Page 95 of Seize Me

“Of course, I do.It doesn’t mean I have to like it, though.”I smirked.

He chuckled.“No, and I know you don’t.But as long as you talk to me about all those insecurities running around inside your pretty little head, we’ll be just fine.”

I sobered and threaded my fingers in his.“I know you have a duty.You’ve helped a lot of subs achieve their submission, and even though they never wore your collar, they’re going to still feel abandoned.”

“Yes.I’ve taken care of some of them for a lot of years.They rely on me, just like you relied on Matt to take care of you.”

The mention of his name made my blood turn to ice.“Tony, you can’t compare your situation to mine with that sociopath.”

“That’s not what I’m getting at.We haven’t talked about your feelings regarding Matt’s death.”

“And I really have no desire to start now.”

“You need to, in order to find closure with that part of your life.”

“It’s in the past.He’s dead.I’m still here, thankfully, so time to move on.”

“You ran from him because you convinced yourself that he was a monster…a dragon you couldn’t slay.I understand you feeling a great sense of relief now that he’s dead, but the picture you have painted of him in your mind isn’t the whole man.If you’d known about his ruthless side from the beginning, would you have let him take care of you?”

“No, I wouldn’t have had a single thing to do with him.”

“Even though he failed, I think Matt tried to shield you from his dark side.He cared a great deal about you, Leagh.Just like George did by naming you in his will.Why else would Matt take in a pregnant teen, pay your medical bills, feed, clothe, and house you?Just because he was a bad man, didn’t mean he was a bad man fully.”

“Why are you sticking up for him?”I asked indignantly.

“I’m not, angel.I’m simply giving you a sword to slay him with.Bring him down to your level and conquer the hurt he caused to your psyche.Purge the damage he did to you, come to terms with it, andreallyput it in the past.Don’t just gloss it over.I want you to heal and find closure, sweetheart.I just know that it’s sometimes harder to do with a ghost.”

Everything Tony said made sense.I’d spent years molding Matt into a devil.I’d never let the consideration for all he’d provided me into my condemnation.

“Seeking closure with him while he was alive meant I’d have to face him again.”

“Yes, and you were afraid of him.But now that he’s gone, I want to help you work through the trauma and put those fears to rest.Will you let me?”

“Yes,” I whispered.“But honestly, Tony, all I feel in regard to Matt is relief.A huge sense of relief, and it feels good.”

He smiled and brushed his palm over my cheek.“I know it does, sweetheart.You have no idea how happy it makes me seeing the worry vanished from your eyes.”

Staring at his erotic mouth, I licked my lips.“Will you please kiss me?”I whispered.

“Now you’re getting the hang of it,” Tony murmured.Bending low, he claimed me with a fervent kiss suffused with so much love I wanted to pull him into my arms and never let go.With a low growl, and much hesitation, he eased back.“I’m going to grab a shower.When I’m done, I’ll help you get dressed, and we can head out to the dungeon.”

“Yes, Sir.”I smiled.

“Christ, Leagh,” he growled as he rose from the bed.“You make my dick throb when you flip on your submissive switch.”

I laughed and tossed a pillow at him.“So, all it takes is to say ‘yes Sir’ and you’re ready to go?”

“Pretty much, you little minx.”Tony smirked.

“I’ll remember that.”

“Just as long as you don’t top from the bottom, I sure as hell hope so!”he exclaimed with a crooked grin as he swaggered into the bathroom.

Dressed and seated at the bar, I couldn’t keep from staring at Tony in his tight black security T-shirt or the ripple of his bulging biceps as he ambled from station to station.Smiling as he chatted with members while keeping a close eye on the subs at play, he took his duties seriously, and I respected him for that.

“We might need more of these, Mistress Sammie,” Trevor taunted, dabbing my chin with a bar napkin.“Dahlia can’t seem to stop drooling.”

“Here, this should help.”Sammie winked, slapping a stack of napkins onto the glossy polished bar.

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