dominance.
The
tower door was open when I pulled up beneath the portico but Jake wasn’t there
to greet me. I got out of the car, walking down the driveway, looking out over
the expanse of backyard visible past the end of the house. The bright sun
earlier in the day had vanished beneath a lowering bank of clouds. There was
that peculiar electric feeling in the air before a storm. It reminded me of the
day on the motorcycle with Chase, being caught in the thunderstorm. I shivered
involuntarily, hugging myself.
“Hey,
there you are.” I turned. Jake was walking down the drive, shirtless and
barefoot in faded blue jeans, tall and confident, his dark hair mussed and
sexy. I felt a swell of emotion in my chest, my eyes filling briefly with
tears. Turning away, I nodded toward the horizon, at the dark clouds building.
“Looks
like something pretty big out there.” I blinked rapidly, hoping Jake hadn’t
noticed. My emotions seemed just a bit too close to the surface, too raw from
my night with Chase. Maybe tonight isn’t such a good idea.
Jake
wrapped his arms around me, his chin resting on the top of my head.
“Yeah,
it looks to be some pretty intense weather.” We watched the boiling clouds for
a moment, moving closer, blotting out more of the sun.
“The
tower room’s one of the best places to be during a storm. You feel like you’re
inside the clouds, with the wind and rain all around. I used to sleep out here
during really big storms, just for the experience.” He kissed the back of my
head.
“Unless
you’re afraid of them, then it’s pretty terrifying.” He turned me around,
pulling me against his chest.
“It’s
good to have you here, Abby. I’ve missed you, and this.” His hands were warm
and strong against my back, and I felt safe in his embrace. I wasn’t sure what
I had to be afraid of, but standing here, with storm clouds on the horizon, I
didn’t want to leave his arms.
Jake
held me away from him, looking down at me with those beautiful blue eyes. I
couldn’t remember the last time I’d looked up into them.
“Have
you decided what you want to do tonight, Abby? Anything you want to play with?”
I
shook my head. “Not really.” I hesitated, biting my lip. The memory of the
black-haired woman at the club flashed through my mind, the whip biting into
her skin.
“Unless
you have experience with a whip…”
Jake
laughed. “Sorry, I don’t have any experience with whips. They’ve always
frightened me a little. But, I think I can unearth a riding crop. It’s the
same, but different. You might find you enjoy it.” He cocked his head at me.
“Can
I ask why a whip?”
Why
indeed? “Just a thought.” I knew I was blushing to the roots of my hair. You’re
pushing it here, Abby.
“I
see.” Jake was watching me. “Whip work takes a lot of practice. Guys who are
really good spend years perfecting their technique. I don’t have that
experience. But I think I can handle a riding crop, if that will make you
happy.” He kissed my forehead.
“Are
you ready to start?”
I
nodded; it was safer than opening my mouth. Jake led me up the tower stairs,
leaving me at the bathroom door. He pulled me to him, his skin warm beneath my
fingers, his deep rich smell washing over me, kissing me hard.
The
tears came when I was alone in the bathroom. And the guilt. I’d told
another man I loved him and here I was, preparing to let a different man use a
riding crop on me. You’re losing yourself, Abby.
“If
you don’t want this, then just tell him.” I spoke to my reflection in the
mirror. “This is a no-strings attached relationship; you can get out of it
anytime you want.”
But I
didn’t want to get out. I wanted this relationship, and I wanted it with Jake.
I
splashed cold water on my face, tying back my hair, putting on my robe. The
stairs to the tower room seemed to go on forever.
Jake
was waiting inside the door, looking out the nearest window at the blackening
sky. The rain had
The
tower door was open when I pulled up beneath the portico but Jake wasn’t there
to greet me. I got out of the car, walking down the driveway, looking out over
the expanse of backyard visible past the end of the house. The bright sun
earlier in the day had vanished beneath a lowering bank of clouds. There was
that peculiar electric feeling in the air before a storm. It reminded me of the
day on the motorcycle with Chase, being caught in the thunderstorm. I shivered
involuntarily, hugging myself.
“Hey,
there you are.” I turned. Jake was walking down the drive, shirtless and
barefoot in faded blue jeans, tall and confident, his dark hair mussed and
sexy. I felt a swell of emotion in my chest, my eyes filling briefly with
tears. Turning away, I nodded toward the horizon, at the dark clouds building.
“Looks
like something pretty big out there.” I blinked rapidly, hoping Jake hadn’t
noticed. My emotions seemed just a bit too close to the surface, too raw from
my night with Chase. Maybe tonight isn’t such a good idea.
Jake
wrapped his arms around me, his chin resting on the top of my head.
“Yeah,
it looks to be some pretty intense weather.” We watched the boiling clouds for
a moment, moving closer, blotting out more of the sun.
“The
tower room’s one of the best places to be during a storm. You feel like you’re
inside the clouds, with the wind and rain all around. I used to sleep out here
during really big storms, just for the experience.” He kissed the back of my
head.
“Unless
you’re afraid of them, then it’s pretty terrifying.” He turned me around,
pulling me against his chest.
“It’s
good to have you here, Abby. I’ve missed you, and this.” His hands were warm
and strong against my back, and I felt safe in his embrace. I wasn’t sure what
I had to be afraid of, but standing here, with storm clouds on the horizon, I
didn’t want to leave his arms.
Jake
held me away from him, looking down at me with those beautiful blue eyes. I
couldn’t remember the last time I’d looked up into them.
“Have
you decided what you want to do tonight, Abby? Anything you want to play with?”
I
shook my head. “Not really.” I hesitated, biting my lip. The memory of the
black-haired woman at the club flashed through my mind, the whip biting into
her skin.
“Unless
you have experience with a whip…”
Jake
laughed. “Sorry, I don’t have any experience with whips. They’ve always
frightened me a little. But, I think I can unearth a riding crop. It’s the
same, but different. You might find you enjoy it.” He cocked his head at me.
“Can
I ask why a whip?”
Why
indeed? “Just a thought.” I knew I was blushing to the roots of my hair. You’re
pushing it here, Abby.
“I
see.” Jake was watching me. “Whip work takes a lot of practice. Guys who are
really good spend years perfecting their technique. I don’t have that
experience. But I think I can handle a riding crop, if that will make you
happy.” He kissed my forehead.
“Are
you ready to start?”
I
nodded; it was safer than opening my mouth. Jake led me up the tower stairs,
leaving me at the bathroom door. He pulled me to him, his skin warm beneath my
fingers, his deep rich smell washing over me, kissing me hard.
The
tears came when I was alone in the bathroom. And the guilt. I’d told
another man I loved him and here I was, preparing to let a different man use a
riding crop on me. You’re losing yourself, Abby.
“If
you don’t want this, then just tell him.” I spoke to my reflection in the
mirror. “This is a no-strings attached relationship; you can get out of it
anytime you want.”
But I
didn’t want to get out. I wanted this relationship, and I wanted it with Jake.
I
splashed cold water on my face, tying back my hair, putting on my robe. The
stairs to the tower room seemed to go on forever.
Jake
was waiting inside the door, looking out the nearest window at the blackening
sky. The rain had
Similar Books
