Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“So she regrets it.”
“Yes. Or she says she does. But you know?” Skye’s eyebrows quirk upward. “I believe her. I do. One more thing I couldn’t figure out was why she was in bed with Mario while I was obviously in the house, and she said I was supposed to be at my friend Myrna’s house, but Myrna’s little brother got a fever, so Myrna’s mom brought me home on the way to the doctor’s office. The door was unlocked, so I just came in.” She sighs. “It’s still pretty blurry. I mean it was so long ago, and I had a concussion. But now that I think about it, I recall it all. Being at Myrna’s. Coming into the house. Looking for my mother… It’s all still there. My mother… I guess she agreed with you. I was a challenge.”
“I hope you’re not blaming yourself for any of this.”
“I’m not anymore. But I was for a long time.”
“But you didn’t remember.”
“I didn’t, but somewhere inside me, my subconscious did. You see, I felt like a fraud, but that was only the top layer. The icing on the cake. The cake and filling were much more significant, and they were hiding in my subconscious. When Rosa, my therapist, asked me what I like about our lifestyle, I told her how much pleasure it gives me. But when she asked me why I desired the neck binding so much, even after you told me it was a hard limit, I had to really think about how I felt at the time.”
“And how did you feel?”
“I wasn’t thinking of it as a turn-on. I was thinking of it as a necessity. Then I had to figure out why it was a necessity.”
“And now?”
“It’s no longer a necessity. I can’t deny that I was enthralled by the concept. Part of me still is, but I can accept that it’s a hard limit for you. And I can accept that without knowing why.”
I look into her beautiful brown eyes. “Can you? Really?”
She nods. “I understand your reticence. You know me well, but once a few things click into place, everything changes. I’m not telling you that my stubborn nature will be gone overnight.”
“You wouldn’t be you, otherwise.”
“Exactly. And you like a challenge.”
“I do.”
“Knowing myself better doesn’t change the essence of who I am,” she says. “It only changes my reaction. I was a difficult kid who was a lot for my mom to handle. I’m still that way, and she loves me despite all of it.”
“I love you, too, Skye.”
She smiles. “I know. And I love you.”
“Are you sure you can give up the breath control?”
“Absolutely. I can do it because it’s no longer necessary. Admittedly, I’m intrigued by it, but I love you more than I need it.”
I finger her hair. “I’m very glad to hear that.”
She will want to know why breath play is a hard limit for me, and I will tell her.
But not tonight.
Tonight she bared a hidden piece of her soul to me, and I adore her for it.
But I’m not quite there.
“Braden…”
“Hmm?” I kiss her forehead and sniff her hair. “Love that raspberry shampoo.”
“There’s something else I need to tell you.”
“What?” I stiffen slightly.
“Relax. It’s nothing bad, but I want complete honesty.”
“All right.”
“Addie’s sister called me.”
I jerk away from her. Why would Ben’s friend-with-benefits be bothering Skye?
“Apple? Why?”
“She offered to tell me what went on between you and Addie ten years ago.”
I stiffen. In fact, I’m rigid. I could be a statue carved in marble. So she knows.
Skye knows.
“I see.”
“I was tempted,” she says. “I went for a drink with her and was ready to hear the whole story, but then I remembered something you said to me.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. You said I could take my time. That we could talk when I was ready. You didn’t push me, Braden, and I love you for it. I owe you that same respect and courtesy.”
I smile as relief courses through me. “That must have been difficult for you.”
“Oh, you have no idea.”
I cup her cheek and kiss the tip of her nose. “You deserve a reward.”
“I think so.”
I kiss her nose again. “You’re an amazing woman, Skye. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“Is that a compliment or an insult?”
“Woman!” I rake my fingers through my hair. “Don’t you know by now what you do to me?”
“Yes, I know. You do the same thing to me. You have since I first laid eyes on you. No one can deny your obvious physical appeal, but it was your demeanor that got to me. Your presence. You fill every room you’re in, Braden. Nothing scares you. Nothing.”
“Only one thing,” I say, cupping her cheek once more.
“What’s that?”
“The thought of my life without you.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
She opens her mouth, but only a soft sigh emerges.
I just made a huge admission to her, but I don’t want her to respond yet.