Submission Under the Mistletoe by Yvette Hines

make since to try and
rationalize with an insane man, but wanted to keep him talking
until she could figured out how to get him to leave or break
loose.
    “ I owned you. You think you could
walk away from me?”
    Owned me? No one owned her. “Submission is a choice made by the sub.”
She was pissed now. She’d defended this man to others. Felt sorry
because the loss of his wife. But, she wouldn’t be anyone’s lap
dog.
    She slammed the spike of her heel into the arch of
his foot as she twisted her body away. She didn’t get but a step or
two away when she felt him grab her bun and jerk her head back.
    Screaming, she balled her fist so that her keys
stuck out between her fingers like claws. Shifting back to him, she
started swinging and jabbing at any area she could hit.
    “ You dare preach the lifestyle to
me?” His voice crackled with rage as deflected most of her blows
and grunted when she made contact.
    “ How
about I dare to
beat your mother fucking ass if you don’t let her
go.”
    Reel’s hand didn’t slacken as he turned to the
person behind them that had spoken.
    She didn’t have to see the owner
of the compelling and threatening voice, she knew who her knight in
shine armor was— Brad .
    From where she struggled against Reel, she caught a
glimpse of Brad, tall and broad with his fist balled looking like
an avenging angel.
    “ Yooou…” Reel’s features twisted
in scorn as he stared at Brad.
    “ I’m not going to repeat myself.”
Brad’s voice dropped to a deep menacing pitch.
    Whether from Brad’s threats or because Reel stupidly
thought he could best the bigger man, he let her hair go and shoved
her away.
    Stumbling, she landed on the cold concert and
scraping her palms as she skid a few inches.
    “ You bastard,” Brad called
out.
    “ Ah!” Reel charged and instantly
connected with Brad’s fist.
    As she got to her feet, she saw her ex-Doms head
snap to the side and blood coming from a fresh split in his
lip.
    Reel must have been operating on pure madness,
because he turned back to Brad and started swinging.
    Unfazed by the deranged man’s acts, Brad the more
clear headed fighter, laid into the Asian man. A deep punch to
Reel’s stomach, Brad had his knees buckling and Reel dropping to
the ground.
    “ Call the police, Gabriella.” Brad
gaze connected with hers.
    Shaken by what was happening, she pulled out her
cell phone and made the call. Not wanting to see any more of the
man she’d once trusted brought so low, she unlocked her door and
went into her apartment.
    Less than ten minutes later, two officers were at
her door. After taking her statement, which she just told them that
Reel and her had a passed working relationship and when she ended
it he refused to stay away. She told them about him attacking her
and Brad coming to help her out.
    As the officers were leaving with the bruised and
battered Reel, Brad told them she would be to the precinct the next
day to file a restraining order. The officer agreed with him.
    “ You going to be all right, miss?”
One officer questioned.
    “ I’ll be staying with her
tonight,” Brad announced.
    She didn’t think that was necessary but she didn’t
want to debate with Brad around the cops.
    “ That’s good.” The officer
followed the path his partner had taken and left.
    As Brad locked the door behind the officer, she
removed her coat and then dropped heavy onto her couch. Her body
had started shaking uncontrollably.
    He turned and looked at her.
    Something in her features must have let him know she
wasn’t doing well, because he crossed the room to her.
    “ Hey, baby doll, it’s all right.
It’s over.” He sat down beside her and pulled her into his
arms.
    Unable to put on the brave façade any longer, she
curled her body into his and accepted his strength and the support
of his arms. Tears welled up in her eyes as she inhaled his scent.
Not because of fear, but because of gratitude. He cared enough for
her to truly want her to