Page 64 of Compelled Obedience

My God. I would learn what happened to her and I would hunt the bastard down.

“It doesn’t matter any longer,” she whispered. “I’m with you.”

I would hunt the fucker down. Then he would face my wrath.

“Ah, little kitten. Nothing will ever happen to you again, baby. I make that promise to you and you’ll learn. I never go back on my promises.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You need to hear me, Kerri. Submission does not grant the dominant the right to abuse the person providing the gift. It’s about mutual respect and the kind of relationship that is ultimately stronger than love. If you’re lucky enough to find someone to surrender to them body and soul, embrace and hold it dear because it is rare indeed. And Kerri, my sweet and beautiful kitten, one day you will call me Master.”

I fisted her hair, twisting her head as I crushed my mouth over hers, instantly thrusting my tongue inside. The taste of her was like honey and spice, a combination that I’d never be able to get enough of. I wanted to crawl into her and stay, keeping her warm and safe.

And I would do exactly that, tonight and forever.

CHAPTER 16

“Submission is not about authority and it is not about obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect.”

—William P. Young

Kerri

I believed him, his promise heartfelt.

He’d broken down my walls in a few days, which seemed impossible but here I was, needing him, leaning on him.

His words startled me, lingering in the back of my mind. What little I truly understood about BDSM was tainted like so many other people had been by a famous book and subsequent movie offering a fake glimpse into the world. The popularity had exploded from that alone, thousands of books depicting the art, and if I had to guess, only a few of them accurate.

I’d condemned this man without knowing what I was talking about.

This powerful, dark, and dangerous man had swept me off my feet with his dominance, his kindness, and his adoration of my little brother who needed a positive male role model in his life. Grant excited the bad girl inside, the one who’d spent far too many hours wishing and dreaming there was a knight in shining armor waiting in the wings. In my mind, the armor every man wore was tarnished, in some cases rusted. His was freshly polished, weapon ready in case I needed protection.

Of course, that scared me to death. The thought of Casey getting too attached then Grant walking away weighed heavily on my mind, but I couldn’t fight the desire burning so brightly inside. I adored the man and the way he made me feel.

I refused to allow Drago Santiago to derail my happiness like he’d done for my mother. Like he’d done when I was much younger. But I knew without a doubt that if Grant learned the truth, he’d go ballistic. I shoved the ugliness aside, pretending that everything was going to be okay.

When I’d dropped to my knees, crawling to the man who’d awakened my soul, I’d seen the appreciative look in his eyes. He knew I needed a compliment, a little praise after the difficulties I’d gone through.

Now I wanted more. I wanted to melt in his arms and forget about life for a little while. I needed to pretend that he was my world, obeying his every command. Was it so wrong to want something for myself?

God, I hoped not.

There were two kinds of men in the world, users and abusers. At least that’s what I’d thought my entire life. Growing up, my mother had had dozens of boyfriends, not one of them good to her or to me. I never really knew my father and she’d refused to talk about him, but I suspected he’d broken her heart.

That’s why I’d put a thick wall around me, fearful I’d fall into my mother’s shoes, incapable of knowing the difference between a decent man and one who would repeat the cycle of abuse.

Then there was Grant Wilde, a force to be reckoned with. I had a feeling he would scour the earth to find out who my stepfather was. There was no way I could tell him everything that had happened in my past. If I did, Grant might kill him. Why did a part of me want to see that happen?

He kept a firm hold on my ponytail, holding me so tightly against his massive body that I could feel his thudding heart. I was breathless, lightheaded, and my legs were shaking. As I slid my arm around his shoulder, tangling my fingers in his hair, he lifted me off my feet. The feel of being in his arms was incredible, safe and warm. And his scent was about to drive me crazy.

Electric vibrations tugged at every muscle, my mind spinning from the lurid thoughts ravaging my brain. He eased me down slowly, the kiss becoming more brutal as he swept his tongue back and forth, dominating mine. He had no idea how lightheaded he made me or how much I longed to surrender to him body and soul.

Tonight wasn’t about forever. There was no thought of a significant relationship, but I knew I could let go, allowing my inhibitions to fall.

If only for a little while.

He brushed his hand down my back, sliding it under my bottom. When he squeezed, I shuddered because of the earlier spanking and the way my pussy quivered from his possessive touch. When he broke the kiss, he cupped both sides of my face, keeping his head lowered, a subtle yet animalistic growl pushing up from his chest. My heart fluttered from the sound and I wrapped my hands around his wrists, my breathing shallow.

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