Her Surrender (Irresistibly Bound 2)

April frowned. “Do you really have a card?”

“Come here.” Vicki wrapped her arms around April. “I’m glad I took a chance with you too. It feels good, to be challenged. All this time, I’ve been wandering through life, just going through the motions. BDSM was just a way for me to feel intimacy without having to get too close to anyone. Then you came along and actually made me feel something real. You made me want to let go of my grip on control and give in to passion. It’s been so long since I’ve done that. I was beginning to forget what it feels like.”

“I guess we both needed to step out of our comfort zones a little.” April ran her fingers through Vicki’s soft, weightless hair. “Does this mean you want me to push your boundaries even more?”

Vicki gave her a stern look. “Don’t even think about it.”

April rested her head on Vicki’s chest. She couldn’t help but wonder how she got here. Most of the upheaval and chaos in April’s life right now was because of Vicki. But as she lay there next to Vicki, she began to wonder if maybe her sanctuary could be a person instead of a place.

“April,” Vicki said. “Stay the night.”

Vicki’s voice had that compelling quality to it, the one that made it impossible for April to say no to her. And April didn’t want to say no.

“Okay,” April said. “I’ll stay.”

Vicki drew her in for a kiss. April closed her eyes, wishing that she’d never have to pull away.

But at the back of her mind, she was aware that everything was still up in the air. The library. The photo of them at the ball.

This wasn’t pretend anymore. The two of them couldn’t hide behind passion and power games any longer. Their two worlds were colliding.

April hoped they could survive the impact.

Chapter Twenty

April wrapped another plate in newspaper and added it to the box. It was Friday evening, and she was helping Eliza pack. Eliza wasn’t leaving for another week, but she had an entire house to box up.

April sighed. Eliza leaving was just one of her myriad worries.

“That’s it,” Eliza said. “I’m sick of all your sighing. Sit down. What’s wrong?”

April sat down on the couch next to her. “I have a lot on my mind at the moment, that’s all.”

“Like what?” Eliza asked.

“Well, there’s everything with the library.”

“I thought you were making progress?”

“We are,” April replied. “Now that that the development project is on hold, we have enough time to look into long-term funding options.”

“That all sounds promising,” Eliza said. “So what’s really the matter?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Try me.”

“There’s someone I have feelings for,” April said. “Serious feelings. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way about anyone.” She fidgeted with her fingers in her lap. “I think I’m falling in love with her.”

Eliza smiled. “And what’s the problem?”

“She’s someone I shouldn’t have feelings for. Someone I shouldn’t be with.”

“Why not?”

“Because she’s Vicki Blake.”

“Oh.” Eliza paused. “Does she feel the same way?”