Page 76 of Always

She pulls back slightly. “You’re kidding, right?”

“You know I never kid, Skye.”

“You’re the catch of the century!”

“Only on paper.”

“Green paper,” she adds.

I wrinkle my brow.

“Wait,” she says. “That didn’t come out right.”

“Sure it did. I’m loaded. You’re not the only one attracted to my money.”

“The money’s a nice fringe benefit. I won’t lie. But that’s not what I meant, and you know it. It was a joke, Braden.”

“I know. I never thought you were after my money. I pursued you, remember?”

She smiles. “You did. And I resisted, even though you were the most attractive man I’d ever met.”

“It’s your nature to resist. It’s what drew me to you.”

“I was a challenge,” she says.

“You still are.”

“Am I? You’re not going to dump me now that you have me?”

“Why would I do that?”

“What if you want something I can’t give you?” she asks.

“Did you dump me when you wanted something I couldn’t give you?”

“No. You dumped me.”

“Only because you needed to figure things out before I could take you further into the lifestyle. I don’t want you in the lifestyle for the wrong reason, Skye. You could get hurt.”

She nods. “I know. I understand that now.”

“This lifestyle isn’t for the faint of heart. I know that, and so do you. It has to be something we both enjoy for the right reasons. In the beginning, I saw your controlling nature, but I sensed part of it was a facade. Part of you seemed submissive to me, and I wanted to wake up that dormant part of you. But then things went a little awry.”

“Meaning?”

“I fell in love.”

“So did I.”

“If I didn’t love you, maybe I’d be okay with taking you through all the steps of the lifestyle for the wrong reasons, but you mean more to me than that. I couldn’t do it. If it’s any consolation, ending things with you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

She scoffs softly. “You didn’t even do a very good job.”

“You’re right about that. I couldn’t let you go, Skye. I went running to your parents, hoping I could find some clue as to why you wanted the breath control so much. Then, once you arrived, you know the results. I couldn’t stay away.”

“Neither could I, obviously.”

“But I promised myself I wouldn’t take you back to the lifestyle until you could answer the question I posed. You see, Skye, the lifestyle isn’t about punishment, even though I will punish you from time to time. But it’s my choice to punish you. Not yours.”

---