Page 190 of Chandelier Sin
“I have this fantasy of me and Eloise finding a nice little house down there. The schools are good, apparently, and the people seem nice.”
“Great coffee shops.”
“You’ve visited it?”
“A friend of mine bought a place down there.”
“Who?”
“A Dominatrix at Chrysalis.”
“That’s a long commute.” She paused, and then smiled sadly. “Before she was taken, I was looking for a place for us.”
“You were going to leave him?”
She nodded. “But then it was too late.”
Grief lodged in my throat for her.
She raised her ring finger. “See this?”
“Hard to miss.”
“He insisted that I wear it again.”
“He’s possessive. I get that.”
“Well, I’m going to sell it and use the money to buy a house. The only thing I’ll take with me. What do you think of that?”
“I think it’s a great idea.”
She raised her chin. “The good thing about being a trophy wife is they don’t give you any credit.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
“I am,” she said. “That entire charade in the dungeon proves what they think of me.”
“How do you mean?”
“They never suspected I wanted you, wanted what you offered me in that chamber.”
It could have been different. She might have suffered in there, and that haunted me. I wondered if there was any room left in her to endure more trauma. Or perhaps she was so full of it she was numb now.
Here I stood, having to bear her pain like it was my own. “Eve, why are you really here? It’s late.”
Hiding how great it felt to see her was becoming a skill. She literally stole my breath every time I saw her. I longed to bury my fingers in her brunette locks and pull her close, kissing her tenderly in a loving show of affection.
But touching her had to be on her terms. That was the only way to make sure she had a sense of control, particularly over her body.
It was the only gift I could give her.
“He didn’t hurt you again?” I asked, concerned.
“No.”
“What’s wrong?”
“One of the submissives never returned to the club. Her name is Elle. Do you know anything about that?”
