Cameron shouted, “Call 9-1-1!”
* * *
—
Noah was laughing by the time she got to the end of the story. “Thatta girl.”
She snorted. “I’m not sure I deserve your praise. It wasn’t my finest moment.”
“I disagree,” he countered. “You handled that perfectly. Did the cops show up?”
She nodded. “Yeah, the cops came, but nothing came of it once they understood the situation.”
“Good.” Noah studied her again then gave a slow nod like he’d found the answer to something he had been wondering. “That’s a pretty big emotional blow that you went through. Is that why you signed up for SiR then, because the escape for you isn’t only physical but emotional?”
She agreed with a nod. “I wanted to do something daring. Be bold. Be all the things I have never been in my life, since all the choices I had made in the past because I thought they were the right—and smart—thing to do had gotten me nowhere good.”
Eyebrows drawn, he stroked her cheek. “Angel, you only need to be yourself. Always.”
Her breath hitched and belly fluttered. He always seemed to know the right thing to say. Maybe that was because he was a dominant, aware of her emotionally in ways that most men wouldn’t be. Because those words reached something deep inside that desperately sought a tender touch.
Before she could find the words to explain how what he said meant everything to her, he rose. “Have you had enough to eat?”
She nodded.
“How about enough to drink?”
“I’m good.” She smiled.
“Do you need to use the bathroom?”
Err…“Not at the moment. Why?”
Instead of answering her, he moved toward the staircase. “Follow me.”
“To where?” she called after him.
He glanced over his shoulder and gave a panty-melting smile. “To play.”
Chapter 6
Noah climbed the old creaky steps
, the smile Olivia brought to his face never fading. The look of both shock and excitement mixed with hot desire that Olivia had given him a moment ago was pure joy to him. Maybe it was the reason that had brought Olivia to him. Her motivation was different than that of any woman before her. She wasn’t necessarily looking for the things a typical submissive looked for—a dominant to give her what she needed from him. Olivia was looking for a fantasy. An escape from the harsh reality she’d been handed.
Noah liked being her escape. Maybe even more than he should.
Many times over the years, he played this game with submissives. He also knew the rules. One week. No attachments. On his part and on hers. Those rules kept his life uncomplicated. It made things less risky for the both of them.
But with Olivia, a week seemed hardly enough. And sometimes rules needed to bend a little. This was one of those times. Because he enjoyed spending time with Olivia, and it had been a long time since a woman made him want more than a sexual connection.
Those thoughts, and so many others, raced across his mind as he entered the master bedroom. He had always liked this room throughout his childhood. The vintage feel, with the old charm of the house, gave off a warmth that Noah found peaceful. As a child, the deep closet off to his right had been the best hiding spot in the entire house.
He moved farther into the room and the floorboard creaked behind him as Olivia followed. The energy at his back felt nervous but also heavy, reminding him of what she’d told him in the kitchen, and of the responsibility he had now. His duty to her as her dominant suddenly became about so much more than simply showing her a good time. He didn’t want only to awaken and ignite her body, he felt a strange tug to heal those cracks in her soul that two careless individuals had caused.
“Kneel on the carpet for me, Olivia.” He gave the order without looking back, allowing the silence to begin their scene together. With another creak of the floorboard indicating she’d knelt, he moved to the drawer to take out the ten pack of votive candles he’d asked Cheryl to leave for him.
Some dominants liked music during scenes. Others liked their submissive to wear lingerie. The list went on and on; every dom had their own particular tastes and fetishes. Noah had always been partial to candles. The soft glow of light across a submissive’s skin was pleasing to the eye and set the scene perfectly.