Page 79 of On a Fault Line

“Your ball cap, worn jeans, and face stubble.”

“You like me unkempt?” Collins’s tone is of genuine curiosity.

I can’t help but smile. He cares what I think. “I like you a little rough around the edges. It makes you look badass and less bodyguard-ish.”

“Good to know. Now focus on the damn road before I force you to switch places with me.”

“Sheesh, it’s as if you were an army sergeant in your last life.”

From the corner of my eye, I see a sadness wash over Collins, and I suddenly remember that he did mention he was in the military.

I want to look at him and dissect his reaction, but I also want to continue being in the driver’s seat with Collins bossing me around. I kind of like it.

“I’m being insensitive,” I say softly. “And I’m sorry. I completely forgot that you shared that sliver about your past with me, albeit with no details.”

Collins clears his throat. When a minute has passed, I assume he is just ignoring me. “You know why I do contracts with the women I decide to have”—out of the corner of my eye, I see him make air quotes with his fingers—“relationships with?”

“Because you are a control freak who loves to have his pussy and boss it too?”

He lets out a hearty laugh. “I haven’t laughed as much in my entire life as when I’m around you.”

“You’re welcome.” I change my grip on the steering wheel and rest my back against the seat, finding my rhythm. “Seriously, though…I would love to hear your explanation.” And I mean it.

“When I was in my twenties, I was moving up in rank in the military—a lot faster than the average soldier. I was quick, had reliable instincts, and thought fast on my feet. I was gaining respect and staying out of trouble, which was my reason for joining to begin with after high school.”

I nod and offer a smile to let him know I’m listening, while steering the car straight.

“My best friend at the time was harboring a lot of jealousy, most likely stemming from insecurities in his past and feelings of inadequacy. It also didn’t help that we liked the same woman, which was unbeknownst to me until I was too involved to let go of my own feelings.”

I focus on the road, even though it feels as if Collins is about to drop a truth bomb on me. “And he blamed you for making a move on her?”

“Yeah, apparently. But he was very passive-aggressive about it. I didn’t think he cared. My relationship with him changed as soon as she and I started to secretly see each other.”

“Why in secret?”

“She happened to be our officer.”

“That sounds very dramatic.”

“It was. She was in a position of power over me, but she knew we both had a thing for her.”

“Okay…women seem to pick up on those signals, so I’m not surprised. Then what happened?”

“We had a secret relationship for months. And we both had similar tastes in”—he pauses as he looks out the window and then back at me—“kinks.”

“The spanking stuff?”

“Yes. And some more activities in that same lane.”

It’s starting to make more sense as to why I found Collins at Limit-X. I keep the steering wheel steady as I continue driving, while he keeps on talking.

“Our secret relationship progressed, until my best friend went behind my back to poison her mind with lies about me. Saying I’m abusive to women. Trying to convince her that I’m the bad guy—despite most activities being her idea.”

“That’s really sad. Then what happened?”

“One night at a group gathering on base, someone slipped something in my drink.”

My fingers clench the steering wheel. “You were drugged?”

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