Page 42 of Bound in the Dark

She had been so focused on making sure Highdive respected her skills that she had forgotten to do the same. There had been good reasons she had reached out to him all those months ago. He was a protector who enjoyed ensuring those under his charge thrived. Would she really try to change that, no matter how annoying it could be?

To him her life and happiness was more important than what she could do for him. By not taking the time to explain, she had risked their relationship. Instead of talking, she had threatened him. How could he treat her as an equal in combat if she didn’t show him that she deserved that respect?

She needed to remember that there was a part of him that wasn't a soldier, that wasn't the Sergeant of Arms of the Dark Sons. He was a man who cherished a woman. He was the man who would let the whole world drop away and focus completely on her if only she would hand over all her concerns to him.

Diana looked around the room and thought about the different relationships that existed within the unique club. Despite their lack of deadly skills the women in this room weren't weak. They showed their strength by being the anchors in the storms of life for their men. By creating a safe harbor where all of these soldiers could rest. Giving them purpose beyond survival.

Could she be like them? Did she want to be like them? Her time as Luna had changed her. Given her a reason to look to the future. She couldn't hand over everything she was and become someone new permanently. But that wasn't what he was asking for.

He was asking her to lean on him, like she wanted him to lean on her. Luna was as much a part of her as Tishina was. She wanted Master H as much as she needed Highdive. They were all part of the whole.

"I know I didn't tell you about that part of my life and I am sorry. It's going to take time and probably a few arguments before we find our version of normal. I wanted that then and I still want it. Even if I sometimes want to strangle you, I love you, Highdive."

He chuckled and cupped her cheek. His hand was warm and his eyes were soft with emotion.

"You terrify me. Not because I think you're going to strangle me, but because I don't know if you understand what anything happening to you would do to me. You're my Old Lady, the center of my world. When you disappeared it was like my reality was off center. The moment I saw you again I knew I couldn't let you go again. I love you, too."

Highdive kissed her and the world seemed to disappear. She clutched onto him and tried to show him with every part of her body that she wanted everything he was and would someday be. Love and passion, dominance and submission passed back and forth between them like swirls of wind in a tornado.

"Aww." Nadya’s voice cut into their moment like a bucket of ice water. "That was hot and totally nothing I needed to witness. I don't mind you killing people in front of me, Aunt Diana, but I draw the line at watching you get freaky."

Diana bumped her head in frustration against Highdive's chest. Her family was so odd. He on the other hand was chuckling, the sound warm and comforting.

She was startled when he bent down and put his shoulder into her stomach lifting her off the ground. She barely stopped herself from fighting back and rolling away. Her head hung down his back and her sheaths of throwing knives dug into her stomach, but she had a spectacular view of his ass.

Highdive put a firm arm over her legs. "I think we're going to take this somewhere more private."

Diana ignored the laughs and whistles as Highdive carried her out of the room and up a flight of stairs. A strange sense of security filled her with every one of his confident strides as he carried her upstairs. Yes, she was armed and could take care of herself, but in that moment she didn't have to.

They entered a room with a black door and he slowly lowered her to the floor. Thoughts of the people downstairs faded from her mind as she took in the gorgeous man in front of her. His eyes practically glowed green in the dim light of the bedroom. He ran his hands up her arms to her shoulders and she shivered as his arms flexed.

“I will try to not treat you like you are helpless. It would be easy to say the only reason I did was because I didn’t know. The truth is, knowing probably wouldn’t have changed much, your safety means more to me than anything else.” The sincerity in his voice melted straight through the remnants of anger that had held her muscles tight.

“I shouldn’t have jumped right to threats. Being who and what I am means I’m used to reacting with brutality and extremes because that is all that most of the men I deal with understand. I don’t want that with you. I need you to respect me but one of the things that I love about you is that I do trust you to be in charge.” She looked up at him with a smile. “I hope you understand how rare that is. I don’t even trust my sister in that way.”

“Is that so?”

Highdive ran his thumb over her lips and her whole body trembled. How did this man make even the smallest of gestures feel so good?

“I told you from the beginning that I couldn’t submit outside of the bedroom, but I will try to be more of a partner and talk things out with you. If you will promise to remember that I am a soldier not just a lover.”

“I promise to try but you may need to remind me.” His gaze grew heated as it ran down her body. He looked around the room and smiled. “Looks like we are in a bedroom right now.”

“So we are.” Diana bit back a laugh. It had been an intense night and the idea of letting go and letting him take control sounded perfect. She rolled her shoulders back and crossed her arms behind her back the way he preferred. “What would you have of me, Master H?”

He stepped back, the pleasure in his eyes gave her a sense of satisfaction that she never understood. “Strip for me, beautiful.”

Diana followed his direction trying not to rush even though she wanted to. His gaze was like a phantom caress as she neatly placed her clothes and weapons on the dresser against the wall. Once she stood completely naked in front of him she let her mind relax into that place he had taught her to find. Where she narrowed her focus down to only him and the immediate surroundings.

Highdive circled her so closely the heat from his body warmed her. This was so much more intimate than being at the club. The small room didn’t have much beyond the pine dresser and the utilitarian king size bed. There were no decorations except the gray comforter and single white pillow.

“Kneel.”

Diana lowered herself to her knees sinking deeper into the scene. He was bigger than she when they stood but from this position she felt tiny. His large body was like a guard against the outside world. The sensation of his hand running through her hair was like a mixture of worship and comfort.

“May I taste you, Master?”

“So perfect like this.” He stepped in front of her. She saw his erection straining against his jeans before he slowly undid the zipper and freed himself. He looked down at her like she was something amazing.

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