Page 100 of For the Sub

“I gave you fair warning.”

She sank onto a kitchen chair.

“I’ve missed you this week,” he continued.

Have you?

His words curled through her like the ribbons he’d used on his packages. And his tone was rough, as if they’d been wrapped in sandpaper, and yet they were somehow refined at the same time, making it difficult to resist him.

“Tell me you missed me, too.”

Her emotions constricted, and she couldn’t force out the words.

After her mother’s death—from which her father recovered—she’d been raised by him. He was incredible, always doting, always protecting, and he’d steadfastly believed she could accomplish anything her brother could.

Her first serious relationship had been with a guy named Jonathan, and he’d introduced her to BDSM. She’d fallen in love with the lifestyle and him.

But he’d been drunk on power, and as time went on, he’d used kink to manipulate her, and she’d ended up putting his hopes and dreams ahead of her own, which was one of the reasons it had taken her so long to get through college.

Then she’d found the Den and met Gregorio. Immediately he’d set her straight about what a true BDSM partnership looked like.

Soon afterward, she’d gotten involved with Reyes, who had reinforced Jonathan’s awful message.

Avoiding another intimate disaster with a Dom was the prudent choice, especially when the Dominant was as overwhelming and powerful as Master Niles.

“Tell me you missed me, too,” he repeated, his voice more urgent.

God. How could she? And more, how could she not respond to the heartfelt plea in his words? “I missed you,” she confessed.

Now that she’d admitted it aloud, the reality of her feelings rushed through her.

All week, she’d tried to keep her emotions locked away.

Because of her past, she was right to be wary of him, and her need to protect herself was at odds with her desire to care for and nurture others.

As some had surmised, there was a reason she had a houseful of abandoned animals.

“I can’t endure tomorrow night unless you’re there. I’m throwing myself on your mercy. Take pity on me.”

“Nice try.” She laughed. “There’s not a more competent man on the planet, Sir.”

“Not when it comes to this kind of event.”

Tempted, wishing she wasn’t, she hesitated.

She should be stronger.

But when it came to him, she was weak.

“Is this a yes?” he asked hopefully.

Chapter Fifteen

Master Niles’s persistence wore her down.

Yes.

A bit wobbly, she exhaled. “You win.”

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