Page 150 of For the Sub

He needed to stay away.

Annoyed that he was struggling to avoid his impulses, he turned up the speed on the machine, needing to run harder, faster to outpace his thoughts.

Fuck.

It was then that he realized the truth.

Since their time together, he’d spent far more time ruminating about Brandy and what he was missing out on than he had thinking about Eleanor’s behavior.

The two women couldn’t have been more different.

Eleanor had been obsessed with her law firm. Though she had been a submissive, she’d never been into it the way Brandy was.

His wife had playacted, while Brandy’s reactions and emotions were authentic.

Brandy even opened her home and her heart to every stray creature, even ones that everyone else had given up on.

Had she given up on him?

Once more, he increased his speed.

No. She couldn’t have. Wouldn’t have.

By her own admission, she cared about him.

And…

Christ.

From nowhere, the truth hit him.

Niles punched at the red button to stop the machine.

He loved Brandy.

And he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

“She deserves you to be the man she needs.”

Gregorio’s words echoed, as clearly as if he were standing in the room.

Yeah.

She deserved that. And so much more.

Which meant he had to take action.

Suddenly, and for the first time ever, certainty settled around him.

He knew exactly what to do.

Determined, he showered and headed home.

Inside his condo, he strode straight to the bedroom and opened his safe to take out the box that he’d locked away so long ago.

Without opening the lid, he tucked it inside a jacket pocket, then he headed for his SUV.

He should have taken this action years ago.

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