myself,” she choked out. “You don’t deserve this. I feel so disloyal.”
He smiled then. “Do you get angry when I glance fondly at a former lover when she comes my way?”
She frowned and shook her head.
“Why is that?”
“Because I know you feel nothing more than a passing affection for her now.”
Lucas nodded. “Exactly. Now, perhaps I do this so that it can be determined what exactly you feel for Cole Madison. I think it’s important, don’t you?”
Slowly she nodded, marveling at how logical and in control he was. She was a blubbering mess and he was a rock. Always her rock. She sighed and went into his arms again, rubbing her cheek against his chest.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For understanding me.”
For knowing when to be gentle and when to be hard and forceful.
She left the last unspoken but he knew. He always knew.
Lucas reached up to lower the divider so he could speak to the driver. “You may take us to our destination now.”
Judging by the length of time they’d been riding, Ren assumed that Lucas had given the direction to just drive.
After the divider slid back up, Lucas leaned down to retrieve her clothing that was strewn on the floor.
“Get dressed and straighten your appearance. I’m sure you’ll want to look your best when you face your past.”
He touched her cheek then ran a finger over her still quivering lips.
“Show no fear, Ren. Show him the woman I know so well. The woman you’ve become. You have nothing to be ashamed of. If you do nothing else, show him just how big of a mistake he made by walking away from you.”
She smiled then and felt the warm brush of her confidence as it slid neatly back into place. Maybe Lucas was right. Maybe she did need to face Cole before she could move ahead to her future. A future she hoped with everything she had would include Lucas.
PART 2
cole
C HAPTER 13
B y the time they slowed to turn into Cole’s driveway, Ren had regained her composure—mostly—and repaired her makeup and straightened her clothing. If it weren’t for her rapid pulse, she could fool herself into thinking this was just another exciting sexual venture for her and Lucas.
But it wasn’t and no amount of telling herself would change the fact that for tonight, she was Cole Madison’s.
Edgy excitement cut through the guilt and worry. Her body hummed with sharp arousal—and curiosity. Would she even respond to his commands now? Did he possess the knowledge to give her what she needed?
They slowed at the gate and her eyebrows rose when the driver had to stop and press the intercom button. She glanced out the window into the darkness but couldn’t see the house from where they were parked.
A moment later, the gate slowly swung open and the limousineproceeded onto the grounds. The driveway was long and winding and only after several seconds did the house come into view.
It was beautiful. Light was cast onto the house from an array of ground lighting. The front was composed of stone instead of brick. Rustic and rugged looking. Exactly how she imagined Cole would have his house.
From what she could see of the grounds, they were exquisitely rendered and professionally maintained. Nothing seemed out of place.
The driver pulled to a stop in front of the circle drive of the house and before Lucas could open the door, Cole appeared at the top of the steps just outside the front entryway.
Ren scooted to the edge of the seat as Lucas got out in front of her. For a moment her view of Cole was blocked but then Lucas shifted to the side and extended his hand to help her out.
Cole was focused solely on her, his gaze locked. As her hand slid into Lucas’s she prayed she wouldn’t betray her nervousness by shaking.
No matter what Lucas had arranged, she was here as Lucas’s possession and she would not bring shame to him by acting anything but calm and measured. Everything she did reflected on Lucas. She represented him in all things.
She stood
He smiled then. “Do you get angry when I glance fondly at a former lover when she comes my way?”
She frowned and shook her head.
“Why is that?”
“Because I know you feel nothing more than a passing affection for her now.”
Lucas nodded. “Exactly. Now, perhaps I do this so that it can be determined what exactly you feel for Cole Madison. I think it’s important, don’t you?”
Slowly she nodded, marveling at how logical and in control he was. She was a blubbering mess and he was a rock. Always her rock. She sighed and went into his arms again, rubbing her cheek against his chest.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For understanding me.”
For knowing when to be gentle and when to be hard and forceful.
She left the last unspoken but he knew. He always knew.
Lucas reached up to lower the divider so he could speak to the driver. “You may take us to our destination now.”
Judging by the length of time they’d been riding, Ren assumed that Lucas had given the direction to just drive.
After the divider slid back up, Lucas leaned down to retrieve her clothing that was strewn on the floor.
“Get dressed and straighten your appearance. I’m sure you’ll want to look your best when you face your past.”
He touched her cheek then ran a finger over her still quivering lips.
“Show no fear, Ren. Show him the woman I know so well. The woman you’ve become. You have nothing to be ashamed of. If you do nothing else, show him just how big of a mistake he made by walking away from you.”
She smiled then and felt the warm brush of her confidence as it slid neatly back into place. Maybe Lucas was right. Maybe she did need to face Cole before she could move ahead to her future. A future she hoped with everything she had would include Lucas.
PART 2
cole
C HAPTER 13
B y the time they slowed to turn into Cole’s driveway, Ren had regained her composure—mostly—and repaired her makeup and straightened her clothing. If it weren’t for her rapid pulse, she could fool herself into thinking this was just another exciting sexual venture for her and Lucas.
But it wasn’t and no amount of telling herself would change the fact that for tonight, she was Cole Madison’s.
Edgy excitement cut through the guilt and worry. Her body hummed with sharp arousal—and curiosity. Would she even respond to his commands now? Did he possess the knowledge to give her what she needed?
They slowed at the gate and her eyebrows rose when the driver had to stop and press the intercom button. She glanced out the window into the darkness but couldn’t see the house from where they were parked.
A moment later, the gate slowly swung open and the limousineproceeded onto the grounds. The driveway was long and winding and only after several seconds did the house come into view.
It was beautiful. Light was cast onto the house from an array of ground lighting. The front was composed of stone instead of brick. Rustic and rugged looking. Exactly how she imagined Cole would have his house.
From what she could see of the grounds, they were exquisitely rendered and professionally maintained. Nothing seemed out of place.
The driver pulled to a stop in front of the circle drive of the house and before Lucas could open the door, Cole appeared at the top of the steps just outside the front entryway.
Ren scooted to the edge of the seat as Lucas got out in front of her. For a moment her view of Cole was blocked but then Lucas shifted to the side and extended his hand to help her out.
Cole was focused solely on her, his gaze locked. As her hand slid into Lucas’s she prayed she wouldn’t betray her nervousness by shaking.
No matter what Lucas had arranged, she was here as Lucas’s possession and she would not bring shame to him by acting anything but calm and measured. Everything she did reflected on Lucas. She represented him in all things.
She stood
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