Page 159 of For the Sub

What if she’d agreed when he’d said he wanted to see her again?

And…

And…

She headed outside and threw toys for the dogs, trying to burn off some of their energy.

Her reasons for leaving were still legitimate. The two-hour drive between their places was daunting enough. Having animals in his urban setting wouldn’t work. And she didn’t see such an imposing man living in her tiny, ancient house.

And as Gregorio had once told her, Master Niles was broken.

In ways she didn’t understand.

Because her heart had already been in a precarious position, she’d had no choice but to run.

It was a matter of saving herself.

But what if her choices had been the very ones that ultimately destroyed her?

She sank into a chair.

Her life lay in splintered pieces around her.

How will I ever put them back together again?

Chapter Twenty-Three

In Brandy’s driveway, Niles turned off his car engine.

Showing up here uninvited was risky, no doubt.

At one time, he’d lived on the leading edge.

He’d started businesses, invested in uncertain ventures, failed a number of times, lost buckets of money then tried again.

But nothing had ever mattered more than this moment.

Brandy, with her caring nature, zest for life, and persistent questions had put together the heart he’d thought was shattered forever.

He hadn’t wanted her to leave him that Sunday morning.

But as he’d watched her drive away, he’d admitted she was right to do so.

At that moment, he’d truly meant that he would never enter another permanent relationship.

And her experiences with Reyes would give any woman cause for concern, especially a submissive with a heart as big as hers.

In a way, he was saving her from future heartbreak.

Who the fuck had he been kidding?

It had taken losing her, and some brutally harsh words from Damien and Gregorio, to make Niles pull his head out of his ass and stop living in his memories.

But taking a chance on the future was shockingly hard.

What if she rejected him?

Hell.

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