pouring two glasses of wine, he gathered both of them, and the rope, in his hands and walked out of the kitchen to find her.

Kaela stood quietly at the window in his bedroom, dressed in a slip of a gown. Candles were lit, placed in various locations and the scent of vanilla and cinnamon was intoxicating. She remained unmoving as he entered, her hand palming the glass.

He stood admiring her beauty, her frailty, and in that moment he could see her strength, so much more than his own. He took another step forward.

“Joseph was the love of my life. During the early months we were together he was so wonderful, showering me with love and attention. He took me out and spent money on lavish dinners and clothing, jewels, and trinkets of all kinds. He gave me love and we made love. I’d never been so close to a man. Joseph was the one who introduced me to domination and submission. We went to a few BDSM clubs and simply enjoyed sharing with others, trying out a few harmless things. He never pushed, never told me I had to do anything. Over time I trusted him, telling him I’d always wanted to be controlled and owned and as I learned more about the lifestyle I felt even freer to share with him.”

When she took a breath, he inched closer but remained quiet.

“We began trying little things, some spanking and simple tying of my hands. I enjoyed being controlled. We even talked about him collaring me. Things began to get more intense. We went to the club almost every weekend and he wanted to share me. I didn’t think much of it at first, but then things got very odd with him, possessive. I thought he was just being a Dom-like man, exerting his authority, so I said nothing. A couple of months went by and Joseph started to change, his moods getting darker.”

Broden placed the rope on the bed, his heart racing. As he flanked her side, he offered a glass of wine, still remaining quiet.

Smiling, Kaela darted a glance and wrapped her hand around the glass. She took a sip before continuing. “A few things happened with him, and the spankings became more severe, his moods angrier. Then, one night after we’d been out drinking, we went home and he wanted to tie me up and whip me. He’d bought this new whip and he told me he wanted to try it out. What I didn’t realize until after he’d tied me up was that he was angry, enraged that another Dom had asked him to use me for a night. The man wanted to trade off and he…” Kaela’s voice trailed off, her hand shaking as she brought the glass to her lips.

Longing to reach out to her, he leaned against the window, turning slightly but allowing her distance.

“I know what you must be thinking. I love being spanked, even today. It wasn’t the aspect of spanking. See, I agreed to being tied completely, and for a few minutes I enjoyed the sensations and the control, but then something changed.” Her voice skipped as she hissed.

He wrapped his arm around her instinctively, pulling her close. “It’s okay.”

She shook her head and while she didn’t push away, she tensed. “Yes, it is.”

“You don’t have to finish.”

Inhaling deeply, she took another sip of wine and turned to face him, cupping his face with one hand. “Yes, I do. I can separate then and now, but that took me until finding you and the way you’ve been with me.”

Broden shook his head. “Any man who hurts a woman should be castrated.”

Blushing, Kaela smiled. “Thank you. Trust me, I feel the same way. Joseph was full of rage and lost it. I only realized later how damaged a man he really was.” Her voice caught. She breathed in and out several times before continuing. “He… he, um, took the whip and beat me until I was unconscious. I couldn’t get him to stop and I still have no idea why he did what he did.” Sobbing quietly, she blinked rapidly.

“Oh my God. Oh my God!” Broden snapped. “What… what happened?” Wiping her tears, he had no idea what to do to help her.

“He left me alone and if it hadn’t been for a neighbor who heard the commotion and called the police, I might… I might have died. Joseph was arrested and spent some time in jail, all of about one month, for assault. No one understands the BDSM community, so they shied away. I wasn’t permanently damaged at least not physically, but emotionally I was lost. I was a wreck. I couldn’t eat or sleep for weeks.” Kaela looked out the window.

Broden sighed and glanced toward the rope, his heart swelling. “I need to say something to you. I need you to listen to me.”

She smiled shyly and nodded, keeping her face toward the window.

“I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I will do everything in my power to allow the gift you’ve given me to be nurtured, but with love and trust, not with pain. I don’t need to be your Master. I need to be your husband. Will you marry me?” He hadn’t planned on asking her and he had no idea if this was the right time. What he did know was this was the right woman.

Kaela snapped her head in his direction, her eyes full of shock. She took a step back and gasped.

And he thought for certain she was horrified. “Kaela, I’m sorry and I don’t mean to pressure you. Dear God, forgive me.”

“Shh,” Placing her fingers across his mouth, she shook her head and inched closer. “Did anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?”

“One very feisty woman who works for me, yes.”

“Hmm. I think I like her.” Kaela brushed her lips across his, darting her tongue inside his mouth. “What about the contract, the demands you made?”

He could see the tension ease from her face. “Good point. Well, my vice president will have to work that out with me in spades.” She seemed surprised. “I told you that you had the job. You do because you deserve it, not because you’re here with me.”

“Okay.”

“Do you believe me?”

“I do. What about your fiancé?”

Broden eased his arm around her waist, caressing her back. The electricity between then sparked and he was breathless, his cock aching for her, the woman he so loved.

Purring, she took a step back, sipped her wine and handed him the glass. Giving him a nod, she walked toward the bed.

His entire body was shaking from anticipation and the realization his demands from before had challenged both of them, forcing them to let go of horrible demons, and while his negotiation skills might have been a bit rusty, he was never going to be the same man again.

Kaela picked up the rope, fingering the woven strands before looking at him. Placing the twisted knots in a strategic position, she glanced in his direction, the look full of submission. “Yes. The answer is yes.” She removed her silk teddy, tossing the material away, and laid down on the bed, spreading her arms and legs wide.

For the first time in his life, he was happy, truly happy. Every step slow and methodical, he walked toward the bed, gazing down at the love of his life as he removed his clothes. “Do you trust me?”

“With my life. So much so, I want you to own me.”

Taking the rope in his hands, he pressed the strands up and down her legs, gauging her reaction, hearing the tiny moans. He climbed on top of the bed and lowered his head, kissing her lips. Then he whispered, “I have a life time to own you and earn your trust completely. Tonight I want to make love to the woman who will be my wife.” As he captured her mouth, tasting her sweet essence, he heard Samantha laugh and felt a slight touch of her hand as she said goodbye.

She’d given him the gift of love and a new beginning and for that he’d be forever grateful.

The End