Her head tilted to someone over my shoulder, and a moment later, the waiter appeared. “The check, please.”
“I didn’t…”
“You didn’t want these answers,” she finished for me. “Regardless, I operated under the assumption that Alexander had been truthful with me. He’ll be displeased that you know. His urge to protect you is very strong.”
“I know.” I’d seen that at every turn. But how was I supposed to overlook this? I sat silently as the waiter reappeared with the bill.
Georgia drew out her wallet and tossed down a few pound notes. “Perhaps you should reconsider submission. It’s based on trust.”
“I trust him.” But I couldn’t quite make myself believe my own words.
“I trusted him,” she said softly. “He didn’t break that trust. Maybe he needs you to trust him more.”
The insinuation in her words chilled me, and for some reason I found myself asking her the question that occupied my darker thoughts. “Do you think he can be satisfied without that?”
“If you have to ask, I feel like you already know the answer.” Georgia pushed to her feet and grabbed her purse. “Please believe me when I tell you that I hope you work this out. My experience with Alexander was limited, but he’s a good man. When you’re ready, don’t be scared.”
She left me then and I stared out over the bustling London street. Dozens of people strolled by on their way to jobs and meetings and appointments. Off to meet lovers and friends. I was surrounded by a sea of people, and I’d never felt more alone.
M y knee made hard contact with a moving box as I stumbled into the house.
“Fuck!” I screamed.
I’d gone to my appointment with the publicist and listened half-heartedly to her explain the protocols I’d be expected to know when I married Alexander in a week. The whole time questioning if I needed to be there. One week. In a week I was supposed to make vows I was no longer sure of. Not because I wouldn’t mean them, but because for the first time in months I questioned if I could be the wife Alexander needed.
Georgia’s words echoed in my mind as I rubbed my smarting knee. He’s a good man.
A good man who had hired his ex-sub to murder someone. I’d read between the lines. I understood exactly what Georgia had been brought in to do. But the thought that scared me—that made my blood turn to ice—was that I cared more about his other secret.
I’d met his submissive, and he hadn’t been up front with me. If he’d kept their relationship a secret, was he capable of…
I shook the thought from my head.
Alexander was faithful to me. I was positive about that. But Georgia had seen a side to him that he’d only shown me in carefully timed glimpses. Even in his most dominant moments, even in my most submissive, we had been equal. I’d never known true fear at his hands, but she had. He’d admitted to me that his submissive had craved pain and that he had inflicted it.
When the time came, as she suggested it would, could I endure it?
The door behind me opened and he stepped inside, a bright smile flashing over his face when he saw me standing there.
“Last night in Notting Hill,” he said. “I thought we could walk down to Portabello and grab a bite.”
“It’s going to rain. We’ve packed the umbrellas,” I responded flatly.
“I’m certain there’s one in the car.” He reached for me and I flinched. “Clara?”
Closing my eyes, I searched for the right words, but in the end there was only accusation. “I ran into Georgia Kincaid today.”
“Oh?” His expression stayed carefully detached.
“And when I say ran into Georgia, I mean, I confronted her about following me.” I planted my hands on my hips, daring him to feign innocence.
“Norris didn’t mention this.”
“Norris,” I spat back, “knows when to keep out of our business. Something your little friend doesn’t seem to understand.”
“She’s not my friend,” Alexander corrected me.
“I didn’t…”
“You didn’t want these answers,” she finished for me. “Regardless, I operated under the assumption that Alexander had been truthful with me. He’ll be displeased that you know. His urge to protect you is very strong.”
“I know.” I’d seen that at every turn. But how was I supposed to overlook this? I sat silently as the waiter reappeared with the bill.
Georgia drew out her wallet and tossed down a few pound notes. “Perhaps you should reconsider submission. It’s based on trust.”
“I trust him.” But I couldn’t quite make myself believe my own words.
“I trusted him,” she said softly. “He didn’t break that trust. Maybe he needs you to trust him more.”
The insinuation in her words chilled me, and for some reason I found myself asking her the question that occupied my darker thoughts. “Do you think he can be satisfied without that?”
“If you have to ask, I feel like you already know the answer.” Georgia pushed to her feet and grabbed her purse. “Please believe me when I tell you that I hope you work this out. My experience with Alexander was limited, but he’s a good man. When you’re ready, don’t be scared.”
She left me then and I stared out over the bustling London street. Dozens of people strolled by on their way to jobs and meetings and appointments. Off to meet lovers and friends. I was surrounded by a sea of people, and I’d never felt more alone.
M y knee made hard contact with a moving box as I stumbled into the house.
“Fuck!” I screamed.
I’d gone to my appointment with the publicist and listened half-heartedly to her explain the protocols I’d be expected to know when I married Alexander in a week. The whole time questioning if I needed to be there. One week. In a week I was supposed to make vows I was no longer sure of. Not because I wouldn’t mean them, but because for the first time in months I questioned if I could be the wife Alexander needed.
Georgia’s words echoed in my mind as I rubbed my smarting knee. He’s a good man.
A good man who had hired his ex-sub to murder someone. I’d read between the lines. I understood exactly what Georgia had been brought in to do. But the thought that scared me—that made my blood turn to ice—was that I cared more about his other secret.
I’d met his submissive, and he hadn’t been up front with me. If he’d kept their relationship a secret, was he capable of…
I shook the thought from my head.
Alexander was faithful to me. I was positive about that. But Georgia had seen a side to him that he’d only shown me in carefully timed glimpses. Even in his most dominant moments, even in my most submissive, we had been equal. I’d never known true fear at his hands, but she had. He’d admitted to me that his submissive had craved pain and that he had inflicted it.
When the time came, as she suggested it would, could I endure it?
The door behind me opened and he stepped inside, a bright smile flashing over his face when he saw me standing there.
“Last night in Notting Hill,” he said. “I thought we could walk down to Portabello and grab a bite.”
“It’s going to rain. We’ve packed the umbrellas,” I responded flatly.
“I’m certain there’s one in the car.” He reached for me and I flinched. “Clara?”
Closing my eyes, I searched for the right words, but in the end there was only accusation. “I ran into Georgia Kincaid today.”
“Oh?” His expression stayed carefully detached.
“And when I say ran into Georgia, I mean, I confronted her about following me.” I planted my hands on my hips, daring him to feign innocence.
“Norris didn’t mention this.”
“Norris,” I spat back, “knows when to keep out of our business. Something your little friend doesn’t seem to understand.”
“She’s not my friend,” Alexander corrected me.
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