Intimate Confessions

Intimate Temptations 2

Intimate Confessions When Derek met Sandi, all the pieces of his life fell into place, but the young and inexperienced Sandi wanted desperately to discover who she was and pushed Derek away in search of something she was missing. Devastated from losing Sandi, Derek arrives at Pleasure Seekers, an estate which specializes in play of the adult variety, anxious to start his new life. A chance encounter with the very woman he was trying to forget brings his plans to a screeching halt. Angry and wanting nothing more than to hurt her the way she had him, he sets out to do just that. Only Sandi has changed in their time apart and is willing to do anything to get him back in her life again. Old wounds and intimate confessions come to the surface as the couple faces the choice of forgiving or forgetting the only person they’ve ever loved. Genre: Contemporary Length: 61,465 words

INTIMATE CONFESSIONS Intimate Temptations 2

Nicole Morgan

EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

INTIMATE CONFESSIONS Copyright © 2012 by Nicole Morgan E-book ISBN: 1-61926-356-4 First E-book Publication: March 2012 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Intimate Confessions by Nicole Morgan from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Nicole Morgan’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Morgan’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION Intimate Confessions was a labor of love for me. Having started it two years prior to its completion, I oftentimes would write a chapter or two and set it aside until my muse struck again. In the summer of 2011, I decided to set all other projects aside and focus on finally telling Derek and Sandi’s story. My friend Jason was relentless in his nagging of me to finish this book, so I would be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to Jason for pushing me. Also, to my friend, Kim. Thank you for the laughs and the tears. Together we are a dangerous duo. We must have been separated at birth. Love you!

INTIMATE CONFESSIONS Intimate Temptations 2 NICOLE MORGAN Copyright © 2012

Chapter 1 Derek rested his head back against the seat of the cab. His flight had been long, too long. And he was completely exhausted. All he wanted to do was find a bed and sleep. Unfortunately, he knew that Zach was waiting for him. He still couldn’t believe he was going where he was going. Zach, an old buddy of his from high school, had always been a bit on the daring side. However, Derek never imagined in his wildest dreams that he was into the BDSM scene. What was even more shocking was Derek’s quick reply to Zach’s invitation. He jumped at the chance. So after Quinn and Ann had gotten back from their honeymoon, which had been a hellacious two weeks of running between the Roadhouse and the restaurant constantly trying to keep everything on an even keel, he told the newlyweds that he was in desperate need of a vacation. Of course, they had been gracious, told him to leave and take as long as he needed. Which was easy for them to say, he thought. Because they were two people, it would be a piece of cake for them to watch the two businesses. He had to laugh. Actually, they were two halves of the same person. In the past six months leading up to their wedding, they had literally turned into one another. They finished

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each other’s sentences and did things for one another without the other person even needing to ask. Although Derek couldn’t be one hundred percent positive, he was pretty sure that they mated like the damn energizer bunny on a double shot espresso. “We’re here, sir,” the grungy cab driver said from the front seat. Derek glanced at the red numbers which displayed his fare amount. He reached into his pocket for a twenty dollar bill and handed it to the man. “Here, keep the change.” After Derek got his luggage out of the trunk, the cab drove away, taking the stench with it. Thank God. So here it was. Wow. Apparently the BDSM scene was moving up in the world. The few clubs that Derek had been to several years ago had always been “underground” establishments. They were either in old warehouses or run-down lofts, but never had Derek been to one that looked like this. He stood there studying it for a moment when the large double doors opened. Zach walked out to greet Derek. Once he got to the bottom of the long front walkway, he held out his hand. “Welcome to Pleasure Seekers, old friend.” “Old friend? We’re not sixty, Zach.” But Derek held his hand out to him. “It’s good to see you. I see the military kept you in shape.” Zach laughed. “Yes, well, I see that you are still blessed with the natural physique of an athlete. But if memory serves, you do nothing to earn it. You still as lazy as you always were?” Derek shrugged. “Not when it matters.” Zach only nodded his agreement. “Come. Let me show you to your room. I think you’ll like it.” During his brief tour of Pleasure Seeker’s, Derek learned of the large rooms downstairs referred to as the canyons. Zach explained the rules that on the upper floors everyone was to remain clothed and enjoy all that the grounds had to offer them as though it was a standard vacation resort. He further explained to Derek that all interludes were to happen behind closed doors, with the exception of

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what took place within the canyons below. The resort that Zach had apparently spared no expense on was classy and elegant. A complete contradiction from some of the previous BDSM clubs he had visited in the past. Twenty minutes later, Derek was turning on the shower to try to wash off his jet lag. He knew he had to hurry. Zach had told him one of the newest members was having problems adjusting to her role as a submissive. For whatever reason, Zach had thought that Derek would be the perfect Dom to teach her. Derek felt a little, no, a lot uneasy that Zach knew so much about Derek’s preferable role in the BDSM world. Just from a few of the comments that Zach had made, Derek would have sworn that their paths might have crossed at one of those clubs he’d attended in the past. But for the life of him, he couldn’t remember seeing Zach since high school. Quickly, Derek washed his body and jumped out of the shower. He had only minutes to get his game face on and meet Zach in what he called, “The Learning Room.” Seven years ago, he wouldn’t have needed to prepare himself for what he was about to do. But seven years ago, he hadn’t met Sandi. It was approaching the two-year mark since their breakup, and Derek still hadn’t managed to sleep with another woman. He laughed as he yanked up his leather pants. It was actually kind of pathetic. Here he was a Dom, not by practice or frequency, but by nature, and he hadn’t even fucked a woman in almost two years. Derek ran a hand through his still-damp hair and headed toward The Learning Room. He knocked once and waited for someone to say it was all right to enter. When Zach gave him permission, he came in. “Derek, this young woman you see tied to the bed is the one I was telling you about. She is having trouble adjusting.” Zach shrugged as he walked toward the door. “See, it’s complicated. As much as she craves this lifestyle, she wants to be controlled to the extent of punishment.”

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Derek was about to tell Zach that wasn’t that unusual, and he had dealt with many subs who held the same desires. But Zach quickly interrupted him. “No, I see what you’re thinking, and you misunderstand. She is not in it for the pleasure. She doesn’t want to feel good, only pain. That is where you come in. If she is serious about becoming a member, she either has to learn to enjoy the pleasure that the pain can bring or she will have to leave.” Derek listened to Zach’s explanation, which basically meant that this sub sought no sexual release. Even with the different levels of Doms and subs, there was always an eventual release. No matter how rough things got, it was for the purpose of the ultimate pleasure. But, according to Zach, she only wanted pain. “You see,” Zach continued as he reached to open the door. “She feels guilty about something in her past. She believes that if she continues to take the pain and humiliation, that it will somehow make up for what she did. Do you understand?” Derek nodded as he motioned for Zach to leave them alone. Once the door was finally shut, Derek walked over to the table that held an assortment of pleasure props. He fingered a couple of them before deciding on a crop. He walked behind the woman. She was on all fours, her hands tied to the headboard in front of her. Her head was facing the wall as her ass was jutting upward. Smack! Derek didn’t want to give her time to anticipate. He only wanted her to feel. Smack, smack! He slapped her again and again with the jockey’s instrument, only harder this time. His eyes glinted in satisfaction at the red welts forming on her rear. She looked magnificent. Beautiful, pale-white skin, marred by redness of his doing. His cock hardened. He had missed this. The control. The lust. The power. Derek wanted to feel her, and his job as her Dom was to teach her to enjoy it. How would she be able to deny pleasure if he was fucking

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her? If there was one thing Derek was confident of, it was his ability to fuck a woman senseless. He pulled the snap free on his pants and peeled away the front opening. These pants had been made especially for this kind of easy access. He walked over to the table and picked up a condom. He sheathed himself and got on the bed behind her. She was still so quiet. She hadn’t moved or said anything, not even made a noise since he’d walked in. He was going to change that. His first rule when he was trying to train a submissive was to teach her the earth-shattering pleasure part of it first. Then when they were dying with need for it, there was nothing they wouldn’t submit to. They would belong to the Dom, willing to do anything to make them happy. Now at her entrance, he weighed his options, he could coax her, but he wanted her to suffer just a little, to remember who was in charge. Instead, he placed his hands on her ass cheeks and pulled them far apart, effectively giving him access to her wet—yep, that’s right, she was wet—pussy. Derek laughed. So she didn’t want pleasure from it, huh? Then why was she dripping with need? Derek stared at her opening for a moment. A strange feeling overcame him. He couldn’t place it, so he ignored it. And with a swift thrust, he was deep inside her. Jesus! She was clinging to him, massaging his cock as her pussy trembled around him. Maybe it had been because he hadn’t had sex in so long, or maybe it was because she was so tight, but he was in heaven at the feel of her wet heat enveloping him. Derek was ready to fuck her with an intensity that he hadn’t known in a very long time when that feeling washed back over him. She felt so…oh shit! “Sandi?” He asked the one word question, praying he was wrong. The once quiet and motionless woman swung her head around to face him. Horrified, she looked at him. “Derek?”

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Chapter 2 The room was suddenly silent, filled only with the sounds of their breathing. An audible gulp from Sandi reverberated in the small room. Neither one of them moved or said anything for several moments. Sandi was the first one to attempt to break the silence, but quickly quieted herself before she began. Derek knew his steely stare was what had stopped her. What she didn’t know was that his glare was because the moment she said his name, it had opened up of all those old wounds from two years ago. He did not want to hear her voice again, that sweet voice that he used to long to hear every night after their breakup. Their eyes were locked upon one another and each one appeared to be almost frozen in time. Derek wasn’t certain, but the pain in his chest made him believe that his heart had actually stopped beating. In that moment he knew he didn’t want this. He didn’t want to be here, in this bed, with her. She was the one woman he had ever loved. There was no way he was ever going to let her or anyone else get close enough to hurt him ever again. As soon as he had the thought, it was quickly brushed away though. He felt the inner walls of Sandi’s pussy tremble against his still-hardened cock. Derek’s eyes closed, and his head tilted back. It had been far too long since he felt the sweet coaxing of her wet pussy massage him into orgasm. Quickly and so abruptly, he saw Sandi jolt, and he snapped his head back and darted his eyes at her. He was angry, angry with himself for allowing her to hurt him, angry at her for breaking him in

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the way that she did. Most of all though, he was angry at fate for throwing them together again like this. The heart that he once thought had stopped beating started to race. Was it anger, arousal, or fear? The reason for his rapid heart rate he couldn’t be sure of, but he was certain that he would not ever let Sandi Clayton get the upper hand on him ever again. Zach said she wanted to be punished, so he would gladly punish her. Not with physical pain though. She claimed that she didn’t want to receive any pleasure from her teachings. He had to hold back a chuckle at the knowledge that she was trembling around him as they were still motionless. Her words might be saying one thing, but her body was saying something quite different. Derek knew just how he was going to get the woman who broke his heart back for all the hurt she caused him. He would teach her, punish her like she wished. He knew just how to make someone learn to love and relish in becoming a true submissive. Yes, he thought to himself, she would come to crave it and him. Then he would leave her just as she left him. No way was he going to be the one hurt this time. She would suffer, and her heart would hurt just as his did. Then and only then would he finally be free of her. With a sneer and a glint of disgust in his eye, Derek pulled himself free of the warm, seductive heat of her body and backed away from her on the bed. He had to fight the smile that wanted to form on his face when he saw how shocked and disappointed she was. “Derek, what are you doing?” Sandi asked him. With no answer, Derek got off the bed and stared at her for a moment, a moment too long because he was forced to turn away from her before responding. “I don’t recall giving you permission to speak,” he stated coldly. He watched as she opened her mouth to protest, but quickly closed it.

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Satisfied that he had put her in her place, at least for tonight, he reached for this crop and, before turning away, pretended as though he was going to give her a hard smack with it. When she visibly winced at his movement, he leaned over her and gently whispered in her ear, “When I decide to punish you, you will not see it coming.” He said nothing more as he headed toward the door. He walked slowly, wondering if she was going to question his actions. She was, after all, still tied to the bed. He decided if she was good and didn’t question him that he would send someone to untie her soon after his departure. If she chose to speak to him again, without being prompted, she would suffer the consequence of being tied to the bed all night long. Derek reached for the door handle. She still hadn’t spoken, and he was actually surprised by her silence. He exited the room and almost raced through the halls to get to his room. His heart was pounding at a rapid speed, and his adrenaline was on overdrive. Once inside, he picked up a small vase sitting on the dresser directly across from his bed. With a loud growl, he hurled the porcelain item across the room, smashing it into a million pieces as it hit the opposite wall. He stood there staring at the shards lying on the floor, breathing heavily with his fists clenched so tightly together that they were almost turning purple. He was so focused and lost in his own thoughts that he didn’t even realize that Zach had entered the room. “Derek, are you okay?” Zach questioned him. With a quick spin of his head, he darted his eyes at Zach and gave his curt response. “What the fuck is all of this about?” With a look of confusion, Zach replied, “Excuse me?” Derek made three quick and long strides across the room to Zach and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and promptly had him pinned up against the wall.

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“I’m gonna ask you one more time! What the hell is going on? Why did you invite me here?” Derek shouted the questions as though he was commanding an answer. Clearly displeased with Derek’s aggression, Zach returned his own icy glare. “I do not know what you are talking about or who the hell you think you are, but I suggest you let go of me this instant before I call in some of the guards who work the rooms.” Derek knew all too well that the guards in these types of clubs were not the type he wanted to tangle with. That, combined with the fact that he had seen a couple of them since arriving there earlier that night, made him decide not to take his chances on who was the better fighter. He had no choice but to release Zach and turn away with a frustrated sigh. Zach didn’t give Derek time to calm himself down before asking, “Now what in the hell was that about, buddy?” Shaking his head, Derek responded with a laugh, “Buddy, huh? Interesting, I haven’t heard from you in years, since high school as a matter of fact. Then you just contact me completely out of the blue, extend an invitation that, not only were you convinced I would be interested in, but you insisted I accept after I tried to politely decline.” Derek held his hand up to stop Zach from interrupting him. “And then you stick me in a room with a woman, telling me that she wants to be dominated by pain, with absolutely no pleasure whatsoever.” “Derek, I told you that—” Zach was quickly silenced again. “You haven’t told me anything, damn it! Sure, you told me bits and pieces, but you never told me how you knew about my lifestyle, and you sure as shit never told me who the woman was.” A smug smirk formed on Zach’s face. “Ah, I see. I take it you didn’t order her not to turn her head.” Still smiling, Zach continued, “So you know it is Sandi then.” Derek gritted his teeth to avoid from screaming at the man in front of him. Not wanting Zach to call for the guards, he calmed his nerves the best he could before responding.

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“So you knew? You admit that you knew!” Not being able to control his anger, he shouted the last words. “Uh uh uh, control your temper, Derek. There is nothing here that you don’t want. There isn’t anything here I haven’t presented you with that you don’t desire.” Zach’s voice trailed off as he headed toward the bedroom door. “Where the hell do you think you are going?” Derek demanded. With his hand on the door handle, Zach turned and smiled. “Derek, when we were younger, you did something for me. You probably didn’t even realize it when you did, but I swore to myself that one day I would repay you. This is that day.” “I did something for you? Like what?” “Let’s just say I’m different than you and most guys that we went to school with. I got razzed quite a bit. One day you stepped in. It may not have seemed like a big deal to you. It was to me though.” Derek watched his old high school friend leave the room saying nothing more after his cryptic message. He wasn’t just mad now. He was confused. What on earth could he had done for Zach? And even more strange was the question of how Sandi fit into all of this. “Oh, Sandi, damn you. Why couldn’t you just stay gone?”

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Chapter 3 Sandi remained motionless for several seconds after she heard the door close before turning her head to see if Derek had really left. Once she looked over her left shoulder and didn’t see him, she quickly spun her head around to survey the rest of the room. Was he still in the room with her, but waiting to see if she reacted? She wondered, but as soon as she asked the silent question to herself, she already had her answer. Derek had in fact left the room. She was handcuffed to the bed and alone with nothing else but her thoughts. Instinct made her want to cry. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs and beg him to come back. Instead, she bit back her tears and tightly squeezed her eyes shut. She knew very well that she wasn’t entitled to her sadness. There was no one else she could blame for her current situation other than herself. Two years ago, she had pushed Derek away. He was the only man who had ever treated her with respect, kindness, compassion, and love. He was the only man that she had ever loved, and rather than cherish that, she had thrown it away, all for some obsession, some elemental need she thought she had to have. She hated that, after two years, she still hadn’t found a way to fulfill those unexplained desires. No one that she had met over the past two years had even come close, not even Tony, the one she was foolish enough to leave Derek for. Just remembering the man who had introduced her into this world made her cringe. She detested him for making her think she wanted this kind of lifestyle.

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If only she knew then what she knew now, she would have never left Derek and their life together for a life she clearly didn’t want. A gut-wrenching pain tore through her heart when that thought made her realize that, in all these months over the past two years, she hadn’t felt even the smallest amount of pleasure from all the acts she had participated in. She hadn’t gotten any enjoyment from any of it. That was not until moments ago when Derek had been inside of her, taking her from behind, while she was handcuffed to a headboard in a place where she asked for only punishment. Oh God! she thought to herself. Was Derek the missing piece to the puzzle of her desires? Was he what she had been searching for this whole time? She knew the answer to the question already. The one man who she had tossed aside so carelessly two years ago was the only man who could ever truly make her happy. She jerked her mind back to reality when she heard the door open. She spoke before she was able to stop herself. “Derek?” Disappointment washed across her face when she saw it was Zach. “No, Sandi. Derek has gone to his room. I came to make sure you were okay.” She didn’t respond to him as she waited for him to finish unlocking the fur lined cuffs which had her wrists attached to the bed. Zach’s arm grazed her exposed bottom, and for some reason at that point, she became very aware of her nakedness. Nervous emotions overcame her, making her face flush and heat from embarrassment. When the last cuff was unlatched, Zach gently took her shoulders and brought her body back down to a sitting position. “There, you must be sore from being in that position and on your knees for so long. Is that better?” he asked her while handing her a small satin robe which had been hanging on the bedpost. She nodded uncomfortably, not really sure what to say to him.

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Zach brushed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes and smiled at her. “Please don’t be embarrassed. I promised you when I found you that I would give you happiness.” Her heart began beating much too fast. “I know you did. But I still don’t understand what that means. Or how…Derek, I know him.” A robust laugh came from Zach, which almost startled her at first. “Did you know that I knew him?” She almost whispered the question, but the smile on his face gave her the answer before she had a chance to finish asking it. He held up his hand in a gesture to silence her. “Sandi, does it really matter if I knew? Does it really matter that you knew him, or he knew you?” He hesitated for a moment before he continued, “No, Sandi. None of that matters. All that matters is that you are here, Derek is here, and you both want something that I have the opportunity to give you. Just let whatever fate brings your way happen.” She wanted to say something. She wanted to question his motives, or how he knew of their connection to one another, but she realized that his reasons and the circumstances didn’t matter. He was right. She wanted Derek. She loved him and needed him. Minutes later Sandi was slipping into a night shirt in her private room. Arriving at Pleasures Club only earlier that afternoon, she hadn’t had the chance to take a look at her surroundings. Sitting at the small vanity, she scanned the room and, for the first time, realized the simplistic beauty of her room. Across the room from where she sat was a large six-drawer dresser. The wood was lightly colored and reminded her of the pine dresser that sat in Derek’s room back in Oakdale. Just to her right sat a king bed with a headboard and footboard which matched the dresser. The nightstands as well as the armoire also appeared to come from the same set. Actually the whole bedroom set looked as though it was straight out of a showroom. Even the bedding seemed to match perfectly.

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With the cream-colored bedspread and different hues of beige throw pillows and sheets, it appeared to be right out of a Better Homes and Gardens layout. If she were to decorate this room herself, she would have chosen the same style. She had always liked earth tones and simple design. Nothing fancy or gaudy was ever her taste. That was actually one of the many ways how she had differed so much from her friends and family back home. They had always relished in flashy décor and expensive trinkets. Not her though, the more plain, the better. Derek was much the same way. The thought popped into her head quicker than she was able to react to it. Her eyes closed and fought against the tears that wanted so desperately to well up inside. God, how she missed him. Derek had been so wonderful to her. How could she have ever thrown that away? She shook her head, willing the pain away as she got up from the vanity. There was no use crying about it anymore. She was the only one responsible for the choices that she made. The only person to blame was herself. She knew that, and she hated it. Taking a deep breath, she turned off the lights and slid her body under the warmth of the soft covers. It wasn’t until she was nestled and comfortable that she realized she was shaking. An anxiety washed over her, and she felt her blood start to pump through her body, the sound almost echoing inside of her head. “Not again,” she whispered in the quiet room. It had been months, over a year since she had been stuck with this fear and emotion. It was Derek. Seeing him again had reawakened all of her paranoia again. Unable to stop herself this time, she cried. The tears flowed freely from her eyes, and a gut-wrenching sob tore free from her throat and bounced off the walls. She rolled to her side and curled in a ball. Reaching for the other pillow in the bed, she clung to it, hugging it tightly and wishing it was Derek she was holding on to.

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The pain of seeing him again tore through her heart. Having him touch her brought back so many memories of his kisses, the way he would tease her with his tongue. As wonderful as those memories were, it reminded her of all that she had lost. “I love you, Derek. I love you so much.” She choked the words out between her cries. Startled by a noise at the door, she turned her head quickly to see the door close. “Hello? Hello, who’s there?” Sandi asked as she rose and got up from the bed. She got to the door and, when she reached out to touch the handle, hesitated. Was it Derek? Had he been in here watching her, listening to her cry and pour her heart out over him? Pulling away from the door, she knew that she didn’t want to know the answer to that question. If it hadn’t been Derek, she’d be disappointed and worried, wondering who it could have been. If it had been Derek and he had been there, hearing the emotions that were pouring from her soul, listening to her tears and still he left her here without a word. The pain of thinking that he could witness her in such sorrow and still not do anything to comfort her cut deeper than she thought possible, but it seemed that just when she thought the pain of losing Derek was so strong that it couldn’t possibly get worse, it almost always seemingly got much worse than she ever could have imagined. Slowly, she turned and walked away from the door. Walking back toward the bed, she was reminded of the intense sensation of fullness she felt not just in her body but in her heart when she had experienced the hardness of Derek enter her body. It was Derek that she needed, Derek that she wanted. Everything else was nothing, meant nothing without him. No man could ever hold a candle to him. Even what she thought were her deepest desires and fantasies never seemed to satisfy her.

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Those few moments though when she had Derek throbbing inside of her body, everything had been so right, so perfect. All the pain that she had buried and ignored for the past two years suddenly came floating to the surface in a wave of the most scary and yet wonderful emotion, and in that single instant, there was no more sadness, only joy and complete happiness. Now back under the covers, Sandi blinked her eyes tightly shut, refusing to let the sadness come back. With a few calming breaths and a deep sigh, she made a promise to herself. A promise that she refused to break. Derek Travis was the most amazing and wonderful man she had ever known in her entire life. She lost him once due to her own selfish stupidity. Who said that she couldn’t change that though? Who was to say that they couldn’t still have a future together? There was no way she was going to take this chance for granted. One way or another, she would have Derek back. If it was the last thing she did, she would have his heart, his body, and soul, and this time, she would cherish him and never let him go.

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Chapter 4 Derek opened his eyes when he heard the laughing coming from the hallway. He blinked a few times, not at first remembering where he was. It took a moment, but then he glanced over and saw the empty bottle of whiskey. He closed his eyes again. The empty glass sitting next to it reminded him exactly where he was. It reminded him of why he needed that damn bottle in the first place. Concentrating on the laughter, he wondered if it could be Sandi. He dismissed that thought though. The woman giggling so freely in the hall outside of his room had way too high of a squeak to be Sandi. Her laugh was soft, sweet, and sexy. A frustrated groan came from him when he realized how much pounding was happening inside his head. He glanced over at the empty bottle of whiskey again and had to smirk at a memory of a night a few months back when he had gotten drunk with his nowsister-in-law, Anne. The similarity to that night with last night was he had gotten drunk all those months ago because of Sandi. Two years ago, a few months ago, and last night all proved to him one very real fact. He was still in love with Sandi. God help him, but he still hadn’t gotten over her. Two years later, and she was as much in his heart as the first night he made love to her. Oh, how he wished he hadn’t just remembered that night. It had been just weeks after they first met. She was so young and naïve back then.

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He laughed at the memory of their first meeting. After catching her with a fake ID while working the door of the Roadhouse, the bar he owned with his brother Quinn, he had inadvertently embarrassed her in front of a group of people that she had gone there with that night. It was a group of popular young natives from town. A group that she was trying to fit in with, trying to impress. Being that she was an eighteen-year-old, young woman in a town full of strangers, she was almost desperate to fit in and make friends. He remembered how angry she got with him when he treated her like, what she called at the time, a child. Little did she know that even then, even when she had waited for him until after the Roadhouse had closed, even then, he thought she was the opposite of a child. She was hands down the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. They sat on the tailgate of his truck all night long just talking that night. Not until the morning had he even laid a hand on her. Something magical happened when the sun started to rise though. The different shades of the sun’s rays as they hit Sandi’s blonde hair caused the most beautiful glow to surround her. In that moment, he fell for her. He was completely lost to her. Hook, line, and sinker, that sweet, naïve, young woman had stolen him off the market. No woman would ever have a chance at him or his heart. It belonged to her. That was when he wasn’t able to control himself any longer. After staring at her beauty in the morning light, after being utterly hypnotized by it, he leaned over, placed his hands on either side of her face, touched his lips to hers, and tasted the sweetest kiss ever known to man. That morning was the beginning of the happiest time of his life. From that moment on, they had spent all their time together, whenever and wherever they could. Every chance they had, they used it to be together. She was so amazingly sweet in those first weeks together. Always so eager to make me him happy and please him. It was like pulling

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teeth just to get her to tell him what she’d like to do for an evening or which movie she’d like to see. He remembered she had planned a special night for them that first night they finally made love. He didn’t even know what her plans were. All he knew was that the most beautiful woman in the world made him the best-tasting meal, followed up by the sweetest strawberry rhubarb pie he had ever eaten. After washing and drying the dishes in his kitchen, she had caused him to nearly drop the plate he was putting away when she uttered the four simple words, “I love you, Derek.” His heart skipped a beat, and a wild butterfly started fluttering around in his stomach when she made her sudden declaration of love. He remembered his hands were shaking as he placed the plate on top of the others in the cupboard so loudly he heard her gasp. When he turned around and saw the uncertainty and fear in her eyes that he might not say those little three words back, he knew in that moment that he would do anything in his power to make sure that her usually sparkling blue eyes never had that look in them again. Until the day that he died, he vowed to only show her happiness and never let that expression cross those gorgeous eyes ever again. He walked over to her, crossing the short distance of the kitchen without saying a word. Then, without even touching her, he leaned his forehead down against hers and whispered softly to her, “I love you, Sandi.” The relieved smile that washed over her face made the moment all the sweeter. She had responded with a surprised, “You do?” That was when he had taken her in his arms, held her close, and whispered the words in her ear again. When she didn’t say anything, he pulled away slightly and whispered it in her other ear. Only then did she seem to believe him. Tears started to fall from her face as she told him that she wanted him to make love to her. She asked him in the sweetest voice if he would be her first.

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He wasn’t surprised to hear that she was a virgin. That much he had expected just from her sweet nature. He wasn’t satisfied with just being her first though. He truly did love her. No woman had even come close to getting into his heart like she had. Being the first man she made love to wouldn’t come close to the amount of commitment he wanted with her. He wanted a lifetime with her. Still, two years later, he could remember exactly what he said to her. “Oh, honey, my sweet, beautiful Sandi. I’ll only make love to you on one condition. No way will I just be your first, baby. I’ll only settle for being your first, your last, your only, honey. I love you.” No words were necessary for her agreement. Her eyes closed as she nodded, and tears escaped from her pretty eyelids. That night, he took her to his bedroom for the first time. He spent what seemed like hours just kissing her, holding her, reassuring her that she was everything to him. Several times he had even stopped to ask her if she was sure she was really ready for this. Her nervousness was so apparent. She was shaking and found it difficult to even look him in the eye. That was the first time he had ever even raised his voice at her. They had spent hours exploring each other’s bodies and holding and kissing one another. There was no way he was going to make love to her for the first time if she refused to even look at him. He needed her to see him, look him in the eye as he entered her body, as they became one. It took some coaxing and a bit of a domineering tone to get her to relax and just look him in the eye. He knew she was embarrassed and unsure of herself. He understood that, too. He just didn’t want there to be any regrets. He wanted the first time they made love together to be a beautiful memory to her, nothing that she could feel regret for. Once he finally had her relaxed, he was able to get her to truly connect with him on an emotional level. That was what he wanted for them, an emotional and physical connection so that they truly would become one.

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It was never anything that mattered with any of his previous girlfriends. With them, it was just fulfilling a sexual need. With Sandi though, it was so much more than a need. It was want, desire, love, cherish, and it was for eternity. Derek closed his eyes on the next memory that overcame him. He could still remember with such clarity the intensity that he felt when he finally entered her tight, never-been-touched, cavernous wonder. The first several seconds, he thought the amazing way that her inner walls clung to his throbbing hardness was a result of her virginity, but one look into her eyes, and he knew that had absolutely nothing to do with it. This was how it was supposed to be, what it would always be with her. Making love to her that night, sliding his length in and out of her hot, sweet wetness, he just kept thinking that this was it. This was what the singers were singing about, what the poets spoke of when they declared words of everlasting and eternal love. This connection to another human being, the physical, the emotional, the elemental bond that had happened between them in that moment would never ever go away. Nothing in the world would be strong enough to ever tear them apart. That memory brought him back to reality. He had thought that nothing could tear them apart. He hadn’t realized at the time how wrong he was. Getting out of bed and staggering from being slightly still drunk from the night before, he managed to make it to the bathroom, placed both hands on the counter, and stared at the man in the mirror looking back at him. “You stupid fuck.” He glared at his reflection as he spat out the words in anger. “You thought nothing was so strong that it could tear you apart. How stupid could you be, Travis? Assuming you two had some sort of connection and bond that bound her to you for all eternity. You’re an idiot. That shit only happens in movies!”

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Shaking his head and thoroughly disgusted with himself for ever buying into such ridiculous fairy tales, he reached into the shower and turned it on ice-cold. If he was going to get though what he had planned, he needed to be one hundred percent awake and alert. There was no way he was going to face Zach, or even Sandi, if he wasn’t on his game. He didn’t want any warmth flowing through him at all. If he was going to have any chance to get through seeing her again, if only for a moment, he needed to have ice flowing in his veins and an iceberg where his heart once was. There was no way he was going to allow her to get the better of him. No, Sandi Clayton would never even be given the chance to destroy him like she once did. Moments later, he stepped out of the freezing water, shivering from head to toe as he reached for the towel. Vigorously, he dried his body, hoping that it would warm what felt like frozen skin. Moving even faster, he quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and put on a long-sleeve button-down shirt. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he put on his socks then his shoes. Even fully clothed, he was still cold. Good, he thought. The colder I am, the harder it will be for anyone to get to me. Walking toward the door, trying to ignore his teeth that still wanted to chatter, he promised himself that no one would get close to him again. No one would have his trust, his heart, or his soul. Especially not Sandi Clayton. She had her chance, and she blew it. She used him and threw him away without a second thought. Sandi was the last person he would ever let near him as long as he lived. He had needs, physical needs that he ignored for far too long. If she was here seeking something else, so be it. It wasn’t his problem, nor did he care. He gritted his teeth and bit back a curse knowing he had just lied to himself. The idea that he didn’t think Sandi was his problem, let alone that he tried to make it as though he didn’t care about her, was the worst lie he’d ever told himself.

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He was in love with her still. Even after all this time. God damn it if he didn’t love her so God damn much that it consumed him and defined everything that he was. Walking in the hallway, heading toward the dining room, following the smells of freshly baked bread and eggs, he knew one thing was for sure. He could say he hated her, he could avoid her to the point of never seeing her again, but none of that would change a thing. The simple truth of the matter was, she was it. His one. His only. His heart.

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Chapter 5 She was laughing when she saw Derek enter the dining room. The joke Zach was telling her about the two congressmen, one senator, and a former President of the United States stranded on an island with no cell phone had her rolling in her seat. It actually took her a moment before she realized Derek was standing in the doorway offering an icy stare. Zach, who was laughing at his own punch line, stopped. “Sandi? Are you okay? Did my joke offend you in some way?” Sandi knew he was asking because she went from laughing so hard she was almost in tears to a stone-cold expression filled with sadness. As much as she wanted to be able to change her reaction to Derek, for some reason, the very sight of him caused her gut have a wrenching pain from deep within. “No,” Sandi replied simply. “Well, then what is wrong—” Zach was interrupted by Derek. “Well, don’t you two look cozy?” he asked them snidely. Sandi listened to the anger in his voice and wished she could once again hear the carefree Derek who used to love her with a tenderness that melted her heart. “Pardon me?” Zach asked with a chuckle. Derek cocked his right eyebrow at him. It was an unconscious habit he always seemed to have. Just seeing him do it once again reminded her of so many happy memories they had shared. “Sandi, don’t you agree?” Zach asked her. Shaking her head at Zach, she replied, “Agree?”

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“Ah, lost in your thoughts I see. Well, I was just telling Derek here that he seems a little rough around the edges.” Turning her head, she was startled to see Derek glaring at her from the other end of the table. The large dining set suddenly seemed very small with his eyes boring a hole through her. The intensity that she saw in them was not one that she welcomed. It wasn’t the same fire she would see in his eyes when they were riding the crest of climax together. This was more a look of hatred. “Cat got your tongue, Sandi?” Derek asked with a snicker. “I…um…” Barely able to get those two words out, she swallowed the large lump that was forming in her throat. “Don’t put the poor girl on the spot, man. Give her a break.” Sandi wasn’t sure why she couldn’t speak, or why she suddenly felt like crawling into a hole and staying there for a very long time. The only thing she was certain of was that until the day she died, she didn’t think she would ever be able to stop loving Derek Travis. “What? She’s a big girl. Aren’t you, Sandi?” Her nervousness increased from the way he was taunting her. It was clear that he was trying to pick a fight, and she would not give him the satisfaction of succeeding. Shaking his head, Zach answered for her. “Whether she is a big girl or not is not the issue. I’m assuming you mean to say that she is mature enough. If that is what you’re implying, then I say she is definitely mature enough to know not to answer a question when the person asking it has no intention other than to be an inconsiderate jackass, regardless of the answer given.” His cold response seemed to startle Derek just as much as it did Sandi because as she sat there staring at him, she saw him grit his teeth. Another habit he had that was fairly common when he got upset. Judging from the way that Derek was staring Zach down, it would seem that his “rough around the edges” just changed to full “barbed wire fences around the edges.” “You have a problem with me talking to Sandi here?”

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A sarcastic smile stretched across Zach’s face. “Of course not. Talking I have absolutely no problem with. It’s the other antagonizing words that I’m having problems with.” Raising both brows at him, Derek smiled in return. “So, I guess you two were closer than I thought, huh?” Sandi wanted to close her eyes to keep from watching the scene that was playing out before her. She knew Zach was just trying to be a gentleman and help her from answering Derek’s question. She was sure no matter how she answered, he would find fault with her answer and taunt her. Derek, on the other hand, seemed to be loving the conflict. Not able to listen to the two men as they verbally sparred with one another for a moment longer, Sandi finally answered for herself. “Actually, yes, you do look a little tired this morning, but I’m sure that Zach didn’t mean anything by it. Perhaps you should go relax for a little while. Even take a nap. Zach told me that you just came to town yesterday. Traveling can make you sleepy.” Had her voice squeaked? She was so nervous trying to talk to him as though they were old acquaintances. Unable to take his staring, she turned her attention back to Zach. “So, Zach, I know I’ve only been here a day, but I have to say that this place is absolutely gorgeous. The gardens out back look stunning. You must have a dozen different colored roses out there.” She tried to appear casual and cheerful with her comments, but feared she didn’t quite pull it off. Zach started to respond in his usual charming fashion, but Sandi wasn’t paying attention to him. She was distracted by a large and uninviting presence. Standing behind Zach was Andre. One of the burly security guards who always seemed to be staring at her with a glare that told her she wasn’t welcome here. She kept her eyes off of him and focused on Zach, who was seemingly the only person who didn’t take offense to her presence.

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Her old insecurities were taking over again. They were feelings she tried to bury long ago. Derek used to help her through them and show her how to feel good about herself, but that was a job he clearly no longer wanted. How could she blame him though? She couldn’t. She was the one who pushed him away. She cheated on him. She broke his heart. It was selfish of her to even consider for a moment that he would or should be willing to give her back her inner strength. She destroyed what they had, and from the looks of how he was acting, she had probably destroyed him as well. It wasn’t his fault. It was her fault. Everything was always her fault. It always had been ever since she was a little girl. Her parents had made sure to drill that in her head over every little error in judgment she ever made. She hated herself for that. With her eyes welling up with tears and a sob that was just barely holding itself back, she got up from the table and ran from the room.

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Chapter 6 Derek watched her leave the room. While she tried to hide her face, he knew there were tears there. Damn her! “Nice going, asshole.” Zach chided him while pouring a cup of coffee. Glaring at the man sitting across from him, he answered, “Me? You caused this, you son of a bitch!” An arrogant smirk was all Derek received in response, and that just pissed him off even more. Regardless of how pissed he was, there was no way he was going to chase after Sandi. It wasn’t his fault she was hurt. She had him. She had all of him, and she was the one who pissed it away. Not his problem. He picked up his glass of orange juice and sipped it calmly. Of course, he was gripping the glass so hard, it was a wonder it didn’t shatter under the pressure, but at least he appeared to be calm. “You just gonna sit there like you’re not itching to go after her?” Derek refused to answer Zach, much less look at him. Who the fuck was he to question him? He had no idea. He didn’t know the pain that she caused him. Shaking his head, Zach continued, “You really are a dumb fuck, you know that? Always were.” He threw his napkin on the table and got up. He headed for the doorway, but turned to face Derek once more before leaving. “You know, she’s not right. Something inside of her is broken. That’s why I brought her here.” “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Derek yelled after him, but Zach left without replying.

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He slammed his orange juice glass down, cracking it and splattering the juice. He looked at the orange droplets staining the white tablecloth and felt his chest tighten. The sight brought him back to a morning Sandi tried to surprise him with breakfast in bed. She had thought he was sleeping while he laid there silent with his eyes closed. When she approached the bed, he reached out for her and grabbed her, pulling her on top of him. A smile curved the corners of his mouth up. He didn’t know she was carrying a small tray with eggs, sausage, and a small glass of orange juice. The tray, along with what was on it, went flying. When he finally realized what he’d done, he could feel her heart pounding against his chest. Her eyes were so big staring down at him. She had looked so scared. He had held her, told her what a jerk he was for scaring her. Kissing her tenderly, he promised to never be the reason she was scared again. He promised to always protect her from being hurt. He remembered making that promise like it was yesterday. He remembered why he made it, too. Never did he want her to feel any fear, any pain, any doubt of his love for her. Never. A frustrated growl came from him. “Fuck!” Pushing himself up and out of his chair, he rose from the table and stalked out of the room. A mixture of hatred and anger for her was filling his insides as he walked the hallway to her suite. When he finally met her door, he immediately reached for the handle with the intention of storming in and giving her a piece of his mind. The damn door was locked though, only increasing his fury. Bang. Bang. Bang. Derek pounded on the door. “Sandi, open this door right now, God damn it.” “No!” she screamed from the other side.

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“Sandi, you open this fucking door right now, or so help me, I will break it down!” He pounded on it some more, refusing to allow her to hide. His hand was becoming sore from the relentless pounding when he finally heard the click of the lock. He flung open the door and quickly slammed it shut once inside. She was standing on the other side of the room, her back to him as she faced the window. “Uh-uh,” he said while coming toward her. “You turn around and fucking face me!” He grabbed her arm and swung her around. He was rougher than he had meant to be, and the sudden jolt showed the fear on her face. There they were again. Those big eyes. They were flooded with tears, following the trail of mascara streaking her face. They were red and swollen and had the look of such pain. “No! No damn it. Don’t you do that! Don’t you dare act hurt! You don’t know what hurt is! You have no fucking idea what it is to hurt!” He was now screaming at her. “Please, Derek, don’t do this.” She pleaded with him while trying to break free from his grasp. “Don’t do this? You have a lot of nerve. I believe those are the exact words I said to you when I first found out about that fucker who ruined our relationship.” She shook her head at his remark. It didn’t help his anger. Who was she to shake her head at him? After all, she had done to destroy him. This was all her fault. “Don’t you shake your head at me, Sandi. This is bullshit. You have no right to be upset. To cry.” If he hadn’t seen the flare in her eyes right before her right hand broke free, he might have missed her intention. He grabbed her wrist as she raised her arm, stopping her from slapping him across the face. “Don’t even think about it, darlin’. You know damn well I don’t condone violence of any kind.”

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They stood there staring into each other’s eyes for several moments. Both of them filled with an anger and rage of their own reasons. Derek refused to release her wrist. He knew his grasp was too tight. He could feel her pulse pounding under his fingers. He couldn’t let go of her though, and he was touching her once again. The way his cock stirred in his pants told him just how much his body missed the feel of her. He ground his teeth together and closed his eyes on the memory of feeling her tightness surrounding him last night. Again. God, how he wanted to feel that again. Angry with himself for giving into the hypnotizing effect she had on him whenever she was near, he pushed her away. Even from that very first night he’d sat on the tailgate of his pickup truck, fighting the urge all night long to kiss her, he knew she would prove to be irresistible. Being this close to her proved just how true that was. “Derek?” she asked through tears. He didn’t want to open his eyes and see her. There was no way he would be able to hold back from touching her if he looked into her eyes for one more second. With a jolt, he quickly opened his eyes at the feel of her hand on his shoulder. The way she was looking at him made his breathing stop. She looked so sweet, despite the tears streaking her cheeks. He could see the innocence that once was there before everything had been ruined. “Sandi, please don’t touch me.” His voice was soft, quiet, and tortured. Shaking her head, she reached her hand up to touch his face. “I’m sorry, Derek.” Her touch. Damn, her touch felt so good. “Sandi I need you to—” He stopped in midsentence. He needed her to stop, but he didn’t want her to. “Fuck.” He muttered the word before he took her face in his hands, pulling her to him, crushing her lips against his.

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She whimpered for just a moment before she opened her mouth to him. He swept his tongue inside and slid it all around. All these years remembering the taste of her kiss didn’t do the reality of it justice. He slid his hands down from her face, trailing to finally grasp her bottom. Yanking her body against his, he ground his hips against hers. He was already so hard, and just the feel of the rubbing up to her, even through the clothes, was driving him even more crazy. Pulling away from the kiss, he fisted her hair in his hand and tugged it back, forcing her head backward. Her neckline looked so invited. The ragged breathing in the room was doing nothing for his control. He leaned down and lavished tiny kisses on her neck. Soft, teasing kisses. Ones that he knew would make her crazy. She had always loved to have her neck and shoulders kissed. It made her so wet and eager to make love. Not wanting to wonder if the same were still true, he reached under her skirt and yanked her panties aside. “Sweet Jesus!” His words came out in a growl of frustration. She was so wet. Her juices were so hot, he was surprised his fingers weren’t burning. No way was he going to be able to stop. He had to be inside of her. Releasing her hair and removing his fingers, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. He didn’t stop to look into her eyes or be romantic like he’d always tried so many times in the past. His need for her was much more than that now. This was something beyond his control. Looming over her, he quickly unsnapped his pants, allowing his engorged flesh to spill out from its constraints. While sliding his jeans down his thighs he instructed her, “Take off your panties.” He watched as she stared at him, wide eyed, yet obeying him. If he wasn’t so damn angry with her, he might have actually snickered at her willingness to give into him so easily. She was so willing, he wondered just how cooperative she would be and what she would do.

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With his pants now down around his ankles, he kicked off his shoes and stepped out of each of the legs. Reaching his arms across his stomach, he pulled his shirt over his head. Her panties joined his clothes in a pile. Despite the intense stare she was giving him, he could still see the lust in her eyes. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Actually, he would almost bet from the moisture he saw peeking from beneath her hiked up skirt that she might want it even more than he did. Maybe it was jealousy over how she’d hurt him. Perhaps even revenge over the fact that she’d been the only woman he’d ever let in, to only be thrown away. Whatever the cause for his wicked idea, he couldn’t help but want to push this once-sweet girl to see just what she was willing to do to get him to fuck her. He wrapped his fingers around his cock and slowly stroked it, careful to not entice the built-up pressure too much. Just looking at her, he was already ready to come. No way was he going to let her have the satisfaction of knowing he was dying for her. “Sit up, Sandi,” he told her. “Undress yourself.” Somehow, her eyes grew even larger. How could his sweet little Sandi, now the sexy seductress in front of him, suddenly become so shy? Wasn’t she the one who came to a BDSM pleasure palace to learn how to become a true submissive? No. No way was he going to buy that she was actually some bashful little girl shocked by what he had said. She wanted to learn what it was truly like to become dominated. Well, teach her he would. “Did you not hear me? I said sit up, and take off your clothes.” A moment passed with still no movement from her. She just lay there, still, staring at him. “Do we have a problem?” His authoritative tone must have gotten his point across because she slowly started to move. He watched her curiously. It still seemed as though it must have been a bad dream. For days, weeks, and

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months after she left, he would ache for her. Need to have her. All of that seemed to be a distant memory as she knelt here before him now. As he watched her slide her spaghetti straps down her arms, he had to stop massaging himself at the sight of her hardened nipples as the top slid down to her stomach. Jesus! She had always been like a goddess in his memories. Staring at those rosy buds with the center nubs darting out at him, begging him to suck on them, he realized those memories didn’t do her justice. Needing to break the silence and not his restraint, he spoke to her. “Take it all off. I want you completely naked.” He was surprised when she didn’t hesitate this time. She pulled the tank top over her head and slid the short, flowing skirt down her thighs, moving her knees out of them and throwing her clothes onto the floor to join the pile they had already started. How on earth his dick had become harder, he wasn’t sure, but he was fairly sure he was close to exploding if he didn’t have her soon. He couldn’t though. Not yet. He had to show her. Prove to her who was in control. Steadying his breath, he spoke to her in a deep and gravelly tone. “Now crawl over here and suck on me.” No way would she do it. Not his Sandi. He was sure she would leap from the bed crying of humiliation and run to the—oh shit. She was on all fours crawling toward him. Images of orgies painted by Michelangelo danced through his head. Erotic and sinful images that, as a boy, he used to stare at in the public library when he first learned what it was like to get aroused. And here, right now, his Sandi looked more amazing than those images ever were. His eyes closed, and his head dropped back as he absorbed the first warm swipe of her tongue. The heat that that touch brought almost set him afire. Attempting to calm his breathing, he still hadn’t been prepared for what he felt when her soft, luscious lips wrapped around him and slid from the tip down to the base.

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Holy shit! He was going to come. Already. He was within seconds of shooting his seed down her throat, something he had never done to her. He wanted to be inside her. He wanted to bury his cock in her tight heat. He needed that. Hell, if he had a choice though, he couldn’t pull her sweet mouth off of his cock if the Apocalypse was upon them. “That’s it, baby. Yes.” He wrapped his hands at the base of her skull and began guiding her, while thrusting into her long slides up and down on him. Was he doing this? She wasn’t just giving him head. He was fucking her mouth. Damn, it was so good. Every lick, suck, and motion brought him closer to the point of no return. He wanted to warn her. There was a time when he’d loved her more than anything in this world. He should warn her. No. Angrily, he shook his head at even having the thought. No way was he going to warn her of such a minor event when she was here to learn. When she was clearly so eager for it, and especially not since she never warned him before she ripped his heart out. In that moment, a rage consumed him. She had destroyed him. He wouldn’t punish her, but he would teach her to be his submissive. She would learn that he was the one in control. Not her. Never again would she control any aspect of their relationship. Thrusting faster, deeper, and harder, he was now hitting the back of her throat. The sensation of how amazing it felt rocked him to the core. She wasn’t stopping, either. She was relaxing her throat muscles and just letting him use her. Damn her! Damn her for making it feel so good. He couldn’t take it anymore. With a guttural howl that echoed in the room, he came into her mouth, thrusting with every spurt and holding her head to him, not wanting to give her the chance to pull away, yet realizing she wasn’t even trying. He could hear her swallowing.

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Oh, my God. She was taking all that he had to give her. She was taking it, and judging by the way her hips were rocking, she was loving every second, every moment, and every drop of his cum.

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Chapter 7 There was a silence in the air. An almost deafening silence as she released him from her mouth and looked up at him. His eyes were closed, and his mouth hung open. She wondered if he’d ever looked so complete after they had made love before. It donned on her that she didn’t recall ever seeing his face after they had been together. Why was that? she wondered to herself. It surprised her that she didn’t know the answer to that question. Seconds had only passed since she had swallowed every drop of his release, yet the moment of wanton passion was passing. She was now hyperaware that she was on all fours, naked, and inches from Derek’s now semihard cock. A panic set in. What would he say to her? She had never done that before. A few times she had given him oral sex, but it was only for a minute or two before they made love. When she had, it certainly was never like that. The way he grabbed onto her head and pushed himself further into her throat was the opposite of how he had treated her in the past. While she could remember his hands in her hair, they were always gentle, massaging in how they coaxed her to take him. This time was much different. He was greedy and urgent. It excited her so much to have him control her movements and motions like that. Despite it being just moments earlier, she found herself becoming hungry for more. This was the Derek she had craved and needed for so long during those awkward months with Tony. It wasn’t Tony that she wanted. She still wanted Derek.

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Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw his eyes open and meet hers. Any quietness that was in the room moments ago was now covered by the sound of her pounding heart. What could she do? What could she say? What would he do or say? The questions were rolling through her mind faster than she could attempt to answer them when he reached his hand down and cupped her chin. “Very nice. You did a very good job, Sandi.” His words were complimentary, but his voice had a cool and unemotional tone to it. For a minute, she wanted to believe that he had enjoyed it so much because it was her that had done it to him. Listening to him now, it sounded as though anyone could have done the deed and gotten the same results. That thought hurt her and brought a stinging liquid to her eyes. Do not cry! she told herself. The self-given advice seemed foolish though since just fifteen minutes ago she was sniveling like a child. And that was what really upset her even more. He always got to her. From that first night he stopped her outside of the Roadhouse, he had a way of getting to every one of her emotions. Whether it was anger, sadness, happiness, or love, he always knew the key to unlock every emotion that she was capable of feeling. Brushing his fingers along her cheek, he added, “Yes, you did very good. You, I’m sure, will be a very good submissive.” She heard the words, but didn’t want to believe them. Was he really just reducing what they had just done to an act of submission? They loved each other. They were going to get married. How could he? That was how, she reminded herself. They were going to be married. They once were in love. That was until she had screwed it up and cheated on him. She was nothing more than a submissive to him now. Of course, he was treating her like she was nothing. She lost any right to feel special to him the moment she walked out on him.

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Swallowing her pride and the lump forming in her throat, she responded. “Thank you.” He raised his eyebrows and stared at her disapprovingly. “Thank you?” Instantly she knew her mistake. “Thank you, Sir.” He seemed happy with her quick recovery. Removing his hand from her face, he stepped away and picked up his clothes from the floor. Feeling awkward about the vulnerable position she was in, she began to move in an attempt to cover herself. “Uh-uh-uh,” he scolded her. His back was still toward her as he stepped into his jeans. She stayed there in the same position and waited for him to say something more. Instead, he just turned around and walked toward the door. That was it? Was he just going to leave her like that? He had never left her wanting for more in the past. He had always been so attentive, so concerned with her pleasure. Now he was just walking out of the room like she was some random pickup. The tears stung her eyes too severely this time and fell freely. He stopped in his tracks and turned back toward her. “No. There will be no tears. You did good. You have absolutely no reason to be upset. Get yourself cleaned up and rest. I’ll meet you in the Red Room at seven o’clock.” With those final instructions, he then shut the door. “Oh God,” she whispered to herself. Tears streamed down her cheek. Her arms which were once holding her up now were shaking violently. How could she mean so little to him? She gave into the grief and allowed herself to fall onto the bed. Crying at will and clutching onto the bedspread, she began to silently wish she had never come here. Missing him was hard enough without— Her head turned toward the door at the sound of it opening.

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“Derek?” Instinctively she asked for the man that she wanted and needed so desperately. It wasn’t him. Hurriedly, she grabbed at the covers and pulled them up and over her as best she could. “Zach? What are you doing in here?” “Oh Jesus, Sandi.” He reached for a robe on the back of her bathroom door and handed it to her. Turning around, he continued, “Are you okay?” Fighting her tears and putting on the robe, she answered, “Am I okay?” Reaching her arm out to him, she swung him around and slapped him across the face. He looked at her in shock while rubbing his jaw. “What the hell?” “You deserved that. You deserved that and much more! Why did you do this? Why did you bring me here?” “Ahh. I see you have the same questions my old friend, Derek, does.” She was surprised by his comment. “Derek asked you that? He didn’t know I would be here?” The knowledge that he came here to screw another woman, actually probably several other women, tore right through her. Why should it though? She was the one who had cheated on him. Did she really expect him to sit around and be celibate his whole life? The sad truth was she realized that subconsciously she had expected that. “Of course he didn’t. Do you honestly think he would have come if he knew you were here?” Somehow his words didn’t shock her. They hurt, but they were no big surprise. “No, of course he wouldn’t have.” Zach sighed. “Look, Sandi. I’m not trying to hurt you. I think you are a remarkable woman, and if you were my type, I would be doing everything in my power to seduce you.”

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She wasn’t sure why, but his “not his type” comment caught her off guard. She wasn’t insulted, but she did feel something hidden in his statement. “Don’t get me wrong, sweetie,” he continued. “You are a strikingly beautiful woman and sexy as all hell, but it wouldn’t matter if you were my type anyway. You belong Derek now.” With a bitterness, she laughed at his statement. She was hardly Derek Travis’s property. He could care less about her. Oh sure, once there was a time he would have proudly claimed her as his own, but that time was long past. “You doubt that? My dear, did you or did you not just submit to what Derek wanted?” Hesitantly, she answered, “Yes, but I don’t know what that has to do with anything. It was just sex to him.” “Really? Was it? Are you completely sure about that?” She didn’t know what he was trying to get at, but she was tired and growing weary of this whole situation. “What’s your point, Zach?” Shaking his head, he sat down on the bed next to her and motioned with his head for her to join him. When she sat beside him, he took her hand. “Sandi, I told myself I wasn’t going to tell you this. Neither of you. Ever.” She was worried by his tone and choice of words. “What is it? What are you keeping from me? From us?” She waited while he appeared to be struggling with whether he was actually going to tell her or not. “Zach, please?” “All right, but I need you to trust me. Trust is a very important part of what we do here, Sandi. If you can’t trust then—” Getting impatient, she motioned with her hands for him to hurry up and continue. “Yes. Yes, I trust you. Now please. Just tell me.”

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“Okay, I ran into Quinn a while back. It was just shortly after you and I had met in that run-down club in Houston. He was shopping, shall we say, for him and his fiancée at the time.” She looked at him confused by the way he was beating around the bush. What did Quinn have to do with any of this? “Zach, this doesn’t make any sense. Are you saying Quinn asked you to bring me here?” He shook his head at her and sighed. “No. Can you just be patient? I didn’t think I was going to be telling you this, so I just hadn’t thought about how I would say it, okay?” She nodded. “Of course, I’m sorry. Please continue.” “Okay. Well, he was at a store that sells certain types of toys, if you catch my drift. I was purchasing things for Pleasure Seekers. We were still in the beginning stages and didn’t quite have the level of amenities we offer now.” She knew from her initial tour of the house when she’d arrived days ago that Zach definitely did offer his guests a wide array of amenities to enjoy. The memory of some of those rooms made her think of Derek, something she did not want to distract herself with now. Directing her attention back toward Zach, she waited for answers to why she was here. “Quinn and I got to talking and decided to grab a bite for lunch.” He chuckled at the memory. “He was beside himself when he learned about my exclusive club and what its purpose was.” Literally bent over in laughter, he had to take a moment to compose himself. “Anyway, after he got over his initial shock, we just started to catch up. Chat really, talk about how things were in Oakdale. The whole who’s dating who and who married who type of idle conversation. When we got on the subject of Derek though, I could see in Quinn’s face that he was not exaggerating when he said his brother was destroyed by his once angel who left him for another man.”

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She actually gasped when he’d said that. Angel. That’s what he used to call her. He used to say she was his angel sent down from heaven. “Is something wrong, Sandi?” Shaking her head, she motioned for him to continue. “It would have just been meaningless information really. Later that day, I got to thinking though. It donned on me that the man you had talked about loving so much was named Derek. I remembered you said it was in a small town.” Zach shrugged and got up from the bed. Turning to face her, he added. “So, I did a little digging. Asked a few questions. It really wasn’t that hard. People in Oakdale love their gossip and will tell it just to hear themselves speak.” Boy, she knew that was true. Judging from how much the community loved Derek, she could only imagine what they had to say about her, too. “Long story short, I deduced that it was Derek you were still so in love with. The person you truly craved to dominate you, the only person who could sexually satisfy you, because it was not just the need to submit that you desired, but the perfect man to do it.” Her mouth dropped open. He was right. He knew that after just talking with her a few times. How could she have not known it when she was with Derek? That one perfect man that would complete the complex puzzle of her lust? “It just so happens that I owe Derek. He did something for me once when we were younger. He didn’t have to, but he did. I will never forget that, and I promised myself a long time ago I would not let a good deed go unrewarded or a debt of mine to go unpaid.” “So you arranged all of this? The way you took me under your wing?” She remembered how he was so kind to her, so understanding of her confusion over what her body told her she wanted. “Ahh. Well, my dear, I did that because you are an incredibly sweet person with an even bigger hurt. Quite honestly, if I hadn’t

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though, you would’ve met up with some unsavory characters who might not have cared about your happiness or what you got out of your submission experiences.” She remembered all too well a few of the people he was talking about. That was how they had met. She was on her knees kneeling before a man who claimed to be a Dom. He was more like a sadist, hell-bent on humiliating her and using her for his demented amusement. Had Zach not broke the door down on the small room she was locked in with the man, she might have been forced to do things she was not prepared for. “I can see your mind wandering, dear. Don’t let it. The important thing is, you are here. Derek is here. And hopefully, you two will find a way to submit to one another.” “Submit to one another?” Derek had claimed to be a Dominant. Why would Zach assume that he would reverse rolls? she wondered. “No, you misunderstand and, as usual, are overthinking what I am telling you. You both have issues to overcome. You need to come to terms with your guilt and make amends not just to Derek, but to yourself as well. Once you forgive you, Derek will soon follow.” “If only it were that simple.” “It can be. And as for Derek, well, he needs to submit his heart to you. Again.” And there it was, she thought. Her biggest fear. The fear that, despite all they shared, she would never have his heart again. Zach walked toward her and brushed her hair from her eyes. “You need not worry, Sandi. Derek still loves you. Now whether he knows that is unclear, but the signs are very evident. You are the only submissive he wants, needs, and will ever desire.” He softly kissed her on the forehead and exited the room. Could he be right? Was she the only one for Derek and he the only one for her? She lay back on the bed and thought on that. Staring up at the ceiling, she wondered what it would be like. A life with Derek

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complete with being able to fulfill her deepest desires and fantasies. The mere thought of such a life gave her butterflies and sent a warmth through her body, filling her heart, her womb, and her pussy. She loved Derek so much. There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t wake up and see images of him behind her eyelids before opening them to realize he was not there. Even when she was lying beside Tony, she couldn’t get Derek out of her mind or heart. She should have told him. Instead, she let her stupid fears and embarrassment over what her body wanted become more important than the only man who had ever treated her like she mattered. Derek had cherished her and loved her so much. Had. Every memory of Derek began with “had,” “was,” or “did.” Everything was in the past tense. “No!” She jolted up from the bed and went to stand before her full length mirror. “You will not mess this up, Sandi, just because you did once before. Derek will be yours again, and you will spend the rest of your life cherishing him, just like he did you.” With a newfound purpose and focus, she went into the bathroom and started the shower. Removing her robe, she made a final vow. Derek said to clean up and get rest before meeting him in the Red Room at seven o’clock, and that was exactly what she was going to do. She would do everything that he asked, obey him completely, and never ever take him for granted again. She stepped in the shower, allowing the hot water to splash against her face and whispered to herself. “I love you, Derek.”

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Chapter 8 Zach entered his office and wondered if what he was doing would work. He hadn’t seen Derek in years, but from what he did remember of him, he had always been the more easygoing of the Travis brothers. He never knew him to carry a grudge or not forgive someone for their mistakes. It wasn’t as if Sandi’s betrayal and hurt was a minor infraction in the rules of the heart. It just seemed as though Derek was taking it even harder than Quinn had let on. He hoped he hadn’t made a mistake by bringing the two lovers back together again. His only intention was to bring happiness to an old friend and a new one. Happiness that he knew he would never find. Not in this world. “Ahh, quit feeling sorry for yourself, Zach.” He spoke aloud to the empty room. A knock at the door sounded, and he summoned whoever it was to enter. It was Aiden. The shorter-than-average man who more than made up for his lack of height with massive muscles. “Aiden?” Zach asked when the security guard just stared at him blankly. “Yes, boss?” With an amused chuckle, Zach answered, “Did you need something?” “Huh?” Aiden fumbled with some papers and walked toward Zach’s desk. “I just wanted to give you these. They’re the estimates for the new fire pit lounge area you want to put on the east side of the yard.”

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Reaching for the papers, Zach noticed that his employee seemed nervous. “Thank you. I appreciate it.” “Sure. No problem. You had said you wanted at least four bids, but I got seven. Just to make sure you get the best deal.” “Well, thank you. I appreciate an employee looking out for my best interest and bottom line.” He was flipping through the pages, scanning the figures on them, when he felt the other man’s eyes stuck to him. “Was there something else, Aiden?” “No. No, that was it.” He gave Zach a casual nod and headed toward the door. Zach was never one to make assumptions. It was a quality in most people he despised. All they ever did was lead to misunderstandings. In this case though, he was going to have to break his own rule. “Aiden?” Turning back, Aiden answered, “Yes, boss?” “Aren’t you off today?” He motioned toward the wall of security cameras. “I see everyone else in their stations. You aren’t working on your day off, are you?” “No. Well, the last contractor just came out this morning, so I just figured, while I was here, I would stop by and give you all the estimates.” Zach couldn’t help but smile. He was pretty sure his assumptions were correct, but a bit more tiptoeing around the subject seemed to be in order. “You know, you are my best security guard here. You’ve proven to be reliable, honest, and hardworking. I appreciate that a great deal.” “I’m also loyal, sir.” He was. Zach knew that. It was one of the reasons he’d placed him “unofficially” in charge of all security details at the Pleasure Palace. “I know that. You’ve proved to be quite an asset to me.”

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Zach waited, wondering if Aiden had the courage to respond, or even say what was on his mind. No words came from the nervous man standing before him. He had been afraid of this. With a sigh, he rose from his desk and turned toward the window facing the back lawn. “If there is something on your mind, I would prefer that you’d say it. We have, or at least we should have no secrets. I would have thought after—” Zach stopped and abruptly turned around when he felt warm breath hit the back of his neck. “I can’t stop thinking about it.” Aiden’s voice was shaky. So he had been right. Their encounter of a few nights ago was what was troubling his best employee. “I see. Would you like to tell me about it?” he asked cautiously, not sure if the man’s uneasy behavior was due to regret or desire. “No.” With that one simple word, Zach had his answer. It was not regret that he was feeling, but lust. “What would you like to do?” “I’d like to show you.” Aiden whispered the words into Zach’s ear. Zach remembered how good it had been when they’d had sex. Aiden was a good lover and very giving. His dick must have remembered how good it was, too, because with those few words, he was getting hard and ready to give Aiden just what he wanted. Placing a kiss to the side of Aiden’s neck, Zach asked, “How would you show me?” “I want this,” Aiden answered while reaching his hand down to rub against Zach’s hardness. The blood was flowing now. Suddenly, the idea of the muscular man sucking on him like he had the other night sounded like the best way to spend his afternoon. “That’s not an answer, Aiden.”

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Zach reached down and unfastened his belt and trousers. Tracing a line along the man’s lower lip with his tongue, he then unzipped them and grabbed onto his now-engorged flesh. “Would you suck on this and make it feel good?” He replied quickly, “Yes. Oh, God, Zach. If you let me do that, I will make you feel so good.” An amused smile formed. He so enjoyed a lover who was anxious to please him. The thrill of knowing that someone was so turned on that they’d be willing to do anything to be fucked by him always drove him crazy. Pulling himself away from the closeness, Zach returned to sit in his chair. Slouched back in the seat, he spread his legs and motioned for the man to kneel before him. “Show me. Prove to me how bad you want me.” Without hesitation, Aiden took the few steps and knelt just as he was instructed. Zach’s cock twitched in anticipation when he saw the man look visibly hungry at the small amount of pre-cum sitting on its tip. With eyes looking up at him, Aiden opened his mouth and swiped his tongue along the appetizer lying before him. He moaned and brought his mouth down on top of Zach’s whole cock with sucking lips after tasting the teasing secretion. “Oh yes. That’s it. Take me.” Zach rested his head back against the chair and placed his hands around the man’s head. His fingers were kneading and massaging his fingers through his hair. He was trying so hard to hold back. It was taking everything he had to not start pumping in and out of his throat while moving his head in similar fashion. He wanted so bad to fuck hard and fast. He knew from the other night though that Aiden, while being generous and somewhat submissive, was more of a gentle lover and not into rough play. With every moan that was coming from his eager lover, he was having a harder time to rein in that lust. He wanted to stop and bend

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the muscular hunk over his desk, grab some lube from his drawer, and work it all around into Aiden’s tight, little hole, but he couldn’t deny how good it felt to have him sucking his cock so eagerly. “Damn, babe. Your mouth feels so good.” Opening his mouth just enough to mumble the words, Aiden replied, “I like to make you come. I love having you hard and inside of me.” Breathlessly, Aiden returned to sliding his lips up and down, sucking intently and sliding his tongue all around his dick. “Oh yeah? Inside of you, huh?” Zach was a man of control, but everyone had their limits. “Where? Tell me, where do you want me?” Aiden answered, but with the heavy breathing and refusing to release Zach from his mouth, his words were barely audible. “I couldn’t hear you, baby.” In that moment, he had just remembered the other night his giving lover had admitted to love being called baby. “Where do you want me to fuck you?” “In my mouth.” He blurted the words out quickly, eager to get back to his task. Damn. Zach was disappointed. Sure he was getting sucked off by a hot and enthusiastic sexy man, but the need to drive into him hard was wreaking havoc on his control right now. Deciding to take a chance and test Aiden’s limits, he wrapped his hands firmly around the man’s skull. Gently at first, he pulled Aiden further down on his cock. He heard Aiden gag for a moment when he hit the back of his throat. He might’ve stopped then if he hadn’t felt him relax his jaw and open his mouth further for him. “Can you take all of me, baby? Can you suck on me deep?” The answer must have been yes because he removed his hand which was once stroking the same flesh he was licking and sucking and moved it out of the way.

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Still gentle, but with a bit more force, Zach pushed his head further down yet again. A few thrusts and he could already feel Aiden accommodating his length, accepting him further into his throat. He continued his pace and gave time for the loyal man before him to adjust to the constant onslaught of thrust after thrust with no stopping. A minute later, he was torn between wanting to give the man more time and not being able to stand it anymore. Taking a chance, Zach began working his hips, thrusting relentlessly into his naughty, little worker’s mouth. No more was Aiden sucking on his cock. Zach was fucking his mouth. A tingle shot down his spine, and his cock swelled unbearably large, throbbing with its need to shoot his hot cum into Aiden’s mouth. “Fuck baby. I’m going to come. Take it! Take all of it!” He ordered. “Oh, yes!” Zach’s hips thrust, and his dick exploded with his orgasm. He could feel the suction of Aiden’s mouth as he did as he was told. Moments later, Zach remained still, his eyes closed and completely sated from his release. The sound of heavy breathing mixed with slurping sounds as Aiden finished cleaning every drop off of his now-semi-hard dick filled the air. He opened his eyes and looked down at the man. Smiling, he trailed his thumb along the man’s jaw. “That was incredible, Aiden.” Pulling away from what looked like to be a snack that the man just couldn’t get enough of, he looked up at him. His lips were swollen and the area around his mouth was red from Zach’s forceful thrusts. The image looked damn sexy. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Unable to hold it in, Zach laughed. “Yes, baby. I enjoyed the hell out of it. You”—he leaned forward and kissed the man’s lips—“made me feel very good.”

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He smiled back at Zach. “I’m glad.” Getting up from kneeling, he licked his lips and almost seemed to blush. Zach had to admit, he found it kind of sweet. While Aiden was definitely attractive, he wasn’t his normal type. Usually, he preferred his play a little more on the hard and rough side. Beggars definitely couldn’t be choosers though. Zipping up his trousers and fastening his pants, he asked, “Was that the real reason you came to my office today?” “Yes.” He smirked. “I haven’t really been able to get the other night out of my mind. I never expected it to happen, but I found myself wanting it again.” Standing before him, Zach placed his hands on his face. “Do you think there are other things you would like?” Aiden nodded and leaned in for a kiss. Their tongues stroked one another’s as they both ground their bodies together. Zach got a hint of the aftertaste of his release in the man’s mouth. It was a turn-on to say the least. “Yes,” Aiden whispered. “There are.” With an amused smirk, Zach gave him a small kiss. “Well then, we’ll just have to see what happens next, won’t we?” He knew it was a tiny bit cruel to leave the guy hanging, with no definite answer on when or if they’d be together again, but he knew Aiden’s type. The more he wanted Zach, the more he’d be willing to push him and test his limits. He wasn’t afraid to admit that was exactly what he wanted too. “Okay.” After an embrace and a final kiss, Aiden walked toward the door and left without looking back. Zach knew he had in some way disappointed him by not confirming any hopes of a future interlude. As good as their play was the other night when they made out and jerked each other off. Combined with the awesome blow job Aiden had just given, made all sorts of erotic images flash through his mind.

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Aiden may not have left with high hopes, but Zach knew this wouldn’t be the last time they were together. Having Aiden bent over, his ass glistening from lubricant, his cheeks spread apart and Zach slamming into him was now on his agenda of “things to do.” And if there was one thing Zach was always good at, it was getting the job done. Smiling, he exited his office and returned to his room, deciding that a nap was exactly what he needed.

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Chapter 9 Later that night, Derek was preparing for a seven o’clock date that he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to keep. It felt so good to have her lips wrap around him earlier. Too good. That was the problem. He wanted this date to be with someone he didn’t know. Some nameless, faceless woman he would screw and just walk away from. Someone that he didn’t once love so much it still hurt. Annoyed with himself for even thinking of their long-forgotten relationship, he got up from the bed and opened the small trunk which one of Zach’s employee’s had brought to his room earlier that day. Rummaging through the contents, he wondered which toy he would introduce to his “wannabe” submissive tonight. There were two butt plugs, one for beginners and one which was so large, he’d only seen one similar be used once before. There were various types of vibrating dildos in all different sizes and colors. While there were restraints, they ranged from metal handcuffs to velvet lined wrist straps. In a smaller container, he found an assortment of body oils which boasted of being all natural and edible. An image of rubbing the coconut flavored one all over Sandi’s body raced through his mind so fast it made blood rush down and caused him to swell at just the idea. Luckily, the sound of his phone ringing brought him out of the fantasy. “Hello.” “Hey, brother.” “Quinn, how’s it going? Everything okay at the restaurant?” “Pfft. Yeah. Why? You don’t think Ann and I can handle things?” “No. I just figured since you called, never mind. So what’s up?”

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“Nothing, man. Just wanted to see how my favorite brother was. You know, checking on you to make sure you’re doing okay and—” Derek quickly cut him off. He knew his brother better than anyone, and right now the bullshit was so thick it was oozing all the way through the phone lines. “Cut the crap, Quinn. What’s going on?” There was an audible sigh on the other end of the phone before Quinn answered. “All right, but look, before you get pissed, just hear me out, okay?” “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to be pissed anyway, Quinn?” “Derek, would you just listen first? Damn!” “Fine. I’m calm. Tell me.” “Uh-huh. You sound real fine. Look, it was an accident, and Ann’s trying really hard to get it fixed.” Now curious more than mad, Derek was too relaxed to be alarmed, “Fix what?” “You know that prized buck Dad had bagged when we were kids on that hunting trip?” “Yes. What happened to it?” “Well, there was a storm last night. A bad one. Wind was blowing like the damn bad wolf come to blow down the pigs’ houses and all that.” Derek sat on a chair by the window while he waited for his brother to explain. “One of those big, steel streetlights got knocked down and landed on the roof of the restaurant.” “Oh shit. The roof? How bad is the damage?” Derek could just imagine some sort of insurance clause that would get their liability company out of paying for this one. They’d had a small kitchen fire a few years back that he’d had to fight tooth and nail to get covered. “The roof’s damage is minimal. Nothing major. We’ve already got a contractor working on it. It must have shook the whole building

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though because aside from several pictures falling off of the wall, Dad’s prized buck fell from the entrance archway.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “Is that all? Shit, man. I thought it was something important.” “Well, I knew that was the only thing of Dad’s you ever really cared about. Guess I figured you’d be pissed.” “I liked it, sure, but it’s just a damn possession, Quinn. If this trip is teaching me anything, it’s that life is full of unplanned shit that makes you unhappy.” He snapped out the last words with an extra hint of bitterness. “Really? Someone’s a little pissy. Is there a problem? I thought you were going to meet that guy Zach from school? Hey, that reminds me, what’s his resort like? He was so vague when—” Derek quickly cut him off. “I gotta go. Send Ann my best.” Without waiting for his brother to answer, he hung up the phone. He wasn’t ashamed of his Dominant side, but their sexual likes and dislikes was never on the brothers’ topics of conversation. Today didn’t seem like a good day to change that, especially in light of the mood he was in. It was ten minutes to seven, and he knew he should’ve already been in the room. He found it was always best to keep a new submissive on their toes. It helped him to learn more of who they were. Their habits and the way they acted when they didn’t think they were being watched. He couldn’t drag himself to the room though. All he’d thought all day long was, why Sandi? Why, out of all the women in the world, did she have to be the one that Zach brought him here to teach? The coincidence of that did not go unnoticed either. Something just didn’t add up. It frustrated the hell out of him. He glanced back at the trunk containing the various props he could take with him. An uncomfortable pit hit him square in the gut when he saw the butt plugs and imagined what Sandi would look like with one held snugly inside her rear entrance.

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“Fuck!” There was no such anger boiling inside of him he couldn’t go see her. There was no way. Between the images flashing through his mind and the damn need to just bury himself so deep inside her he’d never feel cold again, he didn’t think he’d be able to rein in whatever he was feeling. He looked down at his hands and brought them up to his face. He was shaking. Not a slight jitter like one would get from too much caffeine, but violently shaking. Using deep breaths, he tried to calm himself. This wasn’t him. He wasn’t like this. Quinn was the emotional and temperamental brother. He was the levelheaded and calm one. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was already seven. He should be entering the room right then. Something in him wouldn’t allow him to go to her. He was calmer now, but still so angry. “Fuck it.” He made the resolution to himself in the empty room. He was a grown man and didn’t have to do anything he didn’t want to. So what if he’d told her to meet him there? He was in charge. Not her. Resting his head back on the pillow, he got comfortable. He needed a nap. He was too wound up. That was his problem. After some rest, he would be his old self once again. Yes, just some sleep. That was all he needed. He wondered if he was trying to convince himself because, deep down, he knew what he really needed. Sandi.

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Chapter 10 Sandi stood in the room, nervous and unsure of what to do. Should she be lying down on the bed? Sitting in the chair? Standing and waiting for him to enter? She shook her head and sat on the bench at the foot of the bed. Things seemed so different now after this morning with Derek. The way he’d told her what to do, instructed her on what she was allowed, chills shot up her back at the memory of it. It had turned her on so much to hear him talk to her that way. Much more than it had with anyone else. It was different with Derek. She just hoped that it was different for him as well. There was a small clock across the room from where she was sitting. The ticking sound echoed in the silent room. She wasn’t sure which was louder, her nervous breathing or the sound of the clock. The minutes went by so slow. First five minutes had passed. Then ten. Then fifteen. Where was he? she wondered. “Some sort of a test, I’m sure.” She muttered to the empty room. Well, it wouldn’t work. He would not rattle her into leaving. He probably thought if he was late and she got nervous, she would run to her room crying like a little girl. Like the girl she used to be. No more though. She’d made a promise to herself earlier that day, and no one, not even Derek and his stubborn ways, would deter her from achieving her goal. If that meant she would have to stay here all night waiting for him, then that was exactly what she would do. Derek Quinn might be

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the most stubborn man on the planet, but she could be equally as determined when she put her mind to something. An hour later Sandi was not only growing weary, she was becoming tired. The past twenty-four hours had been an emotional roller coaster for her. Her adrenaline was starting to wear off. She had no idea what Derek had in store for her, but she certainly didn’t want to be yawning while doing it. Maybe if she just took a short catnap, it would rejuvenate her. The thought that he’d come in and catch her sleeping worried her though. The last thing she needed was for him to think that she didn’t care. That doing as he said wasn’t important to her. It was. He had to know that. No, she couldn’t sleep. There was no way she could take that chance. She had absolutely no idea how long he would be here, and she had to take advantage of every moment that she had with him. She got up and decided to move around. Surely, she had just been sitting too long. She walked around the room and took a closer look at some of the objects Zach had placed around it. There was a vase on a small table by the fireplace, a reading lamp next to the bed, and of course that damn clock which would not stop ticking. She continued her mini-tour, doing anything and everything she could think of to occupy both her mind and her time. There were a couple of books on a shelf in the far corner of the room. They looked old, but she was so bored, she couldn’t stand it anymore. Picking up one, she realized it wasn’t old at all. Just one of those leather bound republications. She read the side of it, Tristan and Isolde: A Casebook, by Joan T. Grimbert. Tristan and Isolde. She wondered why those names sounded so familiar. Not quite sure where she’d heard them before, she decided she’d sit in the chair by the fireplace and read until she remembered. Page after page, she turned, finding herself more and more intrigued with the story that was before her. She still couldn’t place

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how she remembered it, but she was sure it would come to her soon enough. Another hour had passed, and she had just finished the third chapter when she yawned so big, her eyes began to water. Derek was now over two hours late. How long did he expect her to wait here? Shaking the attitude out of her, she regained her cool. She had absolutely no right to be upset with him. She was the one who’d hurt him. If he wanted to make her wait all night, that was a small price to pay for what she’d done. She opened the book back up and continued reading. The book was actually quite good. She loved the story of how the Princess of Ireland fell in love so passionately with the brother of her soon-to-be groom. It was so taboo and so— “That’s it.” She smiled to herself as she remembered where she’d heard this couples’ names before. Derek. He’d told her the story one night when they were camping. They’d lain next to one another, snuggling close while they looked up at the stars. He told her the story as he remembered hearing it from his mother. She couldn’t help but smile at the sweet memory. They had been so in love then. He was her whole world. As she was his. Everything was perfect. “God, why?” How could she have let something so stupid like her sexual desires distract her from all that she had? No. She wasn’t going to go down this self-loathing road again. There was no time for self-pity. All that mattered was getting Derek back. Nothing mattered more than that did. She was probably in for a long road of him testing her over and over again. That didn’t matter though and she’d do it. She would take every test he gave her and pass with flying colors. He was worth it.

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Repositioning herself, she pulled her legs up underneath her, sitting at an angle and resting her head against the back of the chair. Now completely comfortable, she opened the book back up and began chapter four.

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Chapter 11 Derek opened his eyes, a bit unsure of where he was at first. It took him a few moments to catch his bearings and remember. Rubbing his hands over his face, he also recalled that he was supposed to have met Sandi earlier. While he was glad he hadn’t gone, he wasn’t proud of himself for standing her up. He knew better than that. Dominance and submission wasn’t just about being in control of another, but about trust. How could he possibly ever expect her to trust him if he went against what he’d told her? It wasn’t as though he’d said to her that she was to wait there for him until, and if, he decided to come. No. He had made it quite clear that they were both meeting at seven o’clock. Shaking his head, he got up from the bed and picked up his cell phone. It was half past midnight. “You’re an asshole, Derek,” he chided himself. Regardless of the late hour, he needed to go apologize for his rudeness. That wasn’t him. He was not the inconsiderate type. Nor was he selfish. He walked into his bathroom and took a look at his rough-looking reflection. He turned on the water and washed his hands and face before running his drenched hands through his hair. He didn’t look great, but at least he looked a little better. Drying off with the towel, he then folded it and neatly placed it on the counter. It wasn’t a normal habit of his, but he wasn’t looking forward to seeing Sandi. That was why he wasn’t. He knew his own logic didn’t make sense. He wished she didn’t still get to him so much. Damn if she didn’t consume most of his thoughts though.

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With an unwelcome pit in his stomach, he left his room and headed toward hers. He was trying to erase the memory of the previous morning when she’d submitted to him so sweetly and took all that he gave her. As soon as his hand touched her door handle though, it all came rushing back in not just his mind, but his body. Unbelievably, he wanted her again. Quietly, he opened the door so that he wouldn’t wake her if she was asleep. The room was dark, and he didn’t want to startle her by turning on the light. He closed the door just as quietly and silently walked toward her bed. There was a mere sliver of light coming through the window that illuminated only the foot of the bed. As he got closer, he thought something looked strange. He thought his eyes must be deceiving him in the dark because it looked as though her bed hadn’t been slept in and was empty. Sitting down on the edge, he reached his hand out to feel for her. Nothing. He turned and switched on the bedside lamp. The bed was empty. He sat there for a moment, perplexed and worried, wondering where she could be. Then it hit him. Here it was hours after he was supposed to meet her, and she was still there, waiting for him. “Fuck!” he shouted. He wasn’t upset with her, but with himself. How was he going to be able to keep his distance from her if she was being so obedient? He wanted her to be horrible and mean so he could hate her. There was no way he could want her again, love her again, not like he did. It tore his heart out when she left him. The thoughts were racing through his mind on the way to the Red Room. The only simple solution was to not let her get close. He could not and would not allow it. He opened the door, and every amount of willpower he mustered up vanished when he saw her lying in the chair, her feet pulled up

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underneath her just like she used to do on the front porch back in Oakdale and a book lying in her lap. Slowly, he approached her. Entranced by how beautiful she looked while she slept. Her eyes closed, her mouth just slightly open with little whispers of breaths coming through them. She looked so peaceful. So pretty. She was almost angelic in the way the soft light of the lamp was reflecting off the side of her face. As he got closer, he took a look at the book she had been reading. Tristian and Isolde. His heart about melted when he saw the title. He wondered if she remembered him reading it to her one summer night years earlier as they had looked up at the stars. Gently, he removed her hand that was holding the book on her lap and placed the book on the table next to her. It was then, as he looked back at her, he noticed the shoulder strap of the satin negligee she was wearing had slid off, causing her right nipple to be exposed. He had already been semihard at the mere sight of her, but this did nothing to rein in his lust for her. The rosy areola and hardened nub made him want to latch his mouth onto it and suck until she moaned in pleasure. It struck him curiously that her nipples were pointed in apparent arousal. He knew her body and was very aware that only when she was turned on did she have such reactions. A quick scan of her face showed her eyes moving rapidly under their lids. She was in the midst of a dream. He wondered what and who she was fantasizing about when her subconscious took over. “Derek.” The tiny whisper escaped through her lips, unbeknownst to the sleeping beauty who said them. A billion curse words raced through his mind. How could he be so glad to hear something and so pissed about it at the same time? She was trying to get to him. She would be the perfect submissive and do whatever he asked until he gave in to her. Then that was when she’d hurt him again.

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No. No way in hell would he allow that to happen! He would teach her and train her to be a good submissive. She would learn to become obedient. They would have sex, play, and do whatever else he wanted. Falling in love would not be part of the deal. Needing to be away from her, he convinced himself there was no point in waking her when she was sleeping so soundly. He’ll just apologize to her tomorrow. Not that he had to. It was a small infraction compared to the hurtful things she had done. Nevertheless though, he was, if nothing else, a gentleman. So he would apologize tomorrow, but he was going to start being smart about his interactions with her. There would be no intimacy. Only learning between the teacher and the student. As he was about to leave, he heard her whisper once again. “I love you.” He turned back to see her eyes open. They were sleepy and still so gorgeous. “Sandi, do not do this.” “I do. I made the biggest mistake of my life when I let you go.” “Good night, Sandi.” “Please don’t go.” Her words were like a drug to him. How many nights had he lied in bed awake, desperate to hear her say those very words? “I came by to see if you were all right since I didn’t come earlier. Nothing more.” “Please stay with me.” There was a soft shadow hitting her breast which made it look all the more tempting. “No. Good night!” He snapped the words out at her. He knew it was harsh, but it was taking everything in him to not do exactly as she wanted. “Derek, please. I waited. I didn’t leave. I miss you so much.” That was it. She’d hit a nerve, and now he was angry. Slamming the door, he came toward her.

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“You’ve waited? You didn’t leave? You miss me so much? Talk about sick and twisted perspectives, that one must take the cake. How many fucking nights do you think I waited for you, huh? How many nights did I stay home at night waiting for you to come to your damn senses and return to me and our home? How much do you think I missed you?” The room was suddenly silent, but the pain in his words left a heartache lingering in the air between them. He watched her, waited for her to start crying. Only the tears didn’t come this time. She just sat there looking back at him. “Well? Don’t you have anything to say?” “What can I say, Derek? You’re right.” He shook his head at her. “No. Uh-uh. Don’t even try that reverse psychology bullshit with me, Sandi. If I was right, you never would’ve left.” She got up from the chair, and the strap that had fallen off of her shoulder dropped even lower down her arm, revealing all of her succulent breast. “You were right. I was just too foolish to see it then.” “God damn you!” He quickly turned away from her, not wanting her to see the pain in his eyes. He stood facing the door, replaying her words in his head. Wishing she had said them then and even felt them then. He was startled out of his thoughts by the feel of her hand touching his shoulder. “Sandi, please don’t,” he said with his back to her. He didn’t hear her say anything, but he felt her soft mouth kiss in between his shoulder blades. Despite the fabric of his T-shirt, he could sense the heat and feel the wetness. “Make love to me, Derek. Please?” That was it! She had just snapped what little restraint he had left. Quickly, he spun around and grabbed onto her. He crushed his mouth

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against hers. His hands were clutching onto her ass as he lifted her up and brought her pussy against his hardened cock. Instantly, their bodies began rocking against one another. They were both ravenous for one another. The sound of ragged breathing and moans filled the once quiet room. Derek carried her over to the bed and fell on top of it with her. He was worried he’d hurt her at first and tried to pull off of her, but she was more focused with trying to undo the snap to his jeans. He saw a lusty fire in her eyes he had never seen before. It made him all the more hungry for her. Pulling away from her, he stood up and frantically undressed as she was doing the same. He was ready to spread her legs and dive into her as deep and as far as he could with no intention of every leaving, but he stood frozen as he looked down at her. “Derek? Oh, God, please don’t stop now.” He still couldn’t move. Above her right hip, he saw a scar. It almost looked to be like a cut that hadn’t healed well. It was at least two inches long, and the scar tissue around it gave the appearance that it was a deep cut at one time. “What happened?” he asked her while leaning over to touch it. “Nothing. It’s nothing. Kiss me again. I’ve missed it so much.” Derek had seen enough bad things happen in the underground BDSM clubs to know the evidence of a bad experience with knife play. “Who hurt you?” “Please, honey, it doesn’t matter.” Rubbing his thumb over it, he could feel how big the scar actually was. A gut-wrenching pain filled him. Someone had hurt her. Someone had used her desire to submit against her and cut her beautiful flesh. “How long ago?” Bending over, he kissed where the knife had left its mark. “About a year ago.”

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Hearing her answer brought him back to reality. A year ago, while he was aching for her, she was God knows where, with God knows who, and she was allowing them to touch her body. The thought made him sick. “We can’t do this.” He reached for his clothes and attempted to hurriedly dress. Her quick reactions faltered his attempts though. “No. Please. I’m begging you.” She kissed the side of his neck. “I need you so bad.” Trailing another kiss along his ear, she continued, “It’s only you that I want.” He hated how good her mouth felt against his skin. Dropping his clothes, he grabbed onto her and fell to the bed with her. Reaching his hand down in between her thighs, he could feel the heat resonating from her. He took a finger and slid it in between her slick folds, feeling the proof of her need for him drip onto his hand. Her hips rocked against his hand. She was so ready for him. In all their times together, she had always been responsive, but he couldn’t remember seeing her body quite this needy before. He worked first one then two fingers inside of her. Loving the sensation of her hot juices coating his hand, he dropped his mouth down to her neck and licked from earlobe to earlobe and then back again. With his fingers still working her pussy and her body still moving against his ministrations, he slid down and latched onto one of her beautifully swollen nipples. He could feel pre-cum leak from his dick when he heard her moan in pleasure. Had she ever been this hot and wet before? His memory was getting clouded by the images, sounds, and smells of what he was experiencing right then. “I need you inside of me.” Her plea was so seductive. The way her voice was soft, yet urgent made her sound like a siren luring a man to his death.

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With his mouth alternating from breast to breast, he began to begrudgingly pull away from them. Getting up to adjust his position, he pulled his hand away from her as well. Looking down at her, he prayed that he wasn’t making a mistake. He couldn’t control himself though, he had to have her. “Open yourself to me, baby.” He waited while she spread her thighs and laid her arms behind her head. The motion brought her already perfect breasts to an even perkier stance. Kneeling in between her legs, he positioned himself at her entrance and prayed one more time he wasn’t setting himself up for her to hurt him all over again. Deciding he just didn’t give a damn, he slid inside of her. Oh Jesus! He thought to himself as her tight walls enveloped him, her wet heat coating him. This was better than it had ever been.

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Chapter 12 The stretch Sandi felt when Derek entered her should have given her discomfort, but instead it felt like the most wonderful feeling she’d ever experienced. Never before had he taken her so suddenly. He had always been gentle and eased inside slowly. This time though, the force was incredible. She began kissing his neck, his shoulder, anywhere she could reach with her mouth as she held onto him, and he thrust inside of her. Their lovemaking had never been like this. Never had it been so frantic and heated. She loved it like this. Their lovemaking had always felt good to her. She had always enjoyed it, but this, this was nothing like she’d ever experienced with anyone. His fast thrusts and ragged breathing were driving her even more wild than she already was. She screamed suddenly. Not in pain, but in pleasure. He’d hit somewhere deep inside of her. Somewhere that felt so good. For that brief moment he’d found it, she’d almost thought she was going to have an orgasm, and then it quickly subsided. “You like that?” he whispered in her ear. Her eyes flashed open to see him staring down into hers. She hadn’t even realized her eyes were closed. She was so lost in the feeling of him being inside her, they just shut of their own accord. She bit down on her lower lip and answered him with a nod. When she did, he thrust into her deep and hard.

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An unconscious moan of pleasure came from her again. That was it. That was the spot he’d just hit moments before. It felt even better the second time. Derek was watching her intently. She wished she knew what he was thinking. All she could think was how incredible it was to be filled with him once again. She’d missed him so much. Again. She let out a howl when he penetrated that deepest part of her. Every time he did it, she was sure she would lose control and orgasm. She watched him though, and he was being careful not to give her too much. The teasing look in his eye gave him away. “Derek—” She whimpered his name as he tormented her with the sweetest pleasure once again. He brought his mouth down to her neck and gently kissed from her ear to her collarbone. Every part of her body was tingling. The sensitized tips of her hardened nipples brushed along his chest and shot even more desire rocketing through her body. She was lost in what he was doing to her. Nothing about the way he was thrusting in and out of her was gentle. He was behaving like an animal. An animal that was hungry. The only contradiction to the fierceness of his actions was the sweet way in how his mouth was touching her heated skin. Again. She screamed louder that time. So loud in fact she was certain she must have woken up everyone within a hundred mile radius. It didn’t matter how much she screamed or how much she writhed underneath him. He was relentless in his teasing of her. She could see it in his eyes every time they flashed to hers. He showed no remorse for bringing her near orgasm and then pulling her back over and over again. She could feel the heat between the two of them filling the room, and a small bead of sweat appeared on his forehead. Memories flashed in her mind of all the times she would watch in fascination as

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he worked on his car, the yard, and any number of things, always with beads of sweat appearing from his dark hair to coat his forehead. He brought her back to the present once again. Only this time he didn’t stop. Over and over, he drove into her deeper and deeper each time, taking her further and higher than she had ever thought possible. Making love with Derek had never been like this before. She wanted more. She wanted it faster, harder, and deeper. The more he gave, the more she wanted. She was on the brink. Her body had never felt so inflamed. Never had she felt this level of…what? There were no words to describe how he was making her body feel. Again and again, he plunged inside of her, deeper and harder each time. She could feel something crawling inside her soul. Tiny little fireworks of needles were shooting off explosions of celebration throughout every part of her being. “Derek! Oh God!” She screamed his name when the onslaught of her orgasm attacked her. Underneath her shouts of release, she heard Derek whisper something. Her eyes opened to see his shut. His face was tense and then she felt it. “Derek, oh I love you so much.” She couldn’t help the words from spilling from between her lips. They were true. When she felt him come inside of her and fill her with his essence, she had to tell him. His eyes flashed open to hers. He didn’t look happy, either. There was anger there. “Derek?” Abruptly, he got off of her. Her body felt so cold when she felt him slide out from inside of her. She sat up and pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “Derek, please say something.” Nothing. He wouldn’t speak. He wouldn’t look at her. She sat there, cold and shaking while trying desperately not to cry as he hurriedly dressed.

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“I’m sorry.” She didn’t know what she was apologizing for, but he seemed so angry. She would have said anything to take that anger away from him. With a snap of his head, he turned to her. “You’re sorry?” “Yes—I, I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry.” He glared at her. “You don’t know what you did?” A sarcastic chuckle filled the room. “That is so typical of you. You’re sorry. You don’t know what you did.” “Derek, please. What did I do?” “I’ve heard this song and dance before, honey. Don’t think you can fool me again.” “What?” She was hurting so bad now, so confused and wanted so desperately to touch him. “Oh, what, did you think I was the same man I was two years ago? Try again, babe.” “No. No, Derek, I didn’t say that. I just— He held up his hand to silence her. “Enough. I don’t want to hear anything more. You’re a game player. I should’ve known better than to get back into bed with the likes of you.” There it was. The final stab of the knife in her heart. The tears flowed freely now as she began to sob. “No. Baby, please don’t say that. I love you. I love you so much. I’m so sorry for—” “Love!” he shouted at her. “Don’t you tell me anything about love, Sandi.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up to face him. Kneeling on the bed, her face was now inches from his. “Derek, I’m sorry.” “I don’t want to hear you’re sorry. I don’t want to hear you love me.” He tightened his hold on her. “Can’t you understand that?” “It’s true though. I swear to you.” “You swear? You swear!” Shaking his head, he released his grip and quickly stalked toward the door.

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“Derek!” Her plea for him was barely audible as her cries echoed in the room. He swung back around and came toward her with so much vengeance in his eyes, she sat back on the bed. She’d never seen him so angry before. Never felt in fear of his mood before. Sticking a finger in her face, he shouted, “Don’t you ever tell me you love me again! Do you understand me?” “I–I do love you though.” “What the fuck did I just say, God damn it? You don’t know what love is. Love should’ve made your ass stay with me. Love should’ve stopped you from fucking another man. Love should’ve made you become my wife.” “Oh, my God. Derek, please, honey, I was so wrong to do all of those things.” She reached out for him, and he quickly pulled away. “You’re damn right you were.” He turned back toward the door. “Please don’t go. We just made love,” she begged him. When he was in the hallway, he turned back to her once more. Even through her tears, she could see the hatred for her in his eyes. “No. You get one thing straight. You and I, we just fucked. Nothing more. Got it?” She shook her head. “No. No, you don’t mean that.” He smirked at her. “Don’t bet on it, babe. You’re nothing to me anymore. Nothing!” She flinched as he shouted the last word and slammed the door. “No! No! No! Derek!” The sound of her heart beating within her body filled her. The tears, the fast breathing, her entire body seemed as though it was working on overdrive. She was sobbing uncontrollably hard. Gutwrenching screams came from somewhere deep inside her. Breathing was becoming harder, and she felt like she was running out of air. She crawled to the edge of the bed. Something was wrong. Her breaths were so rapid, yet she couldn’t breathe. Dropping a leg to the

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floor, she attempted to stand. Her body gave out as she tried to balance herself, and she fell to the floor. Air. She needed more air. Naked and drenched in her sweat and tears, she tried to crawl toward her window. Exhaustion was overtaking her. Nothing she did would help. Gasping for breath, she couldn’t even open her mouth enough to scream. She’d only made it a few more steps toward the window when her entire body went lax.

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Chapter 13 Derek slammed the door as hard as he could. He had to do something. He had been filled with so much rage at that moment, he was sure he was going to put his fist through a wall. Stalking down the hall away from her room, he heard her screams for him. He could hear her tears. Walking faster to get away from the sounds, he quickly entered his room and shut that door just as hard. “Fuck!” he screamed to the empty room. He needed a shower. He could still feel her, smell her scent on his body. He needed to be rid of her. In the bathroom, he turned on the shower as hot as it would go. Stripping, he turned in the mirror while ripping off his clothes. On the side of his neck was a smudge of her pink lipstick. Her lips had lingered there as he was driving himself inside of her. He hated this. He hated this anger that was consuming him. He hated the way he’d spoken to her. “Aaaggghhhh,” he screamed and shut off the water. Getting dressed just as quickly as he’d undressed, he was heading for her room before he had even fastened his jeans. The short minute walk to the Red Room seemed like it took forever. Suddenly, he couldn’t get to her fast enough. How could he have said those things to her? To Sandi? He swung open the door and scanned the room for her, but didn’t see her. Assuming she was in the bathroom, he didn’t knock but entered. She wasn’t in there either.

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“Sandi?” He walked into the bedroom confused. He’d just left her mere minutes ago. She was hysterical and naked. Where could she have gone in such a short time? Her negligee was still lying on the floor next to the bed, and he had this eerie feeling that she was in there with him. My God! Was she hiding from him? He thought back to how he’d grabbed her shoulders and shouted at her. The way she’d flinched as he came toward her and shook his finger in her face. “Fuck!” He sat down in the chair by the fireplace. Resting his elbows on his knees, he put his head in his hands and took a few deep breaths. In the corner of his eye, he could see the book she was reading before she’d fallen asleep. What the hell was wrong with him? He behaved like a raving lunatic. The things he had said to her. He couldn’t believe he could ever speak that way to any woman, especially Sandi. Running his hands through his hair, he exhaled a large breath before standing. “Sandi, oh Jesus. Babe, I did not mean those things I said. Or those things I—” He stopped when something caught his eye on the other side of the bed. A painted, pink toe. “Oh shit!” Running to her, he dropped to the floor and brushed the hair from her face. “Baby, talk to me. Sandi?” He quickly scanned her body for signs of an injury of some kind. Had she hit fallen and hit her head? He couldn’t find anything other than the prints on her shoulders when he’d held her so roughly. “Help! Someone help me!” he screamed into the quiet house. “Sandi, please answer me, sweetie.” Lifting her up, he placed her on the bed. She was breathing. He could tell that much. He just didn’t know what else was wrong.

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“Baby, please talk to me. Open your eyes.” He turned his head toward the door. “Someone help me, damn it!” It donned on him then that she was still naked. He grabbed her negligee from the floor and pulled it over her head. Lifting her body, he managed to slide it down, so she was at least covered. “Sandi?” He was holding her chin in his hand, gently moving her head from side to side trying to jar her awake. “Someone! Anyone!” He was about to leave her to go find Zach or a telephone when Damon entered the room. “What the hell is all the yelling—” Derek cut him off. “Call 911, and get Zach!” “Oh my God. What happened to her?” “Call 911! Hurry! Now!” Derek screamed the words at the man who stood staring at him. “Right.” Damon ran from the room. Derek cradled Sandi in his arms and held her close, rocking her. “Baby, I’m so sorry. Jesus, I’m so damn sorry. Just wake up. Wake up and show your beautiful eyes.” Zach ran in the room moments later. “Derek, what happened?” “I don’t know.” Still rocking her, he didn’t take his eyes off of her to answer Zach. “What do you mean, you don’t know? Why is she unconscious?” “I found her like this, man. She’s so hot. She’s sweating, but clammy. Not like a fever, and she won’t open her eyes.” Tears were starting to sting the back of Derek’s eyelids. “Baby, please wake up.” He kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and her lips. Zach ran from the room. “I’ll be right back. I know what’s wrong with her.” Derek heard what he’d said, but didn’t understand. He didn’t care either. As long as she was going to be okay. That was the only thing that mattered to him.

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He continued to rain kisses all over her face, hoping and praying she would just open her eyes. “I’m so sorry.” Minutes later Zach finally returned with Damon. “Is the ambulance on its way?” Damon looked to Zach. “No.” “What the fuck do you mean no? What did they say?” He demanded an answer. Zach answered, “I told him not to call.” If Derek wasn’t holding Sandi, refusing to let her go, he would have gotten up and decked the man for even uttering the words. “Calm down, Derek. I know what’s wrong with her. She had a panic attack and hyperventilated. She’s had them before.” He handed a small packet to him. “Wave this underneath her nose a few times.” Derek figured he would argue how the hell Zach knew that and what the hell he was even talking about later. Right now, all that mattered was making sure Sandi was okay. He waved it under her nose as Zach had suggested, and within a couple passes, her eyes started to flutter. “Sandi? Oh, you scared me.” He wrapped her tighter in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Damon, get her a cool cloth,” Zach instructed as the bodyguard quickly did as he was asked. “Derek?” Sandi whispered in a shaky voice. He hated how her voice sounded so weak. “Yes, honey. I’m here. I’m right here.” “I thought you left.” He took the cold washcloth from Damon and started wiping the sweat from her dampened forehead. “I know. I came back though.” “Derek, maybe it would be best if—” Zach was cut short by him. “Get out. Leave us alone now,” he snapped at the two men. He hoped Zach and his bodyguard were not stupid enough to argue with him. They needed to leave. He had to be alone with her. Never in his life had he ever felt that amount of fear before.

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“If you need anything, just ask,” Zach said before shutting the door. Derek looked down at her and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of her looking up at him. She was wide eyed and looked a little scared, but thank God she was no longer crying. “Sweetheart, are you okay?” “You came back.” “Are you okay?” he asked her again. “I can’t believe you came back.” He smiled. “Yes. I came back. I need to know if you’re okay though.” She shook her head. “I thought you hated me. I thought—” “Shh…sweetheart, I’m sorry I said those things, okay? I didn’t mean them.” He kissed her softly on the lips. “Damn it, you scared me so bad.” A tear trailed down her cheek, and his heart just ached to kiss it away. “Don’t cry. I’m here. I’m sorry, and I’m here.” She reached her hand up and touched his face. “You are here. I can’t believe you came back.” Laughing, he kissed her again. “Believe it, babe. I came back.” Sandi reached her arms around him and held on tight. “I don’t want to wake up.” “Huh?” “I must be dreaming. I have to be.” “Oh, Sandi.” He chuckled. “You’re not dreaming.” He pulled away from her and placed another kiss on her lips. “Stay here. Don’t go anywhere, okay?” “Derek, no don’t leave.” He saw the fear in her eyes once again. “I promise that I’ll be right back.” She stared up at him. He could see how truly terrified she was. It broke his heart that he was able to inflict that amount of pain on her.

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“I promise,” he reassured her. “Just lay here. I’ll be right back.” He went into the bathroom and turned on the bathtub water. There was a small container of something which smelled like flowers. He didn’t know much about bubble baths, but he figured it was worth a shot, so he dumped a couple scoops of the small crystals into the hot water. He watched and waited for the bubbles, but nothing was happening. Sandi stood in the doorway laughing. “They’re bath salts.” Smiling, he turned to her. “Did I or did I not tell you to stay there?” She shrugged. “I wanted to see what you were doing.” “Ah, well, I was attempting to draw you a bubble bath, but I guess salt isn’t a way to do it.” They both were smiling at one another. It struck Derek as odd. It was as if the past two years of hurt had just drained from his body in that instant of thinking he might actually lose her, and not to another man, but to death. The thought sent a chill up his spine. So much so that he had to go to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her closely and kissed the top of her head. “Derek, I wish there was some way I could take back everything that I’ve done.” Still holding her, he shook his head and whispered. “Not tonight. I don’t want to think about anything tonight. I just want to hold you.” He pulled away from her. “Raise your arms,” he whispered and waited for her to do as he asked. He reached down and pulled the hem of her negligee up and pulled it up and off of her. He watched as her deep breaths made her chest rise and fall, emphasizing her beautiful, round, and full breasts. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bath. Laying her down on one end of the large oval tub, he brushed some stray hairs from her eyes before beginning to undress himself.

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Seeing her hardened nipples poking from beneath the water was making him want her all over again. The proof of that was evident when he pulled off his jeans. Sandi was watching. The intent way she stared at him with such need only made him need her more. He climbed in the bath. “Scoot forward,” he told her and pulled her into him once he was leaning back. His hardness was pressing against the small of her back. He tried to ignore the urge to be inside of her again. All he needed was to hold her. He wouldn’t use her body like he had earlier. She leaned her head against his shoulder and kissed the side of his neck. If she kept that up, he wasn’t going to be able to stop himself. “Derek,” she whispered in his ear, “make love to me.” “Sandi, babe, you have no idea how much I want to.” He turned his head and kissed her. Their tongues met and danced for a moment before the kiss turned into a full-on attack of their senses. He was on fire for her. Harder than he’d thought possible after just having her less than an hour ago and wanting to be so gentle. Yet the need to be inside of her tightness as she coaxed and massaged him to orgasm was more than he could handle. He reached his hands down and lifted her hips. She was startled by the sudden jolt and laughed while holding on to the sides of the tub for balance. Derek didn’t have to ask her, she spread her thighs apart for him willingly as he brought her down on top of him. Her head dropped back, and they both moaned as he filled her. “Derek.” Her voice was filled with pleasure. It sounded so sexy to hear her like that. So lost in the feeling of what they were doing. How they were connected. Not moving, he just held himself inside of her. She was so tight. So perfect. Kissing her neck, he couldn’t manage to get enough of her.

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He jolted to attention when he felt her Kegel muscles contracting around him. “Oh Jesus, baby.” Slowly moving her hips up and down while continuing the motion, he wondered how his sweet angel had ever learned to move her body in such ways. Quickly, he erased the question from his mind. He didn’t want to know the answer. All he wanted to do was feel. Feel her. All of her. Meeting her gentle movements, he started to rock his hips. Thrusting deeper and more rapidly than she had been. He heard her moans, not that much different than they’d been just a little while before in bed. He knew she was close. He needed her to come so bad. There was nothing he wanted more than to feel her walls convulse and contract around him with her orgasm. “Derek. Oh, Derek!” she screamed. He hadn’t been expecting her to go over the edge quite so fast. Damn if she didn’t take him with her though. A guttural howl tore from his throat. His mind and body were no match for how good it felt to have her pussy stroking his cock. Their bodies lay there lax and sated. He was still inside of her. Her pussy was still trembling around his semihard dick. He was so relaxed. His whole being felt so good and at peace being wrapped in her warmth. His eyes were shut, but he could feel her staring. He opened his and looked at her. Kissing the top of her forehead, he exhaled. “Are you okay?” She smiled. “I’m perfect.” He saw her hesitate for a minute. “What is it? Did I hurt you?” If he somehow marred this memory by being too rough, he was going to kick his own ass. “No. I just…well, what now?” He didn’t want to think about the future. He didn’t want to remember the past two years and all the pain. All that mattered was

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tonight. Nothing else. Just holding her, feeling her body close to his, and enjoying all that he had missed so much. “Now we sleep.” He saw the disappointment in her face. He knew what she wanted. He hated that he couldn’t give it to her, that he wouldn’t be able to promise her everything would be all right. Lord knew if he could, he would. The worst part was a piece of him, somewhere deep down inside, knew that he should.

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Chapter 14 When Sandi started to wake, she could hear birds chirping. Squinting, she opened her eyes to the bright sun slicing between the curtains through the window. She covered them to shield them from the harsh light. It took her a few moments for her mind to catch up until she remembered the night before. Derek. He had come back for her. They’d taken a bath together. He’d made love to her. She was finally happy after two years of being without him. The memory of being without him for so long and the desperation she felt in his absence jarred her back to reality. She quickly opened her eyes. He wasn’t in bed with her. She lay still for a moment, listening and hoping he was just in the bathroom, but she heard no sounds. For a brief second, she panicked, thinking it had all been a dream. The wonderful feeling she felt below though told her that he had been inside her, that together they had connected like they once were. Actually, if she were to be honest, she’d admit that last night was better than any night they’d ever shared before. “Derek?” she called out to the empty room. She wasn’t sure why she did. Her instinct told her that he wasn’t there. As she suspected, there was no sexy voice calling back to her. A fear struck her. It had been so wonderful lying in his arms. Where had he gone? she worried to herself. She got out of bed and went to her closet. Retrieving her pink, satin robe that Derek had bought her for the first Valentine’s Day they’d spent together.

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Putting it on, she felt a chill of discomfort. So many nights, she had used the silky feel of the fabric to sooth her sadness and envelope her with warmth. It had been one of her many ways she was able to get the heartache to subside she’d felt on so many nights she had missed Derek. Now it left her feeling uncertain and scared. The comfort was no longer there. All she could feel was anxiety. Where could he be? Why had he left? The sound of a buzz removed her from her thoughts. She hadn’t a clue where she had put her cell phone. Truth be told, she didn’t remember giving her phone a second thought since she’d arrived at Pleasure Seekers. She looked around the spacious room and tried to determine where the buzzing sound was coming from. Between the dresser and nightstand drawers and the way she had hurriedly unpacked, she didn’t have any idea where it could be. Just as she was about to start rummaging through the different possibilities, the buzzing stopped. “Great,” she said aloud to herself. “Now how am I going to find it?” She shrugged it off, deciding it didn’t matter. She needed to shower and make herself look pretty for Derek. He may have left her after the night they shared, but when she saw him again, she wanted him to think of her as beautiful and utterly irresistible. The bathroom looked so much bigger and colder than it had last night. It had reminded her of luxury and elegance when she had first set sight on it. After sharing the bath with Derek and the way they’d made love, it made her ache for that warmth that consumed her as she felt his body enter hers. “Oh, Derek. God, I love you so much.” A tiny tear trailed down her cheek when she made the quiet declaration. She opened the large glass door to the walk in shower and turned the nozzle. She jumped a little and was startled when several jets of water shot out at her arm from all different directions. A cursory glance showed her there were five in total. One on each of the three

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walls, one overhead, and a lower one shooting almost upward on the wall with the nozzles. Her mind couldn’t help but flash to images of what Derek’s lean and taut muscular body would look like with all that water shooting down on it. With a deep sigh, she removed her robe and let it fall to the floor. She stepped in and refused to let the stinging, salty secretions, which were pushing to break free, from showing themselves and falling from her eyes. She poured a generous amount of shampoo in her palm and began lathering it all over. In the past, Derek had always loved to smell her hair when holding her. Because of his height, her hair had always met with his nose, and it just became something she could always remember him doing. Almost out of routine or habit, every time she was snuggled against him, she could hear him deeply inhale, and she knew what he was doing. After scrubbing and thoroughly washing her long hair, she rinsed it and reached for her deep conditioning rinse. Since she had so much hair, she was never the kind of woman who would be able to ever go a washing without something to get through the massive amounts which would tangle and snarl. Once the conditioning rinse was sitting, she reached for her glycerin body bar. It was hard to not smile at the memory of Derek teasing her the first time he had seen the orange-colored, translucent bar. It had no scent and was a boring rectangular bar which contradicted everything else about her. Her lotions and perfumes all were very feminine and girly, but her mama had taught her the importance of skin care from a very young age. “You can change your hair color, diet, and exercise, but your skin is who you are. Keep it radiant, young, and beautiful and you will always be the envy of anyone in a room,” her mother used to drill in her head over and over.

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Admittedly, her mother and father were both superficial people and the opposite of what any child should have growing up. Their idea of nurturing was to provide a nice home and lots of material possessions. They had always believed that beauty was in how people perceived them. It was about presence, stature, and everything else that should matter was merely hogwash. Or at least that was what her father had said. Lathering up her body, she was brought back to memories of those first few weeks dating Derek. He was a complete contradiction to everything she was taught while growing up. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t worried about presenting herself a certain way. Instead, it became about having fun, meeting new people, making friends, and smiling. Until that first summer with Derek, she hadn’t known what it was like to truly smile. Sure, she had smiled for cameras and appearances’ sake. Never had she smiled from the inside though. Never before then had she smiled because her heart was smiling as well. Their first summer together was such a beautiful time. It still sickened her to no end that she screwed everything up so badly. How could she ever think she wanted another man? She tried to quiet her thoughts as the water beat down on her. Her nerves were still on edge wondering why Derek had left. It took everything she had to not run to his room when she awoke alone. Rinsing the last of the conditioner from her hair, she applied a second generous amount of conditioner, making sure to deeply massage it into the ends. Another trick she picked up from dear old Mom. Despite all of her mother’s flaws, she did teach her proper grooming and care. She laughed out loud at the thought. The description made her mother sound like a dog groomer. Though in some ways, she could look at her years growing up as nothing more than a dog and pony show. Look this way, act that way, sit up straight, smile politely, but do not show those teeth, the rules of proper behavior were endless.

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Finishing with her shower, she stood in the steam enclosure while looking out at the bathtub. How many nights like last night had she wasted? she wondered. Shaking her head, she silently chastised herself for being so self-absorbed. She had to get past it and just do whatever it took to get him back. Enough of the drama and self-pity. It was her own fault they had missed out on the past two years, but only she could change it and prove to him that she would never be so foolish again. Minutes later, she was applying her favorite hyacinth and sweet pea body lotion when she heard a horn honking. The first time she heard it, she hadn’t thought too much of it, but the second and third honk piqued her curiosity. Picking up her brush to finish running it through her hair, she walked over to the window to look outside. A moment of dread filled her when her eyes met with the yellow cab and Derek loading a suitcase in the trunk. “No!” She shouted the word as she grabbed her robe, putting it on and hurriedly tying it while running for the door. She ignored the few people she passed in the hallway who gave her a polite hello. She did not have time for casual greetings and pleasantries. She had to stop Derek from leaving. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she had a strange feeling of tunnel vision. The front door seemed suddenly so much further away. Her heart was pounding fast. Too fast. She flung the door open and caught a final glimpse of the cab turning the corner as it left the large estate. Dropping to her knees on the hot concrete, she tried to yell his name, but was unable. There was a lump stuck in her throat. She could barely breathe through her tears and sobbing. How many minutes passed, she wasn’t sure, when she felt a gentle yet firm grasp on her shoulder. She looked up to see Zach staring down at her with a look of regret. “Sandi, come inside.”

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Despite the glaring sun, she couldn’t look away from him. “Why?” She hesitated for a moment before continuing. “We made love last night. Why did he leave me?” “Oh, sweetie, I don’t know.” He reached down and helped her up to a standing position before adjusting her robe which was gaping open. “Call him, Zach. Please! Call him and make him come back.” She knew her request sounded pathetic, but she didn’t care. “He requested that I don’t. Instead, he asked me to give you this.” Reaching in his pants pocket, he pulled out an envelope which had been folded in half. She allowed him to place the note in her hand, uncertain whether she’d ever want to read it. Her hands were shaking. So much so it was all she could do just to hold onto it. “I love him, Zach. I do. I screwed up so bad before, but I truly love him.” Her words came out between cries. “Shh. I know you do, sweetie.” He placed a comforting arm around her and kissed her cheek. “I know you do.” “It’s not enough though, is it? My love for him, my apologies, my pleas, it’s not enough.” “I guess not, honey. It should be though. Everyone makes mistakes. It should be enough.” He squeezed his arm around her a little tighter. Sandi walked the endless journey to her bedroom with Zach’s arm snugly around her. She had stopped crying. She thought so, anyway. She couldn’t be sure. She was numb and couldn’t even feel her bare feet touching the cold tiled floor with every step. Zach had stayed with her in the room for a few minutes, laying out some clothes for her and seeing to it that she was taken care of. She wanted to smile and thank him for his kindness but couldn’t find the strength. Once he was gone, she stared at the envelope, which was now nearly crumpled from being clutched in her hand like a lifeline.

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Hesitantly and very slowly, she opened it up, pulling out the one page which was folded into thirds. As she unfolded the single sheet, she had a sickening feeling that everything they shared in the end only amounted to a small note, not deserving of many words. She took a calming breath before she began to read it. Sandi, By the time you get this letter, I will be gone. You are a beautiful woman who would make any man incredibly happy. That man can never be me though. You destroyed any faith I had in you. I may be a hard man and one who is difficult at times, but I loved you. That should have been enough for you. Please don’t contact me. It’s too late. The damage is done and I will never trust you again. Take care, Derek A pain unlike anything she’d ever felt welled up inside her. That was it? That was all she got after everything they had shared the past couple of days? She knew she’d hurt him, but she also knew how much he cared for her. How could he leave her with a note that said so little and ended with a “take care”?

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Chapter 15 Derek walked into the office of his restaurant, Travis’s Steakhouse, hoping to get his mind off of Sandi. He hadn’t slept since he’d arrived home yesterday afternoon, and here it was approaching sunrise, and he was coming in to work. He did a cursory glance around the room. It smelled of apples and cinnamon, a favorite potpourri blend of Ann’s, his brother’s new bride. He threw his keys on the sideboard next to the door and walked around to his desk. He had to steel himself against the memory of Sandi sitting on the desk so many nights, begging him to hurry and finish with his work, so they could take a walk in the nearby open prairie or even catch a movie at the small, local cinema. Sitting down in his chair, the red flash of his answering machine caught his eye. Seven messages? Ann always stayed at night to balance that day’s business books. She was meticulous about not leaving anything undone before she went home for the evening. He glanced at his watch, and it was not quite five o’clock. Curiosity poked at him as he reached over and hit play, wondering who could’ve left seven messages in a matter of probably not more than eight hours. The obnoxious, robotic sound of the machine’s voice first announced that he had seven new messages before the first beep sounded. “Derek, oh, baby, please call me. How could you leave? I love you.”

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A wave of nausea swept through him so quickly, he wondered if he needed to run to the bathroom. Then he heard the sound of the second beep. “Derek, please! I screwed up. I know, but I’m so sorry. I’ll never ever hurt you again. You’re everything to me.” His jaw clenched, and he closed his eyes. He’d waited for so long to hear that from her. Why did it have to be too late now? Messages three, four, five, and six were more of the same. With each message, she seemed to be more upset. Her voice quieter, more strained as though she’d been crying all night. He could hear her sniffle, and he hated that. Just because he could never trust her again didn’t mean he wanted her to be unhappy or upset. He wanted her to be happy and have a wonderful life. That life could just never be with him. Ever. He was startled out of his thoughts by the sound of Zach’s voice on the seventh message. “Dude, you are an asshole! No, correction, you are a dumb-fuck prick who finally got what he wanted and is throwing it away because of his damn pride! I’d tell you she hasn’t eaten or slept since she woke up yesterday morning and found you had left her. I’d tell you that she has done nothing but sit in a chair staring out her bedroom window since you left just waiting for you to return. I’d even tell you that she is broken because of you. I’d tell you all of that, plus a whole lot more, if I thought there was any chance in hell a selfish, son of a bitch like yourself gave a flying fuck!” That was all Zach said before slamming the receiver down so hard, the loud echo of it literally made the answering machine’s tiny speaker send out a terrible screeching feedback sound. His hand hovered over the play button. He normally would just delete messages once he’d heard them, but the urge to save Sandi’s urgent pleas for him to come back to her was too tempting. For so long he’d ached for her, wanting to hear her say she loved him, and he

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was all that mattered. The sound in her voice though, the pain her words were laced with, was too much. He instead hit delete. Turning on the computer sitting in front of him, he decided he’d make himself some coffee while he waited for the dinosaur desktop to boot up. Just because he wasn’t sleeping didn’t mean he wasn’t exhausted. Every time he’d attempted to close his eyes, visions of Sandi and their last couple of days together flooded his mind, filling him with an urgency and need to go back to her. Something he could not and would not allow. Minutes later, he sat back down in front of the screen. A large swig of his coffee told him that Ann must have switched brands in his short sabbatical because this wasn’t his usual black-as-tar, peel-paintoff-the-walls coffee that he loved so much. A small grin curved up the sides of his mouth. She complained about the stuff constantly, saying the dark liquid wasn’t fit for human consumption. He figured she probably waited a total of five seconds after he walked out the door before she switched it. He clicked on the icon for the book system they use, curious to see how they’d been doing the past few days. His eyes were pleased with the numbers in black at the bottom of the screen. Ann might have come into their lives by chance, but she’d been the best thing to ever happen to his brother and the best manager he could have ever hoped for in this restaurant. The thought of his brother’s happiness jarred him back to memories of Sandi. Again. “Fuck!” He hated this. Was she ever going to be out of his mind? Would he ever be able to forget her and just move on with his life? He hated to admit it, but he didn’t think he ever would. When she’d left him, he had prayed for one more night with her. Just a chance to show her how good they were together. He told himself that he would give anything for that opportunity, and here he’d had that chance, and it obviously worked. She was doing and saying

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everything he had hoped she would. So why in the hell couldn’t he just accept it and be with her? Shaking his head, he knew there was no answer. He’d tried to rationalize it several times on the plane flying back to Texas. There was no rationalization though. At the end of the day, it didn’t matter how much he wanted her, needed her, or loved her. There was no way he would ever be able to trust her again, and that was a chance with his heart he couldn’t take. Hours must have passed as he was going over miscellaneous paperwork and things that he and Ann normally put off until they had extra time on their hands because his concentration was broken by the sound of someone clearing their throat. He looked up to see his brother standing in the doorway. Derek leaned back in his chair and gave his brother a knowing nod. He knew what was coming. From the look on his face, his brother was pissed about something. What that something was, he didn’t know, but he knew the temper and the warning signs. “This should be good,” Derek muttered under his breath. “Shut up!” Quinn snapped back. “Jesus H, man, what in the hell has got your panties in a bunch this time?” Quinn shut the door and came toward him. Leaning over the desk, he placed both palms down and answered his question. “Would you like to explain to me why you bothered pining over that woman for so long if the second you get her back, you throw her away?” “Sandi?” Derek wondered how he knew what had happened. He’d only gotten home yesterday afternoon. He went nowhere and saw no one, locking himself in his house. “Don’t play stupid. Yes, Sandi. What the hell is wrong with you?” “Wait, I’m confused. How in the hell do you know what happened with Sandi and I?”

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Quinn shook his head, clearly annoyed. “She called here last night looking for you. Ann answered.” “Oh, shit. Ann answered?” Derek knew that wasn’t good. Ann was a hopeless romantic. “Yes, and I spent the majority of the night listening to my new wife think of a million ways to get you and your beloved back together again. If you ask me, you don’t deserve her. But what the fuck do I know?” Derek hadn’t been expecting that. “Excuse me? I don’t deserve her, huh? How do you figure that?” “Oh, come on, man. You spend all that time being lovesick over a woman who you claim you can’t live without, and when you finally get her back, you tell her to fuck off?” Quinn shook his head. “I did not tell her to fuck off! Is that what she told Ann?” “No. She didn’t tell her that, but for all intents and purposes, it sounds like you did. I mean, you sleep with a woman whom you supposedly would’ve given anything to get back, who obviously loves you, and you throw her away. Sounds like a typical fuck off to me.” He was growing tired of his brother’s attitude. This was none of his damn business. “Look, I know your wife is a sweetheart. You know I love Ann, too, but it’s not your business. Stay out of it!” He took a drink of cold coffee and winced before continuing. “And by the way, who says I slept with her? You don’t know shit.” The mocking glare Quinn gave him told him his brother knew him too well. “Yeah, all right. I slept with her. That still doesn’t make it your damn business.” Quinn sighed and turned his head when he heard the sound of voices coming from the kitchen. “Shut the damn door,” Derek told him. Quinn did as he asked and turned back to face his brother. Leaning back against the door, he crossed one leg over the other and followed suit with his arms.

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“Derek, it is my business. You’re my brother, man.” He put up a hand to stop him from interrupting. “No, hear me out.” “Fine.” He didn’t really have the patience for this, but he knew his brother. Come hell or high water, he would have his say. “Do you still love her?” Well, shit! He so did not want to have this talk with his brother. “Not important.” “Yes, it is,” Quinn persisted. “No it isn’t.” Quinn raised an eyebrow at him. “You wanna do this all day? I got all the time in the world, bro.” “What the fuck? What do you want? Why the hell do you care if I love her?” He was getting pissed now. He really did not want to have this discussion. Quinn laughed and continued. “Because, dear brother, if you do love her, letting her go could be the biggest mistake of your life. I know it, and I think, deep down, you know it, too.” He sat there staring at his brother. He wanted to say something curt and tell him to leave, but he knew that even if he threw him physically out the door, he’d just get back up again, dust himself off, and march right back in here again like the persistent little bastard that he was. “What’s the matter? I hit a nerve?” Quinn asked. “Don’t be smug, little brother. You almost lost the woman you loved, too. Need I remind you? It wasn’t that long ago after all.” It was a dig and a low blow because he knew how hard it had been on his brother when he’d almost lost Ann. He didn’t care though. This was none of his brother’s business, and it was really starting to piss him off that he was standing there all smug trying to give him life lessons. “Ah, indeed I did, big brother, indeed I did. But you’re forgetting something very important.” He was really trying Derek’s patience. “And what might that be?”

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“The key word in that sentence is that I almost lost her. At the end of the day, I bucked the fuck up and did what I had to do to make sure that never happened. Because all that mattered was I loved her and she loved me, and everything else seemed pretty damn stupid in comparison.” “Easy for you to say.” Smiling, Quinn answered, “Yep, I know. Very easy for me to say? I’m married to the woman of my dreams, I love her more than anything in this world, even your stubborn ass, and I’m happy. Can you say the same thing?” Derek sat there staring at his brother, who cockily gave him a nod and a smile before walking out of the office. He was right. He knew if he separated his feelings for Sandi from the hurt she caused that he’d see things more clearly, but for whatever reason, he couldn’t. He had tried so hard in the past couple of days. No matter how much he loved her, he could not find a way to get past the pain she caused. It killed him when she left. It destroyed him every time he thought of another man touching her or…His hand clenched around the coffee cup so hard, he thought he may break it. It was just no good. How could he love her so much but still have so much anger and hatred inside of him? He just couldn’t understand it. A year ago, hell, even a month ago, he would have done anything to have Sandi in his life again, not to mention his arms. So why the hell was it that as soon as he had her, he was willing to give her up and just toss her aside? Quinn was right about that part. He was throwing her away. The bitch of it was, he didn’t want to. The unbearable tightness in his jeans told him that his body was winning the argument over his brain. He wanted to bury himself inside of her right this very minute. It didn’t matter how much she hurt him or the betrayal he had felt after she left him for another man. He could not erase the feeling he got when he was with her.

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He heard the sound of Quinn’s truck start in the parking lot outside his office window. The arrogant, little twerp grew up to be one smart man. He smiled for just a second, wondering where the hell he’d gotten it from. Lord knew their father had been the biggest ass when it came to women, and their mothers were lovely women but held little in the department of teaching their sons the importance of what is right and wrong in a relationship. Placing his hands behind his head, he propped his feet up on the desk. Could that be it? Was his childhood and seeing what his mother went through with his father the reason for his refusal to forgive and forget? “Damn it!” he shouted to the empty room. He wanted to believe Sandi. He wanted to be okay with her again. He wanted to hold her and make love to her. So why in the hell did he get his ass on a plane and leave the only woman he’s ever loved? If there was an answer, he would really like to hear it because as sure as he sat there, he knew there was no God damn good answer to that question.

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Chapter 16 She heard the knock on her door, but ignored it. It was probably just Zach or one of the other house staff he has sent to check on her countless times in the past few days. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. She just wanted to be left alone. Turning a page, she went on to read the next chapter in her book. “Go away,” she yelled after a second knock came. “Can’t do that, Sandi. Now open this door.” “Zach?” It was definitely his voice she heard, but there was something else in it that sounded like he was angry. She got up from the chair, carefully placing the ribbon bookmark in its place, so she’d know just where she left off. When a third knock came, along with Zach’s insistent demands that she answer, she hurried toward the door, opening it for him. “What’s the matter?” Zach stormed in the room, taking the door and slamming it. “That’s what I’d like to know!” he shouted. Startled by his anger, she took a few steps back. “Zach, I don’t know why you’re so upset but I—” “Oh save it.” He shook his head and stopped her from talking, “I just got finished talking to the kitchen staff. It seems you’ve barely eaten enough for a bird to sustain itself in days.” She sighed as his curt words interrupted her. “Zach, please don’t start. I haven’t been very hungry.” “I don’t fucking care, God damn it!” “Pardon me?”

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“You heard me, Sandi. This is getting old. I’m allowing you to stay here at no cost. People spend hundreds, sometimes thousands to become a part of the experience we offer here.” “Zach—” “No! Not another word. You’re going to listen to me, and you’re not going to like it, but you will hear every word I say. Do you understand me?” She went back over to her chair when he motioned for her to sit. Once comfortable, she looked up at him and nodded, albeit hesitantly, waiting for the scolding to begin. “Look, Sandi. I care about you. I think you are a very sweet person who has been through some very unfortunate turns in her life, but enough is enough. You have got to get your shit together. Derek is not coming back.” Hearing him say it struck a nerve that she hadn’t felt in at least two days. Tears welled up in her eyes. “No, you will not, do you hear me? You will not cry! The son of a bitch doesn’t deserve your tears.” She quickly interrupted him. “He is not that! Don’t call him that! Ever!” He raised his eyebrows at her. “Oh, you don’t like hearing that, huh?” She wasn’t sure why he looked pleased with himself, but she was not happy. She was furious. “How dare you call him that!” “How dare I call him that, you ask? Heh! What a joke. Okay, sweetheart, I’ll tell you how. I call him that because he is one!” She started to get up from her chair. “Sit down!” he shouted. “I don’t have to sit here and listen to this, Zach!” He gave her an agreeing nod. “Nope, you’re right. You do not have to sit here and listen to it. Why don’t you pack your bags and go mope somewhere else? Because I am sick and tired of watching a beautiful, young woman like yourself live her life in her own world of

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self-induced pity just because that prick, Derek Travis, is too stupid to know a good thing when he sees it.” She watched as he rapidly made his speech, and his face got redder. “Zach, are you all right?” He took a deep breath and sat on the bed across the room. Shaking his head, he answered, “No. No, sweetie, I’m not.” “Can I get you something? Do you need a glass of water?” She started to get up without even waiting for him to answer. “Sandi, stop. I’m physically okay. But I cannot sit idly by while I watch you literally dwindle away into nothing. I get that he broke your heart, but the staff tells me you’ve barely eaten anything in days. That’s not good, honey. You have to eat. You have to at least sustain yourself until you figure out what you’re going to do. Do you understand that?” She wanted to argue with him and tell him she had eaten, that she has been taking care of herself, but she knew that it would be a lie. Instead, she hung her head and covered her face. They sat there in silence for the longest time. She couldn’t look back up at him. She wasn’t crying. She couldn’t find the tears. She was just so tired and numb. It was almost like she could no longer feel. When she felt his reassuring hand smooth her hair down, she looked up at him. “Sweetie, I know you love him. And I think on some level, he loves you, too, but the truth of the matter is, Derek Travis is too far gone in his own anger to give you what you need, or more importantly, what you deserve.” “I know.” She stood up and held onto him. His friendly embrace was so comforting to her. Zach had always been so kind to her since the day she’d first met him. She pulled away just a bit and looked at him. “Do you think he ever will? Be able to get past his anger, I mean?”

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Zach shook his head and gave her a somber look. “I don’t know, honey. I just don’t know.” When he tried to pull her back into a hug, first his hand and then his watch got caught in her hair. They both laughed as he spent over a minute trying to detach himself from her tangled locks. “Sandi, you are a beautiful woman, but”—he took a deep sniff before he smiled at her—“you really need to take a shower. You’re a mess!” “Hey!” She shoved him, but giggled because she knew he was right. “Sorry, but you stink!” She was laughing so hard she couldn’t believe she’d spent the past days so miserable. He was absolutely right. She couldn’t wallow in her misery her whole life. “Oh fine. I’ll take a shower.” “Good, then meet me in the dining room in an hour. I’m going to get your boney ass to eat something if it’s the last thing I do.” He gave her butt a good smack before leaving. **** An hour later, she entered the dining area to find Zach sitting there reading the newspaper. He peeked over the top of it and gave her a wink. “Have a seat,” he told her while folding it up and setting it beside his plate. She eyed all the food lying out on the table. “Wow. Are we expecting an army?” He gave her a smirk. “No, but this is about the amount of food you’d let go to waste in the past few days. I had the help dig it out of the trash.” “You wouldn’t dare.”

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“Oh? Wouldn’t I? It doesn’t come cheap to run a place this size after all. I’ve got to cut corners wherever I can.” She almost believed his poker face for a second until she saw one corner of his mouth turn up and twitch as he tried to fight his smile. “You brat!” She laughed. “I almost believed you for a second.” He raised a glass of juice to her in salute. “I’m so glad to see you smiling again. I know these past few days have been hard on you, but it will get better, sweetie.” She reached over and covered his hand with hers. “Thank you, Zach. You really are too good to me. Do you know that?” “Pffftt…nonsense, woman! Now eat!” He motioned with his hands toward all the food. Smiling, she picked up a leg of the fried chicken. She remembered telling Zach it was her favorite of all foods that one should never eat. It was also one of the most requested items on the menu at Derek’s restaurant. She shook the thought from her mind as quickly as it appeared though. No longer could she dwell on him. He had left her this time. After only a couple days, he left her with a meaningless note that meant little and explained nothing. She had to find a way to move on with her life. If there was ever proof that she was hanging onto something that was no longer there, that note he left her was it. Derek Travis just simply did not care for her anymore. Thirty minutes later, they were sitting there, practically in tears from laughing so hard as they told each other silly jokes and random stories about one another. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I ate way too much. While I couldn’t possibly hit the treadmill right now for fear I’d probably throw up all over it, I could probably stand a good and hard workout in a few hours. Are you game?” Zach said. “Work out with you? Wow, I don’t know. You’re pretty fit. Something tells me that I’m more of a beginner”

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“Nah. You’re too hard on yourself. I’m fit, yes. But I’ve got my routine down and kept to it for so many years it hardly feels like work now.” She laughed and shook her head at him. “How does that help your argument?” “I guess it doesn’t.” He chuckled. “Oh shut it, woman! Just meet me in the gym in about”—he checked his watch—“say four hours.” “Something tells me I’m going to regret this, but okay.” “Oh, you’ll love it. Besides, after all that food you ate, you better do something, Miss Piggy.” She reached over with a smile and smacked his arm. “Oh really? Well, you weren’t exactly holding back. Maybe you need the workout more than I do. You easily ate two times what I did. So there!” Playfully, she stuck her tongue out at him. “I don’t have to look good. I can get it whenever I want it.” He stuck his tongue out back at her. She sat there for a moment. Her smile slightly faded. She wondered why she never saw him with a woman. It seemed odd to her now that she thought about it that a man who spent so much time, money, and energy into a place dedicated for people to find sexual satisfaction did nothing to satisfy his own needs. “Did I say something wrong?” he inquired. “No. I’m sorry, I was just thinking, but it’s probably much too personal.” She watched as he raised an inquisitive brow at her and settled back in his chair. “Is that so? Well, try me.” “Are you sure? I don’t want to offend or upset you.” Smiling, he answered, “Yes, Sandi. I’m sure. I’ve got pretty thick skin. What’s the matter?” She thought about it for a second before responding, but decided to just go for it. He had been very good to her. Maybe she could be just as good of a friend for him as well.

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“I was just wondering why I never seem to see you with a…um…I guess you could call it a date?” She was surprised by his loud roar of laughter. “What’s so funny?” Still laughing, he got up from his seat and walked over to her. Gently kissing her on the cheek, he then whispered into her ear. “My dear, just because you do not see me with a date, does not mean I do not have them.” He winked and walked toward the double doors which led out into the hallway. “Oh really?” She was amused by his answer. Turning back, he replied. “Yes. Oh really. Now go rest up. You’re going to need it. See you in the gym in four hours. Do not be late!” All she could do was smile as he left. She may have lost Derek, the only man she has ever loved, but at least she had a friend like Zach to keep her on a good path.

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Chapter 17 Derek closed the door to the stable and took a deep breath of the clean air surrounding him. It had been probably over a year since he had gotten on a horse. The freedom felt good. Just riding for a few hours without a care in the world. Nothing to think about. Nothing to decide. Warren, the stable manager, was bringing a mare around the side of the fence when he spotted Derek and stopped dead in his tracks. “Well, I’ll be a pig in mud. If it isn’t the famous, or should I say, the infamous Derek Travis.” Derek smiled at the man he’d grown affectionately to know as one of the most arrogant and cocky men around town. At least that was what all the ladies claimed. Funny thing was, for every time he heard a woman complain about their town Lothario, they were all too willing to be his next date. Warren tied the mare up to a post while it drank from a trough of water and walked over to him, extending his hand out. “How the hell have you been?” He gave him a firm handshake back, knowing all too well from experience that Warren was the old-fashioned, rugged cowboy type. The kind who would break his hand in a death grip of a shake if he gave him too much leeway. “Not too bad, partner. How are things with old man Jenkins? He still a cranky, old bastard?” Warren spit a hunk of chewing tobacco to the side and nodded. “Yeah, he’s an ornery one, that guy. You know him though. Approaching eighty and still thinks he can do it all.”

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“Eighty? Shit, really? Damn, I had no idea he was that old.” Warren gave a mocking shudder as he held onto his cowboy hat and looked around. “Careful, man. We don’t use the O word around here. He starts throwing things and cursing and shit like that.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “Cursing and shit like that, huh?” “Yep. Anyway, man. What the hell have you been up to? I’ve been to the restaurant a handful of times, but I don’t think I’ve seen you there in months. Where you been hiding?” “I’m usually there. Just working in the back, taking care of the books and stuff.” “Books, huh? I heard your brother’s fine-looking new wifey, Ann, does the books just fine.” Derek knew from the look on Warren’s face that there was hidden sexual innuendo all over that comment. “Yes, Ann is a sweet woman and does a great job.” He put extra emphasis on the word “sweet” because their good buddy had a reputation for not caring if a woman was taken or even married. “All right, man. I get it. Don’t gotta tell me that anyway. I’ve seen the way the woman looks at your brother. Damnedest sight I’ve ever seen, too. It’s like watching a puppy dog on those commercials for adoption. All mushy and shit like that.” He shook his head. Warren was a good guy to have a few beers with. He helped them more than a few times with some bar fights that got out of hand at the Roadhouse, but the rest of him saw the world a bit skewed. He remembered growing up, they’d all tease him for being such a hard-ass at such a young age, telling him his mama never held him enough. “That shit that you’re referring to is called love. Maybe if you softened up a little bit and quit bedding every available honey in town, you might just find it someday.” Warren gave him a firm smack on his upper arm. “No thanks, man. I’ve seen what so-called love can do to a man. Hell, look at what

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that broad did to you. She done fucked you up good. You even gotten laid since then?” Derek could feel his blood boil as a fury rose within him. Without even thinking about it, he brought his arm back and with a fluid and quick motion nailed the son of a bitch in his jaw. He must have hit him good and hard because, despite Warren’s size, he fell back on the ground with a loud thump, causing the dry dirt to fly up in a cloud of dust around them. The mare, which was just a few feet from him, shuffled back and away from the skirmish, making noises of distress. Rubbing his jaw, Warren looked up at him. “What the hell did you hit me for?” “Do not ever call her a broad or refer to her in such a disrespectful way again! Do you understand me?” Every word was laced with anger. He wanted his message heard loud and clear. “God damn.” Warren got up from the ground and brushed himself off. “Yeah, I understand you. But shit, man, you didn’t gotta hit me.” “Yes, I did. She’s not just some broad, and maybe if you pulled your head out of your ass for more than taking care of Jenkin’s stables, you’d see that most women are pretty fucking spectacular, and not all of them are just some piece of ass for you to get your rocks off with.” “Well, I’ll be…” Warren smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re still in love with that broad…err…I mean, woman.” He considered his options. Sure, he could’ve denied it. It wasn’t Warren’s business, and damn it, he didn’t really even want to think about it, but maybe that was his problem. Maybe he wasn’t thinking enough? Or maybe he was over-thinking the pain too much. Had he dwelled on it for so long that he forgot how to feel? “Yeah, I do love her.” Spitting another chunk of tobacco out on the ground, his smug friend gave him a smirk. “Well then, what the hell are you doing here with me?”

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He had to laugh. Warren was a hard-ass and had nothing but rough edges, but he was always a wise man. “I’ve no God damn idea, buddy.” “Well, go on then, get! I’ve seen enough of your ugly mug to last me a whole other year.” Warren made shooing motions with his hands while he untied the horse from where it was drinking. Derek headed toward his truck and stopped about halfway there. Turning back, he shouted. “Hey, Warren.” Looking over, the man yelled back. “What, man? Ain’t you left yet? Damn, I know the ladies call me the cat’s meow, but I ain’t into men, so go on and go get that woman who’s got y’all tongue tied.” He gave his arrogant and cocky friend a nod and went on his way. No words needed to be said. He knew Warren was a man of few words. He not only understood his old buddy’s apology, but it was accepted. No harm no foul was something Warren would always say. Starting his truck, he had to laugh as he thought about it. It was something he’d heard him say every time he was down on the ground after being decked by some guy whose woman he had screwed around with. “Crazy SOB,” he muttered. He took a quick glance at his watch. It was nearly three o’clock in the afternoon. If he packed in a hurry and booked a flight while he was en route to the airport, he might just be able to catch a flight out of there that evening. And with any luck, Sandi would still be there. He prayed he could make her understand. She may have hurt him in the past, but he knew he had hurt her just as bad when he’d left. He tried not to think of the voice messages she’d left that first night he was gone. He didn’t want to think of her sadness. He only wanted to concentrate on making things right between them. If there was one thing he learned in all of this, it was that time, distance, and all the pain in the world could not and did not erase his love for her. She was his everything. “Hang on, baby. I’m coming back.”

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Chapter 18 Sandi awoke from a nap. She had a slight headache from the stress of the past few days, but for some reason she didn’t feel sad. At least not like she had. It was strange. She almost felt peaceful. She took a look at the small brass clock sitting on her nightstand and was surprised that she’d only slept for about forty-five minutes. As tired as she was, she’d figured she’d sleep at least a couple of hours. Feeling thirsty, she took a drink from her bottle of water. With her head tilted back, she caught a glimpse of the book she had been reading, Tristan and Isolde. Instantly, the book reminded her of Derek, but something was different this time. The ache, the familiar pain she’d felt for the past several days and so many months prior to him coming back in her life, was not there. It surprised her to think she no longer felt sad. Her love for him was just as strong as ever. She would give anything to be in his arms again. So then why was she so at ease? Surely it couldn’t have been the food she’d eaten or the short nap. Not even Zach’s charming company was that powerful. So why did she suddenly feel, okay? While the inner peace surprised her, she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the face. Her body was a little sore and tense from the stress of the past few days, not to mention the lovemaking with Derek. Quickly, she shook her head, removing the thoughts from her mind knowing that if she gave it too much space to occupy in her innermost psyche, she would go back to the gut wrenching pain of him not being there. She had a couple hours still before she had to meet Zach in the gym, and if her memory served her correctly, she remembered there

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being a hot tub on one of the adjoining rooms when she’d had her initial tour of Pleasure Seekers. The idea of sitting in hot, jetted water sounded perfect, so she grabbed her swimsuit out of the dresser drawer and changed. She brushed her hair back, putting it in a high ponytail, a subconscious habit instilled to her by her mother who had preached about the damages of chlorine to hair follicles, more times than she could count. Then she grabbed one the fluffy, terrycloth robes that were inscribed with the initials PS. Tying it snugly around her waist, she headed out of her room and to the east end of the house where the gym and spa were. **** Zach laid his towel on one of the chairs along the wall. He was careful to be quiet, wanting to surprise Aiden. He wasn’t quite sure if Aiden would be up for a threesome, but the kid had said he wanted more and seemed very willing to please, so this would serve as his little test. Besides, Zach thought to himself as he rubbed his already hardened cock, it had been too long since he’d been with multiple partners. He liked his private interludes, but there was something about having two or more partners that his body craved. He knelt down behind Aiden. His head was rested back, and his eyes were closed. He placed a gentle kiss to the man’s forehead and watched in amusement as his eyes opened and lit up with first surprise then excitement. “Zach, you startled me,” he said while turning his head to face him. His cock twitched when the Aiden’s eyes widened upon seeing him sans trunks, hard, and inches from his face. Smiling, Zach asked, “What’s wrong? You look surprised by something? Have I offended you? Perhaps I should go put something on?”

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He knew he was teasing him, but he couldn’t help himself. He loved it. The hungry look in his eyes was more than a turn-on. It wasn’t his style to be needy for attention, but the way Aiden looked at him, like he’d die if he didn’t suck on his cock, got him off. He felt no shame in that. “No. Please don’t,” Aiden whispered the response. As cute as he was with his need for him, Zach wanted him to come out of his damn shell. He acted like he was scared to say what he really wanted, and if one thing was for sure, Zach liked someone who knew what they wanted and took it. “Hmm…I’m not sure. Maybe I should. I mean, I’m hard and need to fuck really bad. It’s selfish of me to interrupt your relaxing soak in the hot tub.” Despite the words he was saying, his actions said something different. He stroked himself as the hungry man in front of him licked his lips. “You need to…you want…” He stuttered. Oh Jesus, Zach thought. What the hell is it going to take to get this guy to say what he wants? “Yes, Aiden. I need and I want to fuck.” He looked down at his hand tightly wrapped around his penis. “Is it not obvious?” Aiden said nothing, only nodded. Zach considered his options. He could continue to tease the guy in hopes he eventually snapped and opened his damn mouth, or he could just wait for Colton to show up and take him in the locker room. As much as he was a man of patience, he also was a man who didn’t play games. He removed his hand and left himself jutting out toward the nervous man’s face. Take the damn invitation! Zach thought as he watched the man’s mouth literally water with thirst for him. He was about to get up in frustration when Aiden groaned aloud. He looked down and saw a droplet of pre-cum sitting on the tip of his head. “Oh for fuck’s sake! What the fuck do you want?” Zach asked him annoyed.

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“I want to suck on you,” he nervously replied. Shaking his head, Zach got up from his squatted position, took two steps into the hot tub, and sat on the edge. Without warning, he grabbed Aiden by the back of his head. He tugged at his hair and pulled him in between his thighs. “Then fucking do it!” he demanded. “Suck me off!” Any other time, he might have been more patient and a bit kinder, but waiting for Aiden to figure out what the hell he wanted pushed his restraint too far. His dominant side was showing now. He didn’t give Aiden much of a choice either. With his hand on the back of his head, he pushed him into his groin, his actions telling him exactly what to do. He rested his hands back on the cool tiled floor of the room, his body leaning back as Aiden alternated between licking and sucking on his balls and penis. As good as it felt, he needed more. He fought the urge to drive into Aiden’s mouth to the back of his throat. He reined back his lust and waited. One way or another, he would get what he wanted, and soon. If Aiden wasn’t into it, he could definitely count on Colton to please him. He smiled at the memory of his last encounter with Colton. They met up at a bar in Chicago for some drinks and ended up spending two days in a hotel room together with nothing but room service and hot, sweaty bodies. His memories were interrupted by the sound of a door creaking. He looked up and found Colton staring at Aiden with a cocky grin. He had explained to him on the phone that this one was timid and needed to be unleashed. Actually, Zach couldn’t believe his dumb luck when he’d gotten the surprise call from his old friend saying he’d be in town for a couple of days and wanted to hook up. Aiden must have heard him enter the room because he stopped what he was doing, and his head spun around to see who it was. Zach couldn’t believe it, but the guy actually blushed. He wasn’t sure if it was due to Colton catching them in the act or if it was because the

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man who caught them stood before him with a dick so hard it looked like it could be made of stone. He had to admit, Colton did have a good package. He’d gotten off to giving him head a few times. It was hard to resist a man like him. He was tall, lean, and nothing but muscle. “Who are you?” Aiden asked. Colton chuckled. “Why do you sound so nervous, kid?” “I…I’m not nervous,” he insisted. Zach had to turn away for a minute to keep from laughing. As much of a tease as he was, he knew Colton had a way with young innocents who weren’t quite sure what to do with their sexual desires. This was going to be fun to watch. A loud laugh came from somewhere deep inside Colton. “Kid, if you aren’t nervous, then I don’t have a penis.” Oh shit! Aiden’s big doe-eyes looked up at Zach in horror and shock. Aiden was scared shitless and had no idea what to do or what to think. As much as he hated to think it, he wondered if he was Aiden’s first homosexual encounter. Maybe this was all just too new to him, and he had no clue how to respond regardless of what he wanted. Zach softened his grasp on his hair and released it, gently stroking the side of his face. “Aiden, this is Colton. A good friend of mine. Say hello.” “Hi.” “Good. Now do you remember me saying that I needed to have sex?” He had to laugh. The look in Aiden’s eyes told him he remembered exactly what he’d said. “Look, baby, you are really good at what you do. I love having your lips wrapped around me and sucking on me, but I need more sometimes. Colton and I understand each other and know how to make the other feel good.” “So you want to do that to him?” Zach shook his head. The poor guy looked disappointed. “Actually, yes, I would like to do that to him.” He waited a few

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seconds before continuing. “But as much as I’d like to do that to him, I would love to do that to you.” Aiden looked up at him. His face was flushed, and his cheeks were red. He wondered if he could make his ass cheeks just as red by slamming into him hard and fast. “You would?” He gave him one of his best smiles and leaned over to kiss him. He could taste his own cock on the man’s tongue. It was something that he’d always enjoyed. After a minute of stroking their tongues against one another, he pulled away. “To tell you the truth, Aiden, nothing would turn me on as much as fucking you in your ass while you gave Colton your mouth to fuck.” He waited, wondering if this was the point where Aiden would go running out of the room in terror or if he would jump in with both feet and let them both take him. The room was silent except for the sounds of the jets shooting the water all around. “You’d let me have that?” Holy shit! Aiden wasn’t only into it, but he said it like they’d be doing him some sort of favor, giving him a gift. “Yes, baby. I’d let you have that.” If he thought he was getting a special treat, so be it. Far be it for Zach to tell him that had been his plan all along. “Get over here on this chair.” Colton pointed to one which was near him. “On your knees, facing the back.” Aiden looked at Zach as if asking for permission. It pleased him that he was so loyal to him already. He’d privately pondered and hoped that Aiden would be a good submissive, and judging from his mannerisms, he seemed only interested in doing what made Zach happy. “Go on, babe. Get on the chair like Colton told you to.” Aiden stood up and took the steps out of the hot tub. His erection looked painful against his tight swim trunks.

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“Jesus, take those off,” he told him. He did as he was told and slid the constricting Lycra fabric down his thighs. His cock sprang out at attention just inches from Zach’s face. He wanted to kiss it, lick it, and stroke it, but Aiden had much to learn still. He needed to feel comfortable with his sexuality before Zach would show him his submissive side. Instead, he motioned with his head for him to proceed over to the chair. Zach stared at his backside as he walked over to the chair. While his actions seemed one of a virginal young man, he didn’t have the body of one. His back and legs were muscular, tan, and his ass looked like something he could nibble on. Aiden climbed on the chair, his knees supporting him as he held on to the back of the chair. Colton reached into a small bag he’d brought in the room and removed a small tube of lubricant, tossing it to Zach before standing in front of Aiden. Colton leaned over Aiden, dragging his fingers from his ass to his shoulders, digging them in before grabbing his face with both hands and kissing him deeply. He watched them kiss as he squirted a liberal amount of the lube onto his hand then covered his hardness with the cooling jelly, which would make it so easy to slide inside that tight hole. The two men were still kissing, and Aiden was moaning when he spread his cheeks apart and took not one, but two fingers and slid them hard and fast into the tightest ass he’d ever seen. Aiden’s body jolted from the intrusion, and Zach could feel his muscles contracting and throbbing around him. “Fuck!” He wanted to feel that around his cock. He gave Colton a nod that it was time. It seemed clear they were thinking the same thing, that Aiden was a virgin to anal sex. In their experience, they knew that going slow and easing him into it could prolong his discomfort. Both of them had discussed it in the past and agreed the feeling of being taken rough and hard in the end gave one the quickest path to being able to enjoying it.

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Colton pulled away from the kiss and whispered, “I want you to take that mouth and suck on my dick like you were doing to Zach when I walked in. Would you do that for me, Aiden?” Zach smiled as he positioned himself at the tiny, little hole. Aiden didn’t respond, but his breathing was hitched, and he nodded frantically. Zach loved how he got such pleasure out of oral sex. Colton stood up, put his hands on the back of Aiden’s head, and slid himself in the man’s mouth. When Zach heard the first moan escape from somewhere deep inside their good, little lover, he slammed hard and fast into Aiden’s ass. Aiden’s mouth released Colton’s cock, and he let out a scream. Zach grabbed onto his shoulders, holding himself inside, knowing those throbbing muscles were fighting to push him back out. “Shh…it’s okay, babe. Feel that? Your muscles throbbing? It burns right now, but put Colton back in your mouth. Concentrate on how good he tastes. I promise, it will start to feel good.” As he made the promise, he leaned down, kissing the small of Aiden’s back, and reached around, wrapping his hand around his cock which was dripping with pre-cum. Aiden closed his mouth back around Colton’s cock and began sucking it again. Zach was barely hanging on. He was already ready to come. The muscles contracting around him were pumping and milking him. Never had he felt anything so sweet and tight before. Gritting his teeth, he reined in his control and closed his eyes. Still stroking Aiden’s dick, he concentrated on that and nothing else, wanting to make this last because it felt so damn good.

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Chapter 19 Sandi stood there, frozen and unsure what to do. She had almost walked into the small room which held the hot tub when she glanced through the small window at the top of the door. She was transfixed by what she saw before her. The door to the women’s locker room was across the room and to the side of the three men. She had a view of the security guard, Aiden, taking another man, someone she didn’t recognize, in his mouth over and over again, while Zach was very obviously performing anal sex on him. She noticed how Aiden seemed to be hungry for the man in front of him, like his life was being sustained by the act of giving the man pleasure. She knew and understood that feeling all too well. It was the feeling she had when she was with Derek. Zach’s closed-eyed facial expression was one she’d never seen on him before. He was completely lost and clearly close to losing himself. The whole scene playing out before her was nothing like she’d ever seen before. All three of them were so gorgeous. Their bodies were lean and muscular and the type most women would fantasize being made love to by. But these men didn’t want women. They wanted each other. She glanced down and saw her hand on her nipple, gently playing it in between her fingers through her swimsuit. Without her realizing it, the erotic scene being played out before her was turning her on. She wondered what it would be like to be amongst them. Would they touch her, too? The thought made her moan as she felt her pussy heat and warm with the wetness coating her suit.

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She wasn’t sure how because she’d never seen anything like it before, but the act of men pleasuring other men was awakening her desires. Unable to stop herself, she reached her other hand down, sliding a finger underneath the fabric of her suit and in between her lips. **** Derek threw the bills at the driver in the front seat. “Just bring the bags in and leave them with whoever answers the door,” he instructed before racing up the big stone steps to the double entry doors. He came in and saw one of the sweet housekeepers Zach had introduced him to days before. Carla? Cara? He couldn’t remember her name. “Mr. Travis, you’ve come back? Oh, Sandi will be so happy to see you. That poor child has barely eaten or done anything since you’ve left.” Sandi. He couldn’t wait to see her. “Where is she?” he asked. “Hmm…” the woman placed a finger to her chin and looked up as though her answer would come down to her from heaven. “Oh, I know! She had her hair up in a ponytail and a robe on. I’d say she was heading outside to take a dip. It’s such a nice day today, and she’s been cooped up in that room of hers for so long.” Derek nodded and gave a quick thank-you before running toward the back of the spacious house. He yelled back to the woman to have his bags sent to Sandi’s room before he was out of earshot. Just seconds, and he would be holding her again. Only this time, he wouldn’t be so stupid as to let her go. He made it to the back pool area and saw several people lying outside and frolicking in the water, but none of them were her. “Damn it!”

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“Excuse me, is there a problem, Mr. Travis?” Another damn person he couldn’t remember the name of. How many freaking employees did Zach have? This one was a short man, who appeared to be something of a waiter. “I’m looking for Sandi. Have you seen her?” “Ahh, I believe I saw her heading toward the east side of the house. Perhaps the gym or hot tub area?” “Thanks!” Derek was halfway across the patio heading back toward the house before the man even had a chance to respond. Running through the wide hallway, he glanced at the many rooms with various people coming and going. Some of them wearing leather and carrying props. It donned on him then that he had no idea just how big of a venture his good buddy was onto with this sanctuary for people to play out their fantasies. Finally, ahead of him, he saw a sign indicating the men’s locker room. He knew the locker rooms were the only access to the hot tub area, and now that it was in his sights, he couldn’t seem to move fast enough. He swung the door open and raced to the other side of the room. Almost there, he heard someone moan and a male’s voice utter the words, “Fuck yeah, that feels so good, suck it.” He stopped dead in his tracks. No! Please don’t let it be her, he prayed. Slowly, and with so much fear, he walked toward the door to peer through the small window. His eyes widened in shock. He always knew of Zach’s preference toward men, but he’d never witnessed him with one. Hell, he’d never seen any two men together, ever. To watch all three of them just stunned him. Dumbfounded and unable to move for a moment, he stood there until he suddenly felt awkward, as if he was infringing on a private moment they were sharing. He turned away from the door, but quickly snapped his head back. Something caught the corner of his eye. There. Across the room. Looking through the other tiny window of the women’s locker room door was Sandi.

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“Oh, Jesus, baby.” He knew that look on her face. The way her eyes were heavy, her mouth hung open as her lower lip quivered. She was touching herself. A wave of blood rushed straight to his cock at the expression she wore. He spun back around and headed toward the women’s locker room. Despite the space between them, he seemed to get there immediately, his long strides making the distances a mere few feet. His hand on the door handle, he quietly opened it. It made no noise, no creaking sound which might have alerted her of his presence, and he was glad. He wanted to surprise her. As quietly as he could, he started to pull off his T-shirt and unfasten his jeans. Once completely naked, he gently laid his clothes on a bench, surprised she still hadn’t noticed he was in there with her. He turned and slowly turned the lock to the hallway, not wanting to chance them being interrupted. He was silently thankful when it made no clicking sound. He wanted to go to her right then, grab her, and take her, but the cute little black and red suit which showed off her curves so well was a sight he wanted to take in. Not to mention the way her hips were rocking on her hand as it played underneath her suit. She was so damn beautiful. He reached down and touched himself, completely content with watching her please herself, until she moaned his name. “Derek.” That was his undoing. He came at her then. He was no longer quiet, and his quick footsteps alerted her that she was not alone. She spun around and gasped. The look of first fear, then embarrassment, and then adoration swept across her face in the matter of seconds. Neither one of them said anything. Instead, their arms flew around each other, and their lips touched. Never in his life had he felt so completely connected to someone by just a kiss. Everything that they were, everything that they’d ever meant to one another was poured

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into that one kiss. Passion and love were somehow mixing with raw primal needs and desires. This was it. The meaning of life. The answer to everything in the world. This was why man was put on earth, for this feeling right here. The kiss seemed to go on for minutes, their hands wandering the other’s bodies as though they’d never touched each other before. Breathless and needing to come up for air, they both pulled away. There was no long pause or moment of reflection as they looked into the other’s eyes. He just grabbed onto her and held her tight against his chest. Her body curled up into his, fitting so perfectly in his arms. It took several minutes to come back to reality. He felt completely lost in a pure state of bliss. Almost like he was floating on the clouds, but then he felt her body, her hardened nipples pressed against his chest, his erection pressing against her belly. For a second, he’d forgotten about the men in the room on the other side of the glass. He looked up and saw they were still there. “I love you, Derek.” His heart ached at her sweet voice saying those words. “We’ll never be apart again, baby.” He kissed the top of her head. She pushed herself further into his chest as though she was trying to burrow somewhere deep inside him. He knew she was scared. The past few days, he’d put her on such a roller coaster it was no wonder. “Sweetheart, I swear to you, we will never be apart again, but you have to start talking to me. I need to know what’s happening to your mind and your body.” She looked up at him, confused. “I don’t understand. My mind, my body, my heart, everything is yours. I promise you, I’ll never let my desires interfere with us again.” He kissed her forehead. “That’s just it. You have desires that you don’t know what to do with. Your body has wants and needs that scare and confuse you. It’s why you pushed me away and…” He hesitated because he hated the memory of it, but he knew if they were going to have a chance, he’d have to let the past die. With a deep

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breath, he continued. “…It’s why you turned to another man. You were afraid I wouldn’t understand.” She looked up into his eyes, and all he saw was complete and total acceptance of what he just said. “I love you. No man will ever love you like I do. If anyone is going to understand your body, or your wants and needs, it’s going to be me. Do you understand that?” Her expression still looked unsure and scared. He hated that. “Baby, nothing, and I mean nothing, you say will ever make me see you as anything other than the woman who I love and want to please. There is nothing I won’t try to do for you. I need you to promise me right now that you will tell me anything and everything. It’s a rule, baby. If we’re going to make it, you’ve got to accept that rule and live by it.” He felt her tense up. “No, damn it! Stop it! It’s me. It’s Derek. Tell me, baby.” He held her face in his hands for a minute making sure she understood just how serious he was. He was starting to get angry that she still wouldn’t relax. He could feel her fear, and it killed him. “Damn it!” He spun her around and forced her to look at the men in the other room. “Do you see them? Do you see how they’re fucking each other?” “Yes,” She answered in a whisper. “Moments ago, you were watching them and sliding those delicate fingers into your pussy. You were getting yourself off watching them.” She turned her head to the side and away from the sight of them with tears in her eyes, “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t…” “No, baby! No!” He forced her head back to look at the men. “Look at them. Look at them. Jesus, just fucking look!” He was beyond frustrated right now. He wanted her to tell him who she was. What she felt. What her body craved. He was tired of her trying to hide behind what she felt was appropriate or not with him. He didn’t want perfection of what the cliché, ideal woman was.

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He wanted her! No matter what that meant. With flaws and naughty secrets she kept hidden. He wanted it all! “Derek, I…I don’t know what you want me to say.” He all but growled at his frustration with her. His head dropped to her shoulder. Her hand reached up to touch his head, and the scent of her arousal, still on her fingers, tickled his nose. His tongue left his mouth and started licking long trails along the side of her neck. His teeth gently bit in the hollow of her shoulder. “I can smell you on your fingers. You are wet.” His voice was ragged and breathless. “You looked at what they were doing in there, and you were completely turned on. You were watching them, touching yourself, and moaning my name.” He reached his hands up her arms to her shoulders and pulled the straps to her suit down, tugging it down her body swiftly as it pooled around her ankles. He bent his knees and let his dick slide in between and grind along her ass cheeks. Derek groaned at the thought of taking her the way Zach was taking Aiden. “Tell me what watching them was doing to you.” His hand reached around and squeezed her tits, pushing them together, playing them in his hands like it was the first time he’d ever felt them. One of his legs kicked the inside of her ankle, pushing her legs further apart. “Tell me. Now, baby. Tell me how watching them made you wet and want me to fuck you.” “Oh, Derek.” Her voice was hitched and her chest heaving. She was close. He was turning her on. He knew if he pushed her far enough, she’d open up. It was taking everything he had to not slide inside her, past her wet slit, but he knew if he gave her that, she would stop. He wanted her needy and aching for it. That was the only way he’d get the truth from her. Bending his legs again, he slid the head of his cock up and over her pussy-lips, rocking back and forth against her clit.

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“You like that don’t you?” He groaned. He liked it, too. Too much. “You need me to make you come, don’t you, baby.” “Yes,” she whimpered. He pulled himself away from her wet entrance and stood straight up. His cock, now covered in her juices, was pressed against her back. He held her firmly, his fingers squeezing her nipples while his breath covered her neck and whispered in her ear, “Then you look in there and you tell me what you see. You tell me right now what is making your cunt ache to be fucked.” Suddenly, she gasped. Her head flew back, and her whole body jerked as her legs began to tremble. He was startled at first, thinking he’d hurt her. Until he felt something hot and wet hit his foot. “Holy fuck, baby, you just came.” He couldn’t help himself. He removed one of his hands from her breasts and reached his hands down below. She was completely soaked and so hot. He slid a couple fingers in her, and his eyes nearly rolled inside his head at the sloshing sound that echoed in the room. Grinding against the small of her back, he reached his hand up and brought it to her mouth. “Drink yourself.” He watched her intently as she held onto his hand and sucked each of his fingers, licking them completely clean of her orgasm. No longer in control and completely at her mercy, he lovingly turned her head and kissed her softly. She was the first to pull away and look back at the men. Derek had again been lost in a moment with her and completely had forgotten about them. Unbelievably, they were still in there. “Look at that,” she whispered, her head now leaning back against his chest. “Yes. I see them. Tell me what you see.” Please, he said to himself. “It’s so beautiful. Look at how they’re all so focused on making each other feel good. The way Aiden is taking him in his mouth, do

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you see the look in his eyes? I know that look. I know how that feels. When you can’t get enough of that person.” She brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed it. “It’s how I feel when I do that to you. It’s such a feeling of dire need. Like all I will ever need is you inside of my mouth. Stretching and working my jaw as you hit the back of my throat.” “Baby, you are so good to me.” He felt strangely tender in that moment despite what they were watching. Her hand reached up over her and covered his mouth. “Please let me finish.” He smiled. “Sure, go ahead.” “Look at how Zach and the other man are watching each other. Do you see how they’re alternating their thrusts as though to not give Aiden too much at once? And how Zach’s hand hasn’t stopped stroking him? It’s like they’re taking care of him. This isn’t just about three men fucking. They’re taking care of one another.” Jesus. He didn’t know how, but he was starting to see what she was saying. “Look at Zach’s face, Derek. Look at how close you can tell he is. He keeps slowing down and clenching his jaw. He won’t stop though because as long as Aiden is moaning and his body is rocking between them, they’re going to keep fucking him.” She turned around and placed her hands on his chest. “It’s so beautiful, Derek. When I see things like that, when I see people giving each other pleasure, I don’t see anything other than beauty. And then it makes me ache for you.” Despite the sweetness in her eyes and the softness of her voice, he knew this was not a time to make love to her. No. This was a time to take her in a way he never had before. And if she got off on watching three men fucking, then that was what she would see. “Turn around, spread your legs, and place your hands high up on the wall.” His curt tone was meant to do one thing and one thing only. Excite her. The flush that rose in her cheeks told him it did just that.

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He watched her do exactly as he said, but didn’t think she’d spread her legs far enough apart. “I said spread your legs.” He brought his hand back and slapped it across one of her cheeks. “Prove to me how badly you want my cock pumping your pussy.” There it was again. She gasped. Not like she had minutes before, but she was close. Holy hell! His sweet Sandi, the love of his life, liked it rough and dirty sometimes. “I’m waiting.” He slapped his hand across the other ass cheek. He was taken aback at first by the hand print appearing from the first slap, but despite his shock, his cock twitched and became unbearably hard at the sight. He came up behind her, bent his knees slightly, positioned his head against her sopping wet hole, and whispered into her ear, “What do you want?” “Fuck me!” She screamed the words so loud, it caught the attention of the men in the other room. All their heads turned. Derek made eye contact with Zach. It was odd for a moment, but a strange bond of understanding came in the form of a nod as Zach and the other men suddenly stopped moving slow and began pumping at Aiden fiercely. He thrust inside of her hard and fast, his head hitting the deepest parts of her. “Look at them,” he demanded as he reached around and pinched her nipples. She squealed, and he wasn’t sure if it was in pleasure or pain, so he loosened his hold. “Harder, Derek. Please harder!” She wasn’t whimpering or asking. She was shouting. This was it! This was what he’d been waiting for from her. “What, baby? Your nipples? What?” “God, both! Fuck me harder. Squeeze my nipples harder! Everything!”

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Pumping into her harder and faster, pinching her nipples, and doing everything she asked for, he felt her whole body shaking. He didn’t think he’d ever felt it so good before. Her insides seemed to be grabbing onto him and holding him so tightly with every time he thrust so deep inside her. His concentration broke for a moment when he heard howls coming from the other room. The three men were starting to come, and from the moans Sandi was making and the way her body was moving with his, he knew she was close. “Tell me your darkest fantasy! Now!” he screamed into her ear. “Derek…I want…” Her voice trailed off as she watched Zach finish stroking Aiden until he came all over the chair. He stopped his thrusts and squeezed her nipples harder than he ever thought possible. “If you want my cock, you will tell me right fucking now what it is you want!” “Oh God!” she screamed. He felt her insides start to massage him. It was like a small orgasm building, but not quite there. He removed a hand from her nipple and slapped her ass again. “I told you to tell me what you want!” “I want to do what they did!” she screamed back. “I want you and another man to fuck me like they did to Aiden!” As soon as she’d said the words, he lost it. He was beyond any point of being able to control himself. There was no point in pretending to be jealous or hurt that she’d want another man to fuck her. The key was that she wanted him there fucking her, too. That was the only way it was good for her. Even he didn’t doubt that. His thrusts were so deep and voracious, her whole body was practically coming up off of the floor. Her ragged screams with every time he slammed into her filled the room. Somehow, it caught his attention that her arms were spread way up high against the wall. Planted firmly as if giving herself support against the onslaught of his body slamming into hers.

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“Don’t move your hands, baby.” Reaching down he scooped up each of her thighs and held her. Her legs were spread far apart. And his arms served as a chair holding her spread-eagle in midair. All the while thrusting and fucking her hard. His legs were about to give out, and he was going to put her down when he heard her scream. He didn’t even have time to react when, suddenly, her whole body bucked, and he felt the hottest gush of liquid cover him. “Sandi!” he shouted. He was coming even before her inner walls began to stroke and milk him with the aftershock of her orgasm. They both let out howls, which to anyone listening probably sounded like mating calls. His eyes caught a glimpse of the three men staring in the window watching. He didn’t care. They’d watched them, and he didn’t give a rat’s ass if they were being watched in return. This right here. What they were experiencing together. Their two bodies and souls completely connected was all he’d waited for. He sat down on a nearby bench, his arms still holding her thighs, his semihardness still inside of her. Their breathing was deep and full of exhaustion like they’d just run a marathon. The feeling of suddenly being watched struck him, and he looked over to see Zach standing a few feet away staring at them from behind the glass. The others had already left, but his good old buddy was standing there with a smug, shit-eating grin look on his face. Derek motioned with his head for him to get the hell out of there, not wanting Sandi to realize Zach was seeing her body completely naked and spread open like that. Zach walked away, and he sat there holding her close to him, relishing the moment of what they had just shared. He noticed her breathing seemed deep, and she hadn’t moved in a minute or two. “Baby?” Her head jolted up, and she answered in a mumble, “Yes?”

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He laughed. “You fell asleep. Come on. Let’s get something on and get up to your room.” He helped her off of his lap but felt her tense at his request. “No. I don’t want to go to sleep.” Shaking his head for making her feel so insecure, he took his hand in hers and had her come back to sit on his lap. He gave her a soft and affectionate kiss on first her hand, then her forehead, then her nose, and then her lips. “Sweetheart, I will never leave you again. I give you my word. I was wrong to leave, but it did me some good. The thinking helped me get rid of the past.” “I love you, and I promise I’ll never hurt you again.” Her arms wrapped around him so tightly, he was sure she was doing it just to make sure he couldn’t get away. “I know. And do you know how I know?” She shook her head, still clutching onto him. “Sweetie, because you understand now how important it is to be honest with me. Tell me what you want, what your body needs. Honey, I’ll give it to you. No judging, no consequences.” He grinned. “Well, maybe a little spanking now and again.” She giggled and blushed while playfully pushing on his shoulder. “Derek, stop.” “Oh, so the little princess is embarrassed she liked me to spank her ass, huh?” Her face was turning completely red now as she tried to hide in the crook of his shoulder. “I did not.” He let out a loud, boisterous chuckle. “You most certainly did! You naughty little minx trying to act so sweet and innocent while you nearly came each time my hand gave that hot little ass a smack.” Her giggling stopped, and she looked up at him. The look in her eyes changed. “Oh no, have I created a monster?” he teased as she started to gently nibble on his ear.

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She ignored him as her hand reached down and began stroking him. Just moments ago, he was limp and exhausted. Now as her tongue and teeth were working his neck and her hand was lovingly playing with his dick, she was making him ready and willing to go all over again. “Oh my God, Sandi. Get on your knees and take me in your mouth. I want you to show me what you meant earlier.” He watched in amazement as her body slithered down to the floor, and her eyes looked up at him lovingly while she began working him in and out of her hot mouth. How in the hell he’d ever lived without this woman, he had no idea, but there was no way he would ever be without her again.

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Chapter 20 Sandi opened her eyes to a dark room. The moon slicing through a small opening between the drapes gave the only light. A stretch filled with exhaustion took over her body and possessed her to spread out as though she was trying to make herself become taller. A long and exaggerated yawn followed before she curled back up on her side. Closing her eyes, she reached her hand over to touch Derek. Her eyes sprung open in panic when she felt the empty, cool sheets. “Derek?” she called out as her heavy eyes scanned the dark room. No light was on in the bathroom, and there wasn’t a single sound coming from anywhere. No! He promised! How could he leave after all the different ways he tried to reassure her? After they’d left the locker room, they came back to her room and showered together. It was a long and playful shower as they washed one another, kissing and touching the other all over. He stood behind her as they looked in the mirror and brushed her hair. He had been so gentle, so tender, so loving. She rose from the bed, turning on the bedside table and haphazardly grabbing the first thing she could out of the closet. Annoyed, she wondered if this was why he liked her sleeping naked, so that he could sneak out, and he would have more time for an escape as she was forced to cover herself before chasing after him like a crazy and desperate woman. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of laughter. She swung her body around and found Derek standing a few feet away laughing at her and holding a box of pizza with paper plates and napkins stacked on top.

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With her cotton shorts pulled on backward and the T-shirt hanging around her neck with only one arm through a sleeve, she placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. “What is so funny?” A roaring laughter came from him as he set the pizza down on the bed. He came to her, took her hand, and walked her over to the large dresser mirror. “Baby, come on! Are you telling me this is not hilarious to you? You’re a mess.” He continued to laugh while kissing the top of her head. She smiled at him, shaking her head. “Shut up!” “Where were you rushing off to anyway?” Her smile left and was replaced with sadness. “I thought you left.” “Oh, sweetheart, you didn’t?” He turned her around and took hold of her face in his hands. “I told you I would never leave you again, and I meant that.” She nodded and felt slightly ashamed for doubting him. “I know you did. It’s just all so new to me. Having you back may take a while to get used to.” “Shh.” He took her in his arms and held her. “Besides”—her voice was muffled from being buried against his chest—“it’s your fault for being so wonderful and making me love you so much.” “Oh well, yeah, there is that, so I can see how hard it must be on you.” His tone was sarcastic, so she gave him a little slug in his stomach. “Next time tell me you’re leaving? At least until I stop being so nervous?” She knew it was a ridiculous and juvenile request, but she didn’t care. There were no words to describe the fear she felt when after waking up, she realized he was gone, again.

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“Okay, babe, if that’s what it’s going to take to believe I won’t leave, I’ll do it. Sooner or later though, you’re going to just start having faith in me. Faith in us.” He sealed his promise to her with a kiss and gave her a hard smack on the ass. One of many she’d received since the locker room. So many, in fact, she wondered if it was for her pleasure or his because he sure seemed to enjoy it. “Now you go see if you can figure out how this thing we call clothing works. I’m going to run to the kitchen and grab us something to drink. I’m guessing wine for m’lady?” He winked as he asked. She couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear at how sweet he was. “Actually, I think I’ll have whatever my man is having.” With raised eyebrows, he answered, “Oh, broadening your horizons are you? Okay, beer it is then.” He gave her a quick peck on the nose and left. She watched him leave. She never tired of looking at his butt in a pair of jeans. He really was the sexiest man she had ever come across in her life. Surveying her reflection in the mirror, she was amused with how ridiculous she did look. It was no wonder he was laughing at her. She slid her shorts off and walked to the dresser, deciding panties were meant to be worn, not sit in her drawer. She finished dressing and gave her reflection an exasperated look. Her hair was a mess, and she had zero makeup on her face. “Well, aren’t you the sight. A sad one.” She hurried to the bathroom and reached for her small makeup bag with one hand as the other turned on the warm water. Quickly, she washed her face and ran her wet fingers through her hair to be followed up by a quick brushing. Tilting her head upside down and bunching her hair between her two hands, she put her ponytail holder in and pulled the ends through. It wasn’t a supermodel look, but it was better than having her hair shooting off in twenty different directions as though she’d just stuck her finger in a light socket. She put on a tiny line of eye makeup and gave her lashes a couple swipes with her

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mascara. Again, she reminded herself that while she wouldn’t grace any magazine covers with her look, at least she was not going to scare the man she loved. “Woman? What the hell are you doing in there? Get out here and eat. I’m starving.” She couldn’t help but smile from the immense happiness she felt of hearing him talk to her in such a domestic way. “Coming, dear.” She walked into the next room and saw him sitting on the bed, his motions were frozen as though he was about to take a bite, but then stopped. “What’s wrong?” “Coming? No, sweetie, believe me, you’ll know when that happens.” She rolled her eyes, laughing, reached for a slice, and took the biggest bite she could. She’d barely eaten in days and suddenly was famished. It was nearly an hour later when Derek fell back on the bed after letting out a very loud belch. He unfastened the top button to his jeans and let out a big breath while holding his stomach. Sandi picked up the paper plates and napkins and carried them to the trash can before heading to the bathroom to wash her hands. Warmth filled her heart looking at him lying there. He was miserable from eating too much and looked like the stereotypical suburban man unbuttoning his pants after a big meal, but to her she’d never seen anything so wonderful. Her thoughts wandered to images of him as they got older. She could envision him leaning back in his chair at the kitchen table after eating a big Thanksgiving dinner. He looked over at her then and winked. “What are you smiling at? Don’t be laughing at me. I ate a lot. Someone had to. Your measly two pieces were nothing compared to the six I ate.”

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She rolled her eyes while grinning, “Oh yes, I know. I stopped myself when I got full. I didn’t realize you were training for an eating competition though.” “Shut it, woman! That pie was delicious and wanted to be eaten! Its sole purpose in life is to have someone chew and relish every single bite. To not eat it would have been an insult not just to the chef but to the pizza! I did it for the pizza, baby. See how generous your man is?” He was practically laughing at himself as he got out the last words. “Oh my goodness, I never realized just how selfless you were.” She was mocking him, but it was all in good fun. Just to be here with him laughing and living life together was like a heaven on earth. Sitting beside him, she took his hand in hers and intertwined their fingers together. “Thank you.” He didn’t answer but brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “This is just the beginning for us.” For some reason, she found herself completely believing him. No. Not just him, but his words, not the promises he was making, but truly believing that this was the beginning of a very long life filled with nothing but happiness for them. Somehow she knew that nothing would be able to tear them apart after they’d found a way into each other’s arms again. “Derek?” His eyes were closed, and one arm was rested behind his head. “Yeah, babe?” “What we talked about earlier, in the locker room? Did that bother you? And please, before you answer, be completely honest with me. I will be the first person to admit that sometimes, sexually, I don’t know what takes over me. I just get lost, and all of these crazy and insane ideas fly into my head.” “Sandi, why are they insane? Because society and people like your parents would tell you that sort of behavior is unacceptable?”

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“I don’t know. I suppose maybe that’s why.” “Well, forgive me for saying this, sweetheart, but your parents and society as a whole are all pretty fucked up.” She nodded in agreement. “Seriously, why would God give you a body that feels good with certain things if you weren’t supposed to enjoy it?” “I guess that’s what I don’t understand. Why do I enjoy things that go against what we’re taught?” He raised his brows at her. “What we’re taught? Is this about you telling me you wanted another man to join us?” “Yes,” she answered softly. She wished it wasn’t something she wanted. “Baby, do you have any idea how many men in the Bible had multiple wives?” She thought about it and realized she had no idea at all. While her parents made her go to church every Sunday, it was never about the teachings of God or the belief of religion. It was a social gathering for them to get together with other members of society and show off their perfect family. She hated how she was told to sit so perfectly still, hands on lap, never to make eye contact with others but rather look straight ahead to the person delivering the sermon. It was that constant, robot-like behavior that was drilled into her which caused her to often drift off into daydreams and never pay attention to what was being said. “No, I honestly have no idea. But still, should I want something like that? I love you, Derek. Just you!” “Come here.” He pulled her down to lie in the crook of his shoulder. “I know that. I believe that.” “Why aren’t you mad?” He chuckled. “You want me to be mad, baby? After I told you that you could tell me anything in the world, and I would not judge you? After I swore to you there would be no consequence for your honesty?”

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“So it does bother you.” She knew it. She chided herself at how stupid she was for having been so selfish to tell him something like that. “No, sweetie, no. Listen to me, okay?” She had begun to tense but calmed as soon as his arms held her tight. One of his hands gently caressed her hair as they looked up at the ceiling. “All right, I’ll listen, but you have to be honest, too, no matter what. Please, please promise me that, Derek.” She felt his chest expand as he took a deep breath, a habit he had when he was either trying to keep his cool or say something that was going to be hard for him to get out. She placed a hand on his heart and waited for him to begin. “It bothered me when you left me for another man. It bothered me when you let another man have you and take you. I hated that. It killed me.” Her eyes closed unbearably tight trying to keep the tears from spilling free. “I’m so sorry.” “I know, sweetie. I know. But what bothered me was because you were no longer with me. Don’t you understand? You were mine. And he took you away from me. I would’ve given you anything. Any desire, any want, any need you had, I would’ve given to you. He took that chance away from me though. You were just gone. I couldn’t give you anything you wanted or needed. I was forced to lie in bed alone every night knowing someone else was giving you what you desired.” “Oh, Derek.” Her tears were fighting so hard to break free, but she didn’t want him to feel the wetness hit his chest. “Let me get this out, I want you to understand. Maybe if you understand, you’ll realize just how important it is to me that you’re honest about those things with me.” She waited while he took a few more breaths, obviously trying to steady his nerves. She could feel he was becoming more and more

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tense as he went on, but she was determined to not act on it. He said to listen, and that was what she would do. That was the very least she could do. “Don’t you see? I want to give you pleasure. I want to make you feel good. I want to be the one who gives you those things. No one else. And, sweetie, I hate to shock you with this news, but you are not the only woman who has that fantasy. I’ve heard it a lot.” Surprised, she interrupted him. “You have? Have you ever…given that to a woman before?” Even more shocking was she didn’t feel jealousy creeping up on her like she would’ve expected. She was curious and nothing more. She felt no fear or insecurities over what his answer may be. “Yes, I have. I’ve also had women give me the same.” They sat in silence for a few moments. She wasn’t sure what he’d meant. Did that mean he’d been with a man? How could she have never known that side to him? “Do you understand what I mean by that?” he asked. “You’ve done things with men,” she answered. “No, not with men. You have a fantasy of being with more than one man. I’ve had fantasies of being with more than one woman. So while I’ve given women their fantasies, I’ve also had women indulge me in mine.” Her stomach turned at the thought. She knew she had no right to be, but she was damn jealous. She wanted to be the only one giving him his fantasies and making him happy. No one else had that right. Sadly, she now understood how it must have felt for him when she allowed someone else to try to fulfill hers. “Please don’t say anymore. I don’t want to know. I understand why I hurt you so bad. I can’t even think of anyone else giving you what you most want in this world. It’s just too painful.” “Hey, hey, now I want you to stop that right now. Baby, the honesty goes both ways, okay? What I did with those women was long before I knew you.”

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“I know it’s horrible of me to be jealous that another woman gave you your fantasy, but I can’t help it. It makes me sick. I want to be the one giving you everything.” “You have. She didn’t give me what I wanted most in this world. She gave me a night of sex. There was no feelings, no emotions. My heart wasn’t connected to her like it is to you. You are what I want most in this world, honey. And you are my everything. Every fantasy, every dream I’ve ever had was you. Just you.” She gave into her tears and let them fall. They weren’t droplets of sadness though. They were of pure joy. She was so happy. She felt so utterly complete with him. Lifting her head just barely, she placed a kiss to his chest. “Those better not be tears I feel.” His tone was teasing and made her laugh. “Me? Since when have you known me to cry?” “Oh, never.” Abruptly, and before she even knew what was happening, Derek rolled them over, his body now on top of hers while his elbows were down on the bed on either side of her shoulders as he gently stroked her cheeks with the backs of his hands. “Whatever we do, whatever we decide, we will decide it together. When we hit a fork in the road, we’ll decide if the right or the left path is what’s best for us, and we’ll take that chance together. Nothing, and I mean this, baby, nothing will ever keep us apart again. We finally are learning about one another like we should have done years ago. Let’s not dwell on the past anymore, but concentrate on our future. On where the road ahead will take us.” He didn’t wait for her answer. He leaned down and gave her a deep and passionate kiss. It was filled with such hope and promise that she could swear she felt his soul in that kiss. As his mouth left hers and trailed down to her neck, she whispered, “I’ll go wherever you are, Derek. I love you.”

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Chapter 21 Zach entered the breakfast room as his eyes scanned the financial section of the times. Smiling because he was pleased with some wise investments he’d made, he set the newspaper down and pulled out his chair to sit. It wasn’t until he set his napkin down on his lap that he felt eyes on him. Looking up, he saw Derek and Sandi standing in the doorway from the kitchen carrying two plates. An awkward and somewhat uncomfortable silence filled the room as they all stared at one another for a moment. Zach decided to break the ice first “Good morning, you two.” “Morning, man,” Derek replied while Sandi gave a polite smile and went to sit down. “I trust you two had a nice evening? Judging from how you look, Derek, I’m guessing there was little rest though.” He winked at Sandi as he said it. His sweet friend now seemed afraid to talk to him. In fact, she didn’t even appear to want to look at him. Derek didn’t answer his question but gave him a knowing nod of agreement. Zach also noticed that his hand reached down to take Sandi’s hand in his. He was pleased to see his old friend and new friend had found their way back to each other. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t admit that he was glad to have been a part of it. “Sandi, you look as radiant as ever. I trust your sleeping arrangements are sufficient?” Again, he smiled and winked at her hoping to break her of her nervousness. “Yes, they’re wonderful, Zach. Thank you so much.”

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Her answer came with a polite and warm smile, but he could still tell she was unsure of how to behave in front of them after the intimate moment they all shared together. He looked at her as being one of his dearest friends, and he cared for her a great deal. The last thing he wanted was to have that closeness ruined because of an intense encounter which she stumbled upon. “So, it seems you and I both like cock then? That would explain why we get along so well,” he stated matter-of-factly. Derek spit out his orange juice and began choking after hearing his declaration, and poor Sandi’s face was turning at least fifty shades of red. The only sounds covering the silence were the echoes of Derek choking on his drink. “I…” Sandi was about to say something then stopped. “Oh for Christ’s sake. I was trying to cut the tension in here with a bit of humor. I mean, this is ridiculous. We’re all friends here, right?” Finally coming down from his coughing fit, Derek was able to interject. “Dude. What the hell? Yes, of course we’re all friends, but damn. Warn a person before you’re going to say something like that, would ya?” “Why? It’s true. Sandi and I do both have an appreciation for the male body and all that he consists of. I was just stating the obvious. And pardon me for saying, but I don’t relish spending the next several days walking on egg shells around a sweet lady whom I thought to be my friend.” “Oh, Zach, you don’t think that we’re not friends just because of what happened do you?” Sandi asked. “Well, holy hell. You do have a voice.” “Hey, man, easy,” Derek chided him. “No, I’m not going to go easy. Look, sweetie, and please know I mean this with nothing but love and respect for you, but you clearly liked what you saw. Why am I getting the silent treatment from you today?”

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He watched as she looked down at her plate, her eyes seemingly scanning the food for answers. “I’m sorry. I truly am. I just don’t know what to say to you. Every time I look at you, I see the image replaying in my mind of what you were doing to Aiden.” He took a sigh and placed his elbows on the table, linking his fingers together and resting his chin on his hands while deciding what to say. “Was I mistaken? Did you not like what you’d seen?” Zach was intrigued. He watched as Sandi looked up at Derek, and he gave her a nod of encouragement before she turned her attention back to him. “That’s just it. I did like it. A lot, and maybe even too much.” “Sweetie, what did I tell you last night?” Derek placed a kiss to her temple. “Zach is not here to judge you. Tell him what you’re thinking.” “He’s right. I will not judge you. I don’t do that to people. I’ve had it done to me my whole life.” “Okay, well, I guess you could say I found it a turn-on. The things you were all doing to Aiden and the way he was submitting to the both of you just awoke a certain desire that I’ve had.” Zach took a look at his friend who was stroking the back of her hair. It was clear bringing them together was the best thing he’d done in a while. He had an idea that he knew what Sandi was saying, but he wanted her to be more comfortable with herself. Derek seemed to be soothing her as though he also thought it was important that she just give into who she is. “Tell me more?” She blushed a little. “Wasn’t that enough?” “Only you can answer that. I would love to hear more, but I don’t want to push you into discussing things you’re not comfortable with.” Again he stared in utter amazement as she turned to Derek for guidance, who simply nodded his head at her.

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“Well, I’ve wondered what it would be like. You know, to be with more than one man.” “Really? In the same way? Or in other ways? Tell me what you’d want them to do to you.” Once again, he saw her turn to Derek for encouragement before she continued. The dynamics of their relationship, despite them being apart for so long, amazed him. There was a clear connection there, and Derek was definitely in charge. She bit her lower lip and looked over at him. She looked almost impish in her innocence. “I want to be in a completely vulnerable position. On my hands and knees. One man behind me while the other is in front of me.” “Doing what? How do you want to be taken?” “Everywhere,” she answered in a whisper. Her chest was starting to rise and fall a little faster. It was obvious the discussion was making her aroused. “And I’m assuming Derek would be there as well.” “Of course!” She snapped quickly. “Shh…relax, sweetie. He’s only asking. No judging, remember?” Derek placed his hand behind her neck and began massaging it. “I’m really not judging you. I’m just asking what your fantasy would entail. I am, after all, the master of this domain. I like to see people fulfill their deepest desires. Think of me as Mr. Roarke and this being Fantasy Island.” He was glad when she smiled at him then. She’d been so nervous, he’d wondered if he’d ever see her look of happiness again. “Okay, Mr. Roarke.” Zach couldn’t help but chuckle. This was the Sandi he knew. Sweet and full of life. “That’s my girl. So you want two men? You’d like Derek to be one of them, and you want them to take you everywhere? Is that right?” “Yes.”

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His cock hardened when she answered him. She was a beautiful woman. Her petite, little body had some amazing curves in all the right places. Zach was no virgin to women. He’d been with and enjoyed many encounters with women in his heyday of experimentation. He just happened to find men to be his preference. It filled a primal urge he had and only ever seemed to be met by a male. Despite all that though, he was aroused at the idea of being one of the men that Sandi would submit to. “I see. Well, did you know that I am bisexual?” He hadn’t been prepared for the steely glare that shot to him from Derek once he’d said that. Sandi must have felt it, too, because her expression went from a blushing smile to a look that he couldn’t quite place. She almost looked scared. “Sandi, could you take your plate on out to the patio and finish eating? It’s a beautiful day, and you should get some fresh air,” Derek suggested to her. “Derek, why don’t you come with me?” Using his thumb and forefinger to lift her chin, Derek placed a small kiss to her mouth and answered her, “I have some things I’d like to discuss with Zach first. I’ll meet you outside in a few minutes.” “Do you promise? You look upset.” “Not at all, babe. Go on. I’ll be out shortly.” Zach hadn’t been expecting this response from Derek. He seemed to be encouraging her to tell him what she wanted, so he was a bit confused by his friend’s sudden change in demeanor. He waited while Derek kissed Sandi before she left the room. His old friend was calm in his mannerisms. Almost too calm. He wasn’t sure what was about to happen, but he had a feeling that he wasn’t going to like it.

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Chapter 22 Derek got up from his chair and walked toward the hallway. He closed the sliding double doors to the dining area and then swung his body back around to face Zach, glad that they were alone. “You mind explaining to me just what the fuck that was all about?” He waited while Zach removed his napkin from his lap and placed it back on the table. “Derek, let me explain.” “I’m fucking waiting for exactly that! Because from where I’m sitting, I could almost swear that you just propositioned the woman I love into having a threesome.” “Would you calm the hell down? You were the one sitting there encouraging her to talk about it. I figured you knew where the conversation would inevitably end up.” Derek shook his head in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? How in the hell would I know you were going to go there? I had no idea you were into women, too.” “All right. All right, fine. So it was a bad call and one I should’ve discussed with you first. Hell, it’s not like I pulled my dick out.” “No, but you practically gave her an invitation to your dick though!” No longer able to control his anger, he was shouting. Zach stood up and held his hands out. “I’m not going to ask you again to calm down! Look, obviously I made a poor choice and I’m sorry, but you were right here with us. It’s not like I pulled her into my office and offered to fuck her!” He didn’t know why, but hearing him use those words about his woman was more than he could handle. He turned away and paced the

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room. The feeling to come at Zach and knock him on his ass was all too overpowering. “Dude, what is your deal? You sat here just moments ago egging her on to tell me, another man, her deepest fantasy, and now you’re acting like a crazed, jealous maniac.” He was right! Derek knew he was right. Jealousy was an understatement though. As much as he wanted to give her pleasure, the thought of another man taking her sent his blood boiling. “Derek? Man, if you can’t give her those things, you cannot let her think you will. It will just confuse her,” Zach told him sternly. A few more paces and Derek placed his hands on the buffet table across the room. He took a few deep breaths and tried to rationalize his thoughts, knowing there was no real justification behind them. It was just good old-fashioned, territorial jealousy. He loved her. He wanted to give her all she wanted and needed to be satisfied. Just sitting and witnessing an actual discussion which may have been the first step into it actually coming to fruition was more than he was prepared for. Shaking his head, he turned back towards Zach. “I know. You’re right. And I don’t want to confuse her. I just wasn’t prepared for you suggesting such a thing.” “I thought we were on the same page. I never would’ve went down that path had I not thought you were thinking the same thing. I care about her. And you already know I consider you a friend. I don’t play with people’s relationships like that.” “I believe you. As the man that loves her, I’m ready to give her everything and anything. But as a man, my ego needed a little more time to ease into it, I guess.” Zach didn’t answer but nodded his head in understanding. “So is it true then?” Derek asked him. “Is what true?” “You’re bisexual? You’ve experimented with women a lot?”

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Zach laughed boisterously, “Hell yes! You think you’re the only one who can appreciate the female form? Yes, I may like men more, but being with a woman feels good.” “True. I just had no idea. I thought it was just men for you. And after what I witnessed yesterday, I just assumed that was your thing.” Zach came towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “That, my friend, is my thing. But I also know that Sandi is a sweet and, in many ways, scared woman. Honestly, if you’re going to have anyone be with her, I would think a man who knows that and respects you both is a much better candidate than some stranger.” He held his hands up in mock argument. “Hey, I don’t want you thinking I’m just trying to sleep with her. I’m giving it to you straight, man. I think you have to be careful. If you choose to go ahead with this, you need to consider, who would be the right man for it? Doesn’t have to be me, just be sure it is someone that will take care of her, that’s all I’m saying” No words were exchanged after Zach made the comment. There was just a knowing look exchanged between the two. It was true. A stranger may not take care of her or understand who she was and why she was so precious. Derek walked toward the large window and scanned the patio for Sandi. It didn’t take but a moment. She stood out in most crowds. Her blonde hair was shimmering in the sunlight, almost casting a glow around her. She was so beautiful. At certain times, like now, he would be struck by her and feel it deep down into his soul. He wanted to give her the world. If there was anything she wanted or desired, he wanted to be able to hand it over to her willing and proud to be the one who gave it to her. He brought his hand up to his jaw and rubbed the stubbles as he thought. His thoughts were momentarily distracted at the sound of Zach closing the door behind him as he left the room. He needed to think and clear his head. No matter how much he wanted those things, he couldn’t ignore the gut-wrenching feeling of

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jealousy and anger that came over him when he thought of Sandi and another man. It seemed as though he had been okay with it when he’d discussed it with her. When they were alone and in their bed where he was in control and there was no one else there to threaten to take all of that way, then he was okay with it. The reality of Zach’s offer and his reasons behind him were all too telling though. Could it be that he was scared she could be hurt? That they would do something which would push things past the point of no return, perhaps placing an invisible wedge between them? Maybe he was just being jealous, subconsciously living by the caveman mentality of that was his woman, his property, and no one else’s? He watched her as she took a sip of her juice and looked toward the double doors leading into the house. The way she was picking at her food, it was obvious she was nervous about whatever was happening inside. Typical Sandi, he thought as he smiled. Always concerned for others, always so damn sweet. He didn’t know how he’d lived without her for as long as he had. There was no way in hell he’d ever go without her again. That was the most important thing to him. As long as he had her by his side, with him and in his life, he would be whole. The moment of reflection hit him like he had been running full force into a brick wall. Out of all his fears, that was his biggest. Losing her. Being without her. That was the thing he was most afraid of, that another man would be able to steal her away. The only question now was, was he willing to give her everything she wanted and risk what they had? It would be the ultimate test of their love. That he was sure of. He was never one to gamble. Not like his father had been. Watching her sit nervously at the small bistro table, he knew this was a decision he couldn’t make on his own. Together they needed to decide how strong they were and how much they could handle. He picked up his plate and glass, heading out toward the patio. There was much they needed to discuss.

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Chapter 23 Sandi watched Derek approach the table. His smile was meant to be reassuring, but she could see right through it. Something was on his mind. No fantasy, no hidden urges she had would be worth causing problems in their relationship. She loved him. That was all that mattered. “Hey, gorgeous.” He leaned over, kissing her cheek before he sat across from her. “Is everything all right?” Before shoving some eggs into his mouth, he answered her, “Things are fine.” His casual demeanor was doing nothing to soothe her nerves. He was tense. No matter how he tried to act relaxed, she could feel it. “You’re sure? Because it seemed like you were a little…I don’t know…upset maybe?” Staring at her while chewing on his latest bite, she was sure she hadn’t seen this side of him before. She felt like he was sizing her up, trying to decide how he could answer her, rather than just answer her honestly. “Upset? Nope.” Again, he answered casually as though he had literally nothing on his mind. She knew that was far from the truth. Something had happened in that room. When she had left, no not left, but when he had forced her to leave the room so the boys could talk without the presence of the little lady being there, she was sure there was something inside him that was ready to boil over. She needed to know

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what he was thinking. What was more was she wanted him to want to tell her. Hesitantly, she decided to push the subject. Whether it was a good idea or not, she wasn’t sure. There was only one way to find out though. She placed her fork down on her plate, wiped her mouth with her napkin, and set it on the table next to it. Then she sat back in her chair and waited for him to look at her. His face was downward looking at his food. He then glanced up at her. “Are you finished already? You’ve barely eaten anything.” Crossing her arms, she tilted her head to one side. “I guess I’m just not very hungry.” She hoped he caught the hint of annoyance she put in her tone. “That so?” he replied. She tried to muster the best uninterested expression she could come up with, figuring she’d fight fire with fire. “Seems that way.” In turn, he also set down his fork while working his tongue inside his mouth, clearly trying to get something out that was stuck in between his teeth. Oh how she wished he wasn’t doing that. The thought of his tongue brought to mind all sorts of thoughts that were going to distract her from her plan. “We’ve been mating like bunny rabbits in their prime, you’ve barely eaten, and you’re just not hungry?” “Yep.” Don’t give in to his sexy stare, she kept telling herself. Normally, his gaze would make her weak in the knees and at his mercy, but if he was going to play this little game, she was going to be damn sure she won it. “Seems to me like you should be starving.” “Oh? Well, maybe, but I guess I’m not.” Derek raised his right eyebrow at her. His look of curiosity she’d seen a thousand times before. “Okay, sweetheart, is this one of those things where a woman says everything is fine, but it’s really not fine,

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and in fact, you’ve got something on your mind which I’ll be sure to pay for later?” Damn him. He was so cute, she couldn’t help but smirk just a little. “Do women do that?” Smiling, he answered, “Yeah, babe. Women do that.” “Hmm…I guess I never realized.” “Yeah, I can see how that’d be hard to miss, what with you being a woman and all.” She held up her finger as though a thought had suddenly struck her. “I wonder if that is anything like those big tough men who pound on their chest, ordering their woman away from their caves before he and the other Neanderthals duke it out over the last woman left in the village.”’ A boisterous laugh came from across the table. “I hardly find this funny, Derek.” He pointed and winked at her. “Ahh…see, there it is. The tone of the woman who clearly is upset about something but is so not okay.” She shook her head in utter annoyance at him. How dare he be cute and sexy while she was trying to be angry with him and make a very valid point. If he would just be quiet, she could make him realize that…She would have finished her thoughts if Derek hadn’t reached over and abruptly pulled her out of her chair, yanking her arm until she was sitting in his lap. “Just what do you think you’re doing?” She held her tone firm. “Me Tarzan. You Jane. We go make whoopee in the tree house while all the monkeys watch.” Unable to hide it any longer, a huge smile spread across her face as she laughed. “There she is. You’re so pretty when you smile.” Wrapping her arms around him, she whispered in his ear. “It’s a side effect of being with you.” “Funny, I have the same side effect when I’m near you.” He winked at her.

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This was it. She was happy. He was happy. They were happy. If they stood any chance of making sure they stayed that way, she was going to have to stand her ground. Honesty, or the lack of it, was partially what destroyed them the first time. Not being up front with one another would surely cause them to repeat that same path which caused them such pain. “Derek, I need you to tell me what happened with you and Zach. Remember? I seem to recall someone telling me how important it was to be honest with the person we love, even if we think it may upset them.” He gave her a look of amusement. She wasn’t sure why. “And just why are you smirking at me?” “Because you’re cute and utterly adorable when you agree with me.” Laughing, she kissed him. “Oh, is that so? Someone is very full of themselves, I see.” “No, babe. I’m just sitting here wondering when it was you got so smart.” “I bet your pardon, I have always been smart!” Playfully, she nudged his shoulder. “I know, but it’s kind of endearing. You using my own logic to convince me to talk about something that I’m trying to avoid.” She didn’t respond but instead ran her fingers through his hair before hugging him tight. Then with confidence, she got up from his lap and went back to her chair. “Hey, what are you doing? I happened to like where you were sitting.” Picking up her bagel and grinning, she said, “I know. Me, too, but I’m starving!” “I thought so.” They ate their breakfast in comfort. This was a small step for them. One of many they’d make as they reconnected. There was still the same love there that she’d always felt for him. Somehow it was

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different though. It was as if their love had matured, like a fine wine or the way an elegant cheese would. Once done with breakfast, they decided to take a walk on the grounds. They were really quite beautiful. Large trees surrounded the estate, and there were several sitting areas scattered amongst the acres of greenery. Just beyond a row of shrubs and smaller trees on the north end of the property, they found a small pond. It was no bigger than the size of a car, but had three mallard ducks swimming around in it, quacking at one another while one of them flapped its wings. There was a small boulder nestled on the far side of the pond surrounded by pussy willows. She looked at it and thought to herself that it looked like a chair God had created for people to sit there and throw bread crumbs at the loud birds. Suddenly, she felt herself being picked up by Derek. “What on earth are you doing?” Had she waited a moment longer, she would have known his intention. Not a minute later, she was sitting on the same rock she had just been staring at. His strong hands which just carried her to it were now massaging her neck as he stood behind her. “That feels so good. So very relaxing.” She was all but moaning as his fingers worked her shoulders into the massage. “Good. You relax because tonight we’re going to observe some scenes in some of the larger rooms. I want you to be as relaxed as possible.” Observe some scenes? Together? She had seen some in the past, but never with Derek. He must have felt her tense under his announcement because he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Don’t do that. Take a deep breath. It’s okay. We’re going to watch some things together. Experience seeing them with one another. Then we’ll be able to tell each other honestly what we can and cannot handle.”

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That was what had happened with Zach. He wasn’t sure if he could handle giving her the fantasy she’d mentioned. Oddly, she understood. No matter how happy she wanted him to be, she also questioned what limits their relationship could be pushed to before breaking. He knew that and also was worried about the same thing, and he was going to be there with her, so they could figure it out together. “I love you, Derek.” Kissing the top of her head, he answered, “I love you, too, babe.”

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Chapter 24 Derek shook hands with Zach, not completely sure about what he’d just agreed to, but positive that, if they did decide to go ahead with it, he’d rather have Zach be the other man than a stranger. He had to place a call to his brother to be sure he’d taken care of the special favor he’d called in earlier after he and Sandi had returned from their walk. If things went his way, come tomorrow at this time, everything he’d ever wanted would become true. Quinn answered on the second ring. “Hello.” “You take care of it?” “Take care of what? Been kinda busy today, man.” Sarcastic son of a bitch. That was his brother. If there was something he could razz him on, he would surely do it. “Cut the crap. Did you get it in time for same day delivery or not?” “Hmm…” Quinn hummed into the phone. “It? What was it again? Dude, I’ve been really busy. Was I supposed to do something for you?” “God damn it, Quinn! Brother or no brother, blood or no blood, I will kick your ass first thing when I get home!” Derek shook his head as his brother laughed in hysterics on the other end of the phone. Finally, he heard the sweet voice of his sisterin-law chiding her new husband for acting like a child. “Listen to her, man. She’s the only good thing you got going for you.” He waited while his brother said something in his defense before he apologized to him.

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“I want you to know I think it’s hilarious how she holds your balls like that,” Derek mocked him. “Shut the hell up, wiseass. I sent it. Got it there in the nick of time. I was told, barring any weather emergencies, you should expect it around nine o’clock.” Derek smiled. He couldn’t help it. His heart was racing. Not with nerves or fear, but with excitement. “You there?” Quinn asked. “Yeah, man. I’m here. Thanks, and tell Anne she’s an angel for putting up with you. You’re a pain in the ass.” “She likes my ass!” Derek just shook his head and smiled. “All right, dude. Keep telling yourself that. I gotta go. Lots to do.” Quinn stopped him before he hung up. “Hey.” Derek was about to hit the red button when he heard his brother. “What now?” “Happy for you. Don’t let her go this time, asshole.” “Thanks, man.” **** Hours later, Derek stepped out of the shower and watched Sandi as she sat at the small vanity in the bathroom applying her makeup. She was wearing the pink robe he’d gotten her all those years ago. The sight kicked him in the gut. She had been so young then. So innocent, and in some ways, still a child. He hadn’t realized it then. To him she was a beautiful woman, always had been, always would be. Now though, as he watched her from across the steamy bathroom, he noticed a change in her posture. Her eyes seemed older, wiser even. Her smile was no longer carefree but instead powerful. Everything about her, the presence which she exuded, was a complete contradiction. He wanted to protect her from everything in the world,

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shelter her from all bad and evil things, anything that would hurt her or cause her pain, but seeing her in that moment, he knew that while he would protect her, she didn’t need it. She looked strong, confident, and ready to take on the world. “Jesus.” She smiled at him through the mirror’s reflection. “Something wrong?” Her cute, little smile told him that she knew he’d been watching her. “You’re gorgeous, baby.” The cute, little smile disappeared and was replaced with a huge blushing grin. “So are you, Derek.” Drying off with the towel, he shrugged. “This is true.” “Oh puhleease!” She rolled her eyes at him. He walked out into the bedroom, dropping his towel on the way out. He had to snicker to himself because he knew that used to drive her nuts when they lived together. She was going to have to get used to all his annoying little habits though, and no sense in not starting now. The outfits they decided to wear were already lying out on the bed. He would be wearing the same pants he had the night he’d first come here and found her. They weren’t his first choice, but he’d seen her eyes light up when she saw them in his suitcase. He wasn’t sure why she liked them, and it could have been the leather or the flap which opened so easily in the front. The reason didn’t matter. He knew she liked them, so that was what he would wear. For her, he’d asked her to wear a form-fitting, black dress. It was short, easily hiked up, and had spaghetti straps at her shoulders. His favorite part of the dress was how it accentuated her breasts, lifting them and barely covering her gorgeous pink nipples. He cocked his head to one side when he saw a black G-string sitting next to her dress. “Babe, what’s with the panties?” “What’s with them? As in what are they for?” “Yeah,” he answered.

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“Well, I usually wear them.” She laughed. “Don’t tell me you want to.” He glanced back into the bathroom to give her a look of humor. “Hardly. I mean, why are they out? You certainly don’t think you’ll be wearing panties tonight under that sexy, little dress do you?” “Oh…no I guess I’m not.” “That’s my girl.” He was just finishing pulling up his pants when a knock came at the door. Before Sandi could ask who it was, he went to answer it. He didn’t want to ruin any surprises in case the package had arrived early. Opening the door, he found Zach on the other side. “We have several couples joining us downstairs tonight.” Derek hadn’t been expecting that. “I see. What time?” “In an hour, and they’ve requested an audience, and anyone who wishes to participate is welcome as long as he remains in charge.” He gave Zach a nod and sent him on his way. They both had already discussed the rest earlier. Now it was just a matter of time before the decision was made. They’d watch together, learn together, and decide together what was going to be good for them. Turning, he saw Sandi standing before him naked, her arms up high in the air, as she attempted to let the dress shimmy down her body. “Babe, let me help you.” He came to her and pulled the stretchy fabric over her breasts, then down her stomach, and finally, covering her beautifully smoothly shaven pussy. The sight of her made his cock jolt. He wanted her now. It was taking everything he had to not throw her on the bed, spread her thighs, and plunge inside of her. Tonight was a test for them though. They needed to take this journey together. Patience and restraint was the only way that would be possible. She didn’t know it yet, but in many ways, she was the one in control tonight. Nothing would happen

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unless she too agreed to it. Dominant or not, he would commit to nothing if she wasn’t right there with him. He smoothed her long, wavy hair from her face. “You’re so beautiful.” “Derek…” Her voice trailed off. Bending his head down, he took her face in his hands and kissed her. It was tender and gentle, like their very first kiss had been. “Are you ready?” he asked. She nodded her head yes and placed her hand in his. “Okay. Let’s go.” They walked from the room hand in hand. He had no way to foresee what their evening may hold. One thing he did know, though, was that, the next time they were in this room, their lives would be changed forever. He squeezed her hand a little tighter. He knew they were strong enough for this. He needed her to know it, too.

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Chapter 25 Sandi felt Derek’s firm grasp of her hand tighten. Her heart was racing in part fear and part anticipation as they neared the rooms in the basement. She wasn’t sure what she was afraid of, the unknown, the unchartered territory, or her desires. Having Derek there with her helped calm her shaky nerves, if only a little. Together, they descended the staircase side by side. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if he was as nervous as she was, but she quickly dismissed the idea. Derek was always calm and in control. Maybe that was what was making her feel safe. Reaching the bottom step, she saw many couples sitting in the sitting room which Zach had turned into a makeshift lounge. The bar nestled in the far corner of the large room had a bartender which greeted both her and Derek with a smile and a wave of invitation to order something. “Something to drink before we venture on?” he asked quietly in her ear. “Yes, please.” Still hand in hand, they walked over to the bartender who waved his arm toward the back wall showcasing his assortment of liquor. “What’ll it be, sir?” the flaxen-haired bartender asked Derek. It struck her when he called him sir. She knew it was merely his manners talking, but it brought back the reality of where they were and what they may encounter. Sir was a word used often in this environment to indicate giving respect to the person one was submitting to.

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“I’ll have a scotch on the rocks, and the lady will have a cranberry and vodka.” She hadn’t told Derek what she wanted to drink, but he knew her well, and that was one of her favorite cocktails. All she could do was smile at him for knowing her so well. As the glasses were slid in front of them, Derek’s hand left hers as he reached for both and handed hers to her. She took a healthier sip than usual, feeling she needed a bit of liquid courage. Standing against the wall a few yards away from them was a couple of women who were showering a clearly dominant man with kisses and caresses. The sight, while arousing, brought back a bit of her unease. Nothing she wanted, no fantasy she craved, was worth doing something to cause a rift between her and Derek. She must have been staring more than she’d realized because a whisper tickled her neck as he told her, “Relax, baby. You and I will be fine.” Trusting him was her only option and the only thing that truly made her feel safe. Her nerves might be making her hyperaware of her surroundings right now, but she knew that he wouldn’t let them go down a path they couldn’t handle. Zach was across the room talking to a man and woman who appeared to be even more nervous than she had. She wondered if that was how she looked the first time she had seen this type of an environment. She remembered the excitement and anxiety which riddled her that night. It was a contradiction of emotion that she had more bad memories of than good. It made her feel slightly sorry for the woman who was clutching at the man’s arm as though, if she let go, she would fall off of a cliff into the abyss. “Why don’t you finish that drink, and let’s go for a walk down the canyon.” Derek’s soothing voice broke her thoughts from Zach and the couple, and she looked up at him with an adoring smile. The canyon, as Zach had dubbed it, was a term for the wide hallway which led to

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the various rooms where scenes were being performed. He’d explained to her “canyon” seemed an appropriate name because of its wide space which led to dark rooms, dimly lit with rich and exotic colors. He claimed that one only had to walk down the canyon to explore until they found the right cave which suited them. At the time, she’d thought it an unusual metaphor for a place which centered on sex and all different types one could have. Now, looking at the atmosphere, the soft lights casting shadows against the walls as people walked to and from, it made perfect sense. She swallowed the last of her drink and set her glass down on the bar. Derek smiled at her patiently. His glass had been empty minutes before. He held his arm out to her, and she accepted. One of the first caverns they came across on her right was of a man and a woman. He was bent over a bench, his mouth held open by the ball gag which was strapped to the back of his head. The woman who was circling him and scolding him for having done something without asking seemed pleased with the red welts on his bottom. Her hand stroked and played with the crop in her hand as she continued her speech. She’d seen something of this nature before, but it didn’t do anything for her libido. Derek must have concurred because he slowly pulled her away as they continued on. On the left, she saw two women on the floor, one hovering over the other as they pleasured one another. There was a man standing over them. His arms were crossed, and his pants were open and pulled slightly down, exposing his hardened dick. Despite his erection, he seemed strangely calm as he watched them. As though he was studying their reactions to one another and what they were experiencing. He didn’t seem at all fazed by the dozen or so couples which were surrounding them in the large room. “He’s enjoying watching them. This moment is about them right now. Not his needs.” Startled, she looked to Derek. “How did you know what I was thinking?” she whispered her question.

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Giving her a half smile, he kissed her forehead. “I just did.” She didn’t doubt that he could read her that well. He’d always been able to in the past, so she wasn’t sure why it had surprised her. They stayed watching the two women pleasing each other, both of them moaning in unison and clearly close to orgasm. “They’re waiting,” Derek told her. “Waiting?” “To be given permission.” She flushed when Derek said those words. For a moment, it brought her back to nights ago when Derek had controlled her and her body, when he was in charge of everything they did. He must have caught her reaction because he winked at her and motioned back toward the couple for her to keep watching. The women were writhing against each other now. The moans coming from them were almost painful to hear. It was clear they were in agony, just on the brink of being let go to enjoy that euphoric feeling that came over one right as they came. Minutes passed as they and others watched. A noise caught her attention, and she peeked her head around Derek to see a woman on her knees hurriedly unfastening the pants of the man standing before her as she looked up at him. Her eyes looked hungry. She couldn’t look away as she watched the woman pull out the man’s dick and slide it into her willing mouth. Unconsciously, she licked her lips and felt liquid heat build from her pussy. She understood the woman’s hunger. So many times, she’d felt that need. Her eyes were locked on the woman until she felt eyes on her. She looked up to see the man in question staring at her. His eyes locked to her gaze as his hands ran though the woman’s hair, pulling her head to him. “Look away from him right now!” Derek’s sharp tone startled her. She’d been lost in what they were doing and hadn’t even realized she was staring. She looked to find an unhappy scowl on his face.

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“I…” She was suddenly speechless, unsure of what to say. He seemed angry. “Come with me.” He grabbed onto her hand and quickly escorted her from the room. “Derek, what’s wrong?” She didn’t know what she had done, but he was most definitely upset about something. He didn’t answer her, but instead led her on a hurried path down the canyon, his grip of her hand never relenting as they raced past rooms and scenes that she was only able to catch a glimpse of. They reached the end of the canyon and stopped. There was nowhere else to go. The only door before them was a door which was marked Employees Only. “Derek, what are we doing?” He didn’t answer her. Instead, he began typing a code into a pad on the wall. She couldn’t gauge his mood. He still seemed agitated, but she wasn’t sure if it was with her. The keypad blinked green, and she heard a click of the door unlocking. Derek pushed the door open and pulled her in the room with him. She hadn’t been prepared for what she saw when she got inside. The room was a large and somewhat luxurious bedroom. In the center of it was one of the biggest beds she’s ever seen. It had to be custom made because it looked much larger than a king-size. The walls seemed to be made of dark-red, velvet fabric which was surrounding them. The few pieces of furniture were in dark wood tones, and only a few wall sconces lit the room. It gave the whole atmosphere a medieval type of feeling. She’d only had a few seconds to take it all in before Derek started to talk. “Did you want that guy back there?” She was stunned by his question. “What?” “It’s a simple question, Sandi. Did you want him?” “Oh my God, Derek. No! How could you even think that?”

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He shook his head. “How could I think that? You were…” He hesitated for a moment and then went to sit on a small bench at the foot of the bed. He placed his hand next to him. “Come here.” She went to him as told and sat beside him. “I don’t understand what I did wrong.” He brushed the backs of his fingers along her cheek and smiled at her. “I know you don’t. It dawned on me just now that you hadn’t realized what he was doing.” “What he was doing?” “Sweetheart, he was inviting you to join her and them in a scene. His stare was his way of claiming you for the night. Your staring back gave him indication you wanted to participate. Things can get ugly with some types if they think you’ve agreed and then you back out.” “What? I was just…I mean, it wasn’t an acceptance. How could he think that by just me looking at him?” “His eyes were on you a lot longer than you realized. I was closer to them and overheard their conversation. He’d told her he wanted you. He instructed her to get on her knees to entice you. His eyes never left you the entire time.” She shook her head in disbelief. “I honestly had no idea. Derek, I know I’ve been to places like this before, but I’ve never really experienced things or been taught things. That’s how Zach and I became friends. He saved me from a bad…” “Shh…I know.” He leaned over and kissed her. His tongue swept in her mouth and nearly stole her breath with its urgency. Before she knew it, she was lying back on the bed, his body covering hers as his groin pushed into her pussy. She could feel the bulge of his urgency and wanted desperately to do to him what that woman had been doing to the man in the other room. His mouth left hers as his tongue slid down the side of her neck and met with her cleavage. The hands which were just roaming her

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body suddenly stopped to pull the dress down below her breasts, causing them to push up even further. “Damn, I love your nipples.” His voice was breathless. She couldn’t help but arch her body into him as he began sucking on her. Tingles were shooting from where his mouth was and down to her pussy. She could feel wetness seeping from her. It never seemed to be enough with Derek. She always wanted and needed him so badly. Her arms were wrapped around his head as he suckled on her. She wasn’t sure how long had passed, but her desire was building. She wanted him inside of her. It didn’t matter where, but she needed to feel him taking her. With her body arched into his and her eyes closed, she felt as though she was floating somewhere else. For a brief moment, she opened her eyes and scanned the room which seemed to be spinning. She shut her eyes again, lost in the sensation of the gentle bites Derek was giving her when her vision caught up with her mind. Quickly, she pushed Derek up and off of her as she pulled up her dress and covered herself. She was flushed and embarrassed as she pointed to Zach standing across the room when Derek looked at her with surprise. “You got here kind of early. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her yet,” Derek told Zach. “You were expecting him?” She couldn’t imagine what was going on. “Should I go?” Zach asked Derek. “Why are you asking him and not even looking at me?” she demanded. “Sandi, my dear. I’m asking the one who’s in charge.” Oh God. Then it hit her. Had Derek and he talked and subsequently arranged for something between the three of them? “No, stay. Perhaps it’s better if you’re here while I tell her.” “Tell me what, Derek?”

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He got up off the bed and reached his hand out to her. She accepted and stood before him, but only for a second because he turned her to face Zach. “Do you find Zach attractive? Don’t hesitate, tell me the truth.” “Yes.” She wasn’t sure why the answer fell so freely from her, but she felt compelled to give into Derek and whatever he asked of her. “You told me about your fantasy, remember?” His hand brushed the hair from her shoulder and began kissing her neck. Her chest was heaving. “Yes.” Pulling her dress up, he exposed her to Zach as he reached his hand around and dipped a finger inside her. “You’re so wet, baby. Why are you so wet?” Her eyes were focused on Zach. He seemed aroused by what he saw which confused her. She was even more surprised when she looked down to see an erection hidden behind the fabric of his pants. “Baby, I asked you a question,” Derek persisted. “I…I…” She wondered what she could say. It was Derek who had turned her on, but the confusion of having Zach standing before her with a hard-on was confusing her needs. “She’s confused,” Zach answered for her, and she wondered how he knew that. Derek stopped what he was doing and brought his finger to her lips, gently brushing them with her juices. “Derek?” Her heart was beating unbelievably fast. “Do you love me?” he asked. “More than anything or anyone in this world.” “Do you trust me?” “Of course I do. Completely.” “Do you want your fantasy to come true.” “Yes.” Her quick answer even surprised her. She held no hesitation as she admitted to him that she wanted something she felt so guilty for craving so many times.

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“Lift your arms,” he instructed. Doing as she was told, she held her arms up, allowing Derek to remove her dress. He threw it on the floor and started kissing the back of her shoulder. She was standing completely naked and exposed in front of Zach, his erection even more evident than before, as Derek’s lips and tongue caused her to tingle all over. “Now, Zach. Come to her.”

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Chapter 26 Zach came toward her, unbuttoning his shirt as he approached her. He tried to reassure her with a sensitive smile. She looked nervous, and he wanted her to relax and give into what she wanted. He removed his shirt and dropped it next to her dress. She arched her body as Derek went down on his knees and was kissing her lower back. With his thumb and forefinger, Zach grazed her hardened nipple before gently pinching it. Her moan told him she liked it, so he squeezed a little tighter. Dropping his head, he took her other nipple in his mouth. It had been so long since he’d been with a woman. He needed this, probably more than Sandi wanted it. Having a tit in his mouth again shot an urgency straight to his cock. He was already rigid and ready for action, but the feel of her pointy tips against his tongue was his undoing. Grabbing her hands, he brought them to his erection, moving her fingers up and down his cock in a stroking motion. “Yeah, stroke me,” he whispered. He felt her tense for a moment and stopped what he was doing. He opened his eyes and saw Derek was once again standing, looking over her shoulder. He instantly knew his mistake. Derek was in charge, not him. If anyone was to instruct her what to do, it would be him. He was just so turned on, he’d lost himself in the moment. It was a mistake he couldn’t let happen again, or he was sure Derek would stop things before they’d started. Derek broke the silence, “Finish undressing for her, Zach. Show her what you have to give her.”

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For some reason, Zach was much more relieved than he’d expected to be. He had been worried his friend was going to put an end to things right then and was so glad he hadn’t. He stepped a couple feet away from Sandi and kicked off his shoes. Their gazes were locked on one another despite Derek whispering something in her ear that he couldn’t hear. Whatever he was saying to her she must have liked because her arousal seemed to be rising. Her hands seemed anxious, roaming her stomach and breasts as if they were desperate for contact of any kind. He couldn’t wait to touch her, kiss her, and lick her all over. Though he needed to learn to pace himself, he had no idea what Derek was even going to allow. All they’d agreed on was that they would be with her and see where the night took them. His urge to be inside her pussy was killing him though. Refocusing his thoughts, he unfastened his belt and followed suit with his pants, quickly dropping them to his ankles and kicking them aside to join the other clothes. Instantly, he took his dick in his hand and squeezed it, exposing a large drop of pre-cum on the tip. It took every amount of restraint he had to not show his dominant side and demand she suck him off when she licked her lips at the sight. “Do you like his cock, baby? Look at how hard he is for you,” Derek asked her. Zach wasn’t sure why his friend seemed to change his tune from earlier, somehow giving into the fantasy for her, but he was damn glad. He stroked himself for her as she continued to stare at his movements. “Derek…I…” Her shaky voice trailed off. It tugged at his heart a little at how scared she seemed. He knew it wasn’t he she was in fear of, but of doing something wrong. Her heart belonged to Derek, and he was her whole world, and he knew that. The poor thing seemed torn between what she wanted and making Derek happy. She was a sweet girl. There was no way he would do anything to make her feel uncomfortable. He’d leave right now if he

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was asked. The one thing Derek and he had agreed on was that tonight was for her. “Shh…it’s okay. Do you want him?” Derek kissed the side of her neck as he asked her. “I’m afraid.” Zach watched as Derek turned her around and kissed her, his hands wrapping around her and holding her tight before pulling away and answering her fears, “You don’t have to be scared, sweetheart. Tonight is for you, for your pleasure. Nothing that happens tonight will change our future. You are mine. Always. I’ll never let you go.” “Do you promise?” Even though her back was turned to Zach, giving him a view of her soft and curvaceous bottom, he could hear the desperation in her voice as though she was near tears. “Baby, you couldn’t get rid of me if you tried. You’re stuck with me.” Still holding his hardness in his hand, he watched a tender moment between the couple as they kissed and held each other. Derek’s arms wrapped around her so tight, Zach was surprised he didn’t break her. It was obvious she needed this moment, though, to ease her fears. When their embrace broke, Derek changed. His demeanor went from soft and caring to dominant and in control. “Get on the bed, baby. On your hands and knees.” Zach’s cock jolted when she did as she was told. Her submissive nature was showing through in her actions as she positioned herself and looked to Derek for further instruction. She was a beautiful woman and not just on the outside. Derek started to undress, his movements slow and calculated. It was as if he was putting on a show just for her, and Zach wasn’t even there. He forced himself to remember that Derek was his friend as he watched him strip, dropping his clothes to the ground. The man, friend or not, had a magnificent body.

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He knew his sexual urges always contradicted one another. One minute he could be craving a man’s cock and the next a woman’s pussy. He looked at it as a blessing and a curse all at the same time. Despite those urges, he pushed them aside. Derek was not into men, and this night wasn’t about either one of them anyway. Just Sandi, it was all about giving her what she wanted. The silence was almost peaceful as both men stood before her, holding their hardness in their hands, completely ready for her, but her eyes were almost glued to Derek. “Get on the bed, and kneel in front of her,” Derek directed him. He was all too happy to do exactly as his good friend told him, completely sure he knew what would happen next. On the bed, he knelt before her. Her mouth was a mere inch from him. He was aching for her to lick the pre-cum sitting on the head, but her eyes were still locked with Derek’s. “Look at what he has for you. Take him in your mouth,” Derek said to her. His knees almost buckled beneath the awesome feeling of having her mouth wrap around him. He couldn’t help but thrust into her when she first slid him deeper into her mouth, touching the back of her throat. “How does that feel, baby? Do you like having him fuck your mouth?” Zach had no idea what had gotten into Derek, but his friend seemed to be a completely different person. His voice and everything about him seemed to be that of a stranger. He wasn’t complaining. The difference was a turn-on. He chided himself for having thoughts of Derek again. He placed his hands in Sandi’s hair, redirecting his concentration. She must have liked the caresses he was giving her because her body started to rock back and forth against him as she moaned.

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Derek got on the bed behind her, the head of his erection brushing up against her bottom. He reached down underneath her and fingered her. Sounds of wetness echoed in the room. Zach was thirsty for her when he watched Derek pull his hand back and suck on his fingers. It had been far too long since he had tasted a woman. The juices which came from a woman’s arousal were always so sweet and succulent. Desperately, he wanted to taste her. “Lay down, Zach.” He had no idea what Derek had planned, and he didn’t care. At this point, he would’ve done anything to get more of Sandi. Once he was lying on his back, Derek continued, “Get on top of him, sweetheart. Hover over him.” As she started to climb on top of him, Derek quickly stopped her. “No!” Zach felt bad for her when she turned her expression from hungry to worried. He knew what Derek had meant, but she was a novice and needed to be told more precisely. His friend clearly regretted his tone. He came to her and gently brushed her cheek. “It’s okay, sweetie. I meant the other way. Turn around. Allow yourselves to taste each other.” Zach waited patiently as she repositioned herself, the scent of her nectar flooding his nostrils and feeding his hunger for her. Unable to contain his need, he reached his hands up, squeezing her ass and pulling her down to his mouth. He nearly suffocated himself with her pussy as he buried his face in her, his tongue sliding between her lips and lapping up her sweetness. The sensation of her mouth sliding down on his cock was his undoing. His hips were thrusting into her recklessly as she continued to take him. It had been years since he’d had a woman take him so ravenously. There was a difference between a man and a woman sucking on him. Men are much more mechanical with their motions, but the way Sandi

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was taking him, her head twisting as her tongue worked him, was more sensual. He tore his thoughts from how incredible she was making him feel and concentrated on pleasing her. If he got too lost in what she was doing, he wouldn’t be able to last. Sandi’s back arched, and she seemed to shiver. He opened his eyes and saw Derek hovering over her. Her legs were starting to quiver. Whatever Derek was doing to her, she was clearly enjoying. Thinking back, he was sure it must have been years since he had drank a woman’s release. His thirst to have that again overwhelmed him. He ground his mouth into her wetness and began flicking his tongue over her clit.

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Chapter 27 Derek watched in utter amazement at her as she bucked wildly from Zach’s ministrations. She was so damn beautiful. It surprised him that the feelings of jealousy he’d felt earlier that day weren’t consuming him. All he could see now was how utterly seductive she was. Every moan, every movement, everything that she was seemed to come from every fantasy he’d ever had. She was perfection. His old urges of playfulness were getting the better of him. He wanted to tease her and see how much she enjoyed the game. Rummaging through the bag that Zach had brought in the room, he came across a flogger. It must have been custom made since amongst the fine leather strips were several strands of tiny beads, obviously put there to add an extra sting with every slap. He came up behind her, Zach’s mouth still working her near orgasm. Her body was so responsive, he wondered what the sensation of this flogger would do to her. Chuckling to himself, he realized there was only one way to find out. Slap! The sound shocked him. He hadn’t meant to strike her so hard, especially on the first try, but she screamed from it. It wasn’t the scream of pain. He knew that sound. She nearly came. A wicked grin curled up his lips. When he’d spanked her the other night, he knew she liked it, but he had no idea she would enjoy being flogged so much. Slap! Again, she screamed, her body moving of its own accord. He could only guess from the way that Zach held onto her tighter that she

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was dripping juices into his mouth. A small pang of jealousy swept into him at that moment. She was going to come from Zach’s mouth and tongue. He wanted…no…he needed to be a part of her pleasure. “Come for me, Sandi. Now! Come for me!” he demanded while he switched his movements and began working the other cheek. Slap! Slap! A strange tug in his heart filled his soul when he watched her mouth release Zach. Her body arched unbelievably as she screamed in orgasm. She’d waited for him. Whatever Zach was doing felt good, but she needed him to let go. It was an incredible moment of inner peace that came over him. He loved her so much that his biggest fear had been losing her to another man. In that moment, he showed her that without him there was no completion. No matter what was happening, she would always need him. His patience no longer lingered. He needed to be able to touch her. “Get off of him, baby. He’s had enough. Lie down with your head near the top of the bed.” He allowed Zach to lie there motionless for a moment while he seemed to be basking in what he’d just experienced. He didn’t understand his friend’s ability to switch his desires from men to women, but he learned long ago that when it came to sexual urges, no one should ever judge. What the body wanted, it wanted. When Sandi was lying, sated, her head resting on the pillows, he came toward her. Gently, he brushed some of her hairs from her glistening forehead. She looked like an angel in the afterglow of her climax. Zach stood on the other side of the bed now, looking to Derek, obviously unclear of what was to come next. Derek leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I love you, baby. Trust me, okay?” The look of adoration she gave him while she nodded made him feel like he was ten feet tall. She truly was his. Completely his.

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“Do you have light restraints?” Zach motioned, pointing below. “They’re under the bed, attached to the frame.” Both of them reached below, pulling out the nylon ties with velvet straps at the ends. He was entranced by Sandi when she reached her arms out them. Her body was, on any day, a gorgeous sight, but with her breasts swollen and her nipples hard and pointing out like darts of invitation for his mouth, he wondered if any woman was ever as sexy and alluring as she was. He slid her delicate wrist into the strap, fastening it with the clasp. Zach had already secured her other arm and was reaching below the bed. Derek reached under as well, surprised that there were two upper sets of restraint. Clearly, his old friend had spared no expense or thoughts when preparing this room for his clients. Each of them lifted her leg in unison. While Zach was gently caressing her calf, Derek applied long sensuous kisses to her leg, the smooth feel of her skin under his mouth touching him somewhere deeper than his libido. Sandi’s breath increased. She seemed nervous, and that was the last thing he wanted. “Shh…trust me, sweetheart. It’s all for you.” “I love you, Derek,” she whispered. He winked at her before motioning to Zach for him to continue with restraining her ankle. Both of them fastened the velvet straps around her ankles as they had her wrists. His beautiful Sandi, the love of his life, was bound with her legs spread and high above her shoulders. He could have dictated a thousand different scenarios, but instead, he stood there mesmerized by the sight of her. Her juices were coating her inner thighs. While he wanted desperately to lick them dry, he remembered seeing an ostrich feather in the bag of toys. The idea of teasing her with it while she begged for more crept into his mind. He took the feather and trailed it on the backside of her thigh. She squirmed, and it only made him want to trail it all over her body. For

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several minutes, he teased her with the feather, circling it over her breasts and smiling as she whimpered. “Jesus, man.” Derek looked over to see his friend stroking himself. By his expression, he seemed to be in agony. He couldn’t really blame him. Sandi was a goddess lying before them. She looked ripe and ready to be plucked. He nodded to Zach and climbed on the bed, straddling her torso while being careful to not injure her arms or legs which were bound above her shoulders. Holding her cheeks in his hands, he whispered to her, “Trust me.” Without any more words, he held himself and gently parted her lips with the head of his cock. She opened her mouth willingly for him, accepting him. “Oh, yeah. God, I love how good your mouth feels on me.” He reached over for the feather and played it up and down her arms and legs, alternating between them as she continued to suck on him. Her mouth was the only thing holding him to her. He loved how connected he felt to her at that moment. It was as if they were the only two people in the world. The thought brought him back to reality. They weren’t alone. “Now, Zach.” Sandi’s eyes opened wide and looked up at him in surprise. Quickly, they closed again, and he knew Zach was now inside her. He tensed. His body became all too aware that someone else was inside her and taking her the way only he wanted to. He couldn’t allow his jealousy to overtake him. She was his. Her love belonged to him. He had to find a way to keep himself in check. “Look at me, baby.” She opened her eyes and looked at him. Her gaze was clouded in pleasure. She was in heaven in that moment, but he knew if he asked her to stop and made Zach leave, she would agree. The love for him

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and commitment was in her stare. It calmed him and erased his green streak. Their gazes stayed on one another as he continued to thrust in and out of her mouth. Somehow, she was managing to suck on him in a way like she never had. Her mouth was so hot, it made him think of her pussy. He could hear Zach’s groans. Knowing how good it felt for him to be inside her, Derek wondered if it was that much more amazing to a man who normally didn’t have the feel of a woman. Zach’s motions were increasing in pace. He was getting close, and it occurred to Derek that he hadn’t thought of the possibility of another man coming inside of her. He wasn’t sure how she even felt about that. That needed to be her decision. “Baby, do you want Zach to come inside of you?” He wasn’t sure why he was surprised by her shaking her head in answer. Somehow, he thought in the moment she’d give into it, but she didn’t. “I wore a condom,” Zach muttered between breaths. For an odd reason, Derek wanted to laugh. It wasn’t the right moment, but he had to smile at his friend for thinking of the one thing he hadn’t. “Oh, fuck. I can’t hold it any longer,” Zach shouted behind him. Derek could feel the whole bed shake as Zach was losing himself in the pleasure of his woman. The thoughts racing through his mind were conflicting. She was so amazing and felt so incredible. With every pang of jealousy that bit at his nerves, he stared into her eyes and felt it wash away. No matter what was happening in that moment, she belonged to him. No other man mattered to her. Only him. Chills raced up his spine. A sudden and fierce orgasm was clawing at him from the inside out. He had never experienced anything like it before. Without even a second to warn her, he began spilling his seed into her mouth. His hips thrust of their own accord, forcing him to hold her head to brace himself, unprepared for the onslaught of how good it felt.

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Her beautiful mouth was closing around him so tightly, refusing to let any of him go as she swallowed all that he gave her. He stayed there in front of her as she licked the last of him clean, her tongue swirling around him as she moaned, all the while her eyes looking up at him. “Derek?” Zach said to get his attention. He turned to find Zach dressing at the foot of the bed. Remorse seemed to be troubling his friend. He gave him a nod of understanding. They’d discussed the possibility of this earlier. It was natural to feel awkward after friends partook in certain types of interludes. They’d both agreed that, once it was over, Zach would leave, and neither of them would mention it again. Hopefully, it would be that easy. “May I?” Zach motioned toward Sandi as he finished fastening his belt. “Sure, man,” Derek answered after slowly getting off of Sandi, so he didn’t hurt her. “Help me free her first.” Both men delicately removed the restraints from first her ankles and then her hands. Unbelievably, her eyes never left his. Her gaze was locked to his in such a loving way. He wanted to hold her so bad. “Sandi, you are a beautiful woman. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your fantasy. I will cherish this memory, my dear friend,” Zach whispered to her before placing a gentle kiss to her forehead. Derek waited while Sandi gave Zach a small smile before turning her attention back to him. He saw something on her face. Whatever it was he couldn’t quite place it. “Baby, what’s wrong? Were we too rough with you?” Instantly, she shook her head to reassure him. “No, you were both wonderful.” Suddenly, he noticed a flash in her eyes. There was a craving there hiding just beneath the surface. His sweet and beautiful Sandi wanted more. His heart sped up, and his semihard cock twitched at what he thought it was she wanted.

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“What do you want, baby? Tell me. Tonight is for you. No judging, remember? Only trust.” His insides churned with a combination of lust and love as she bit down on her lower lip. She looked so nervous that he wondered if she would be able to tell him what it was she wanted. Her pleading eyes answered his question. Fear was lurking in her stare. “Zach, I think Sandi wants to experience us both in a whole different way.” Looking to Zach as he said the words, he received a knowing nod in return. He brought his stare back to Sandi once Zach started to undress. “Baby, I think we should play some more. What do you think?” “Like what?” God help him if her innocence wasn’t a kick in his gut. He wondered how someone so wanton and in touch with her sexuality had such bashful moments. He stepped closer to her, knelt on the bed next to her and, leaning over her, whispered in her ear. “Like one of us fucking your pussy and the other your ass at the same time.” “Oh God, Derek.” He swallowed her words by bringing his mouth down against hers. Sliding his tongue inside, he could feel her baited breath in anticipation of what he’d just suggested. Pulling away from her kiss he saw Zach lying on the lower half of the large bed, his body length wise as he rolled a condom on. “Baby, would you look at Zach? I think he wants you to climb on top of him. Would you like that? Do you want to ride him?” he was surprised by the lack of jealousy he felt. The look in her eyes made him feel larger than life. Taking her hand, he pulled her up and guided her to Zach. Watching as she straddled his friend’s body, he came around behind her. First, she arched and then relaxed when he slid inside her. The movement brought Derek’s attention to the globes of her ass. Despite

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it only being mere minutes since he came in her mouth, he was already hard and anxiously anticipating her tight, puckered hole. He went to retrieve a tube of lubricant which sat on the other side of the bed. Sandi’s eyes were closed, her hips rocking up and down on Zach as he held her to him. Everything about her brought out a primal need. Coming back around her, he climbed on the bed. The dip of the mattress caught the attention of both her and Zach. Both of them stilled. “It’s okay, baby. Lean forward. Let Zach suck on those gorgeous tits of yours.” He waited for her to do as he asked and listened while the sounds of sucking filled the air. Flipping the cap off the tube, he squirted a large amount of lube onto his fingers. Starting at the lowest part of her cheeks, he slid his finger up the crease and eased it to her hole with every inch he passed. She shivered from the cool gel, and he soothed her with a kiss to the small of her back. Derek slid his finger past her entrance and bit back a curse when he felt her tight muscles give way. Quickly pulling his finger out, he used his hands to spread her cheeks apart. The hole looked so small, so tight, and so fucking inviting, he was ready to come from just the sight of it. Sliding back inside her, he used two fingers this time, coaxing her body to relax and accept more. He could hear her tiny whimpers coming from her as he wiggled his fingers around inside. Barely holding onto his restraint, he slid a third and fourth finger inside her. Her body bucked, surprising him. “Baby, is that too much?” “No, more! Derek, please!” Her words were both pleading and demanding. She actually shouted at him. He couldn’t help but grin at the naughty little minx she was showing herself to be.

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“Please what, baby?” “Fuck me!” Holy hell. Out of all the things he expected to come out of her sweet, little mouth, that was not one of them. Removing his fingers, he then reached for the lube and squirted some onto his hand. Slathering his cock, he made sure it was completely coated with the slippery substance. Positioning himself at her entrance, he used his hands to spread her cheeks apart. He slid the head of his cock just barely inside. The tight muscles contracted around him and made it hard to keep himself controlled. “Baby? Are you okay?” his voice was strained against the effort of holding back. “More. Please.” Her voice was his undoing. The need he heard in her made her sound as desperate as he felt. He put his hands on her hips, holding her firmly and then, while gritting his teeth, he thrust deep inside her. “Oh fuck!” Every one of her muscles wrapped itself around him. It felt like tiny, little hands stroking and pumping him in unison. He wasn’t even moving against the sensation it created. Bringing his hands back down to her ass, he spread her round globes again and stared at the image of his cock stretching her and hiding inside the confines of her puckered entrance. “Derek, please.” He could hear the anticipation in her voice. She was close to orgasm. He wasn’t sure he was going to be able to last that much longer, either. Pulling back and half way out of her, he slid right back in. Her moan at his movements encouraged him, telling him she felt no pain. Thrusting, he did it again, increasing his pace this time. Zach was pumping into her harder now, and he could feel the crowded feel as the two men fought for space inside her. It was an odd battle as the

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two of them fucked her, each of them feeling the other as they continued to slide, thrust, and pump her in unison. “Oh God!” Sandi screamed. Derek didn’t know if it was her scream, the tightness, or the throbbing of her muscles against him, but suddenly he felt his orgasm claw up his spine. “Yeah, baby. Come for me. Now!” His last word came out on a groan as he pumped into her hard and fast. Once, twice, and on the third, he screamed out. His shout joining those of Zach and Sandi as they all came at the same time. Her body fell limp, and she lay down against Zach. Derek dropped down on top of her, his breathing heavy as he placed kissed to her back. Still inside of her, he could feel the vibrations of her pussy walls throbbing from her climax. If ever there was a heaven on earth. This was it. They all three laid there in silence for several minutes. Derek couldn’t speak for them, but for him, he was spent. His body was exhausted and completely lax from his intense orgasm. Eventually, Zach whispered that maybe he should get up, so Derek eased up off of Sandi and pulled her body with him. Zach rolled out from under her when she lifted one of her legs. Zach dressed quietly and turned to Sandi when he was finished. “Thank you, doll. This was very special to me.” Derek watched as Zach left, pointing to a small package on a table. Finally, they were alone. Sandi lay stretched out on the bed before him. Without hesitation, he slid beside her, reaching one hand underneath her and pulling her to him with the other. In one fluid motion, he was on his back, and she was nestled safe in his arms lying on top of him. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” “Are you?” she answered.

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Her timid voice made him sad. He wanted her to be happy. “Hey, what’s with the voice? What’s the matter?” Instead of answering, she burrowed into his chest. It broke his heart that she seemed so unhappy. “Baby, what is it?” “I’m sorry,” she answered with a shaky voice. He was surprised by her apology, but his shock diminished to grief when he felt tears hit his chest. “Sweetheart, come here.” He pulled her up a few inches so their faces were level. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” “I let him…” Her voice trailed off as she looked away from him. “No!” He snapped the words at her. “Look at me! Look at me right now!” When she didn’t do as he asked, he took her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. “You didn’t let him do anything. I did!” She appeared confused by his statement. “Baby, who do you belong to?” “You, Derek. Only you.” Even though he knew it was true, it still warmed him to hear it from her. “Exactly. You’re mine. You had a fantasy. I let you have it. I let him take you. It was my decision, not yours. Do you understand?” “I just felt so guilty…I mean, not at first, but after, it was like I’d done something wrong.” “Shh, you stop that. I chose Zach for a reason, baby. He’s both of our friend, and I knew he’d be gentle with you and there would be no complications.” “You two discussed this before?” He smirked at her surprise. “Earlier today. That was the majority of the discussion I chose to not fill you in on. Are you sorry it was him?” “No…not at all. I’m glad. I think you’re right. It makes sense.” “Good. I want you happy.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I want you happy.” “Then marry me.”

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Chapter 28 Sandi laid there frozen and unable to move. Had he really just asked her to marry him? Surely, the intensity of the evening had her hearing things. Wishful thoughts were sneaking into her subconscious. “Baby?” “Yes?” “Yes, you’ll marry me?” Her eyes widened. “You mean, I didn’t imagine that? You really asked me to marry you?” Derek laughed boisterously at her. “Yeah, babe, I really asked you.” He shook his head and pulled her tight against him. “How are you so damn adorable?” Pulling slightly away from the embrace, she asked, “You really want to marry me? Are you sure?” “Are you kidding me? I think I’ve wanted to marry you since that first kiss in the parking lot of The Roadhouse.” She closed her eyes as she remembered the moment. It had been so special. The first real kiss she’d ever gotten from a boy. Only, he was no boy. Derek was a man, and he’d stayed outside sitting on the tailgate of that pickup truck all night long talking with her. He didn’t make a move or try anything, but instead just asked her questions and got to know her. It was that first night that she’d fell so hard for him, and with every passing day, her feelings only grew stronger. “I remember that kiss like it was yesterday. I had such butterflies.” “Oh, sweetie, do you want to know a secret? So did I.” Playfully, she pushed on his shoulder. “Stop that. You did not.”

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He rolled her to her side, and he lay beside her. “No, baby, I’m not lying. You were so magnificent. You were a mixture of sweetness, attitude, and you were so damn pretty. I just wanted to wrap you up in my arms and lie with you under the stars.” “Derek, you never told me that before.” She brushed her fingers through his hair. “I’m telling you now. Wait here.” He moved from the bed so fast, she was disappointed. The mood and moment had been so perfect just seconds ago. The big bed, suddenly, seemed so cold and lonely without him lying next to her. He was doing something across the room, and she thought maybe he’d arranged for champagne until he turned around before quickly putting his hands behind his back and coming back toward her. “Come here.” He reached one of his hands out to her and pulled her to the edge of the bed. “Derek, what is it?” He seemed so serious. “Sandi, I love you. I have loved you for so long, I can’t even remember when I began, as though I always have. All that time without you was miserable. I could barely breathe, baby. You’re a part of my soul. I’ll always love you.” She was already near tears from his declarations, but when he pulled his hand other hand out and brought a shiny diamond ring into her sight, the tears fell freely. “Sandi, will you please marry me. I swear, I’ll die if you say no.” “Yes!” She wrapped her arms around him. “Oh my God, yes! Of course, I will marry you. I love you! I love you so much!” Still clutching onto him, she was laughing and crying while kissing his head, his face, and any part of him that her mouth could reach. Never had she felt such an emotional joy before. “Easy there.” Derek pulled away from her. “Let’s get this ring on your finger.”

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With a big smile and tears welling up in her eyes, she held out her hand. He kissed her finger before sliding it on and then took her hand in his, locking their fingers. “Now it’s official. I’ve been waiting to put that ring on your finger for years.” She could do nothing but shake her head in disbelief. How could she be so lucky? He was the most amazing and wonderful man in the world. She loved him so much, and now she would be his wife. All of her dreams were coming true. Derek leaned her back on the bed, his large body covering hers. His lips pressed onto hers, pushing hers open and sliding his tongue inside. Something felt so different in his movements. His hands were roaming her body as though he didn’t already know every inch of her. His urgency was contagious. She found herself squeezing her fingers into his back, feeling muscles she wasn’t sure she even knew were there. “Derek, please.” His mouth buried itself against the small dip between her shoulder and her neck. He covered her with sensuous, hot kisses. She could feel tiny pinpoints of heat shooting through her body. “Please, I’m so achy for you,” she pleaded with him. His long fingers slid past her wet slit and inside her pussy. “Oh, baby. Jesus, you’re so wet!” “I want you!” Arching into his teasing hand, she gently nibbled on his ear, hoping to drive him as crazy as she was. She wanted him inside her, filling her with his hardness. “Oh!” she exclaimed, completely unprepared for the feel of his strong finger sliding into her ass. Derek said nothing to her, just slowly teased her with it, sliding it in and out before coating his fingers with more of her juices and replacing his one finger with two. “Oh my…Derek!”

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It felt so good, but she couldn’t seem to form a single sentence that made any sense. Her need to be filled by him was much deeper. “I want you here, baby. Please let me have you here.” As he said it, he ground himself against her, his pubic hairs tickling her clitoris while continuing to slide his fingers inside her tight asshole. “Yes, anything, anywhere…I’m yours.” He groaned. She had to smile. He actually groaned and sounded like a lion ready to attack his prey. Something about it just turned her on more. He rose from the bed and went over to the same bag he’d rummaged in earlier, returning a moment later with a tube of lubricant. It was red with the word HEAT written in bold letters along the side. She rolled over and placed her hands down on the bed, arching her back so her bottom was facing him. Chills raced up her spine when his tongue met with one of her cheeks. “You have a beautiful ass, baby, but I want you on your back.” She was confused by his request, but willing to do anything for him. Rolling on her back, she looked up at him and reached out, the glint of her ring shining at her. She had been so overjoyed by his proposal, she never really looked at it. Now she could see the diamond’s shape and clarity as it sparkled at her. The pear-shaped stone looked like half of a heart. She had to smile at the first thought that came to her mind. She was only half of a heart without Derek. He was what made her whole. The squirting sound of the lubricant broke her from her thoughts. Derek’s fingers coated her tiny entrance, working it in and all around the puckering skin which surrounded it. The packaging didn’t lie. Her skin already felt warm from the gelatinous material. She watched anxiously as he rubbed a generous amount all over his cock. It amazed her how, every time she saw him in that state, she could see more veins and texture that seemed unknown to her before. “Are you sure, baby?”

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Nodding she reached for him. “Yes.” He lifted her legs, pushing them back against her shoulders before lifting her bottom. She could feel the head of his cock right at the opening. Her insides were throbbing in part excitement and part anxiety. She didn’t have to wait long as he pushed the tip inside her. Instantly, her muscles stretched and began to burn from the trauma. His fingers were no match in comparison to his size, yet she wanted more. “Are you okay?” he asked her, while caressing one of her legs. “Yes.” She bit her lower lip. “More.” With one thrust, he buried himself deep inside her. She screamed in pain as her muscles gave way to his intrusion. His size felt at least ten times larger than ever before. Her muscles were throbbing unbearably as a burn raced through her entire body. “Fuck! You’re killing me,” Derek muttered. She hadn’t realized her eyes had closed. She opened them to see Derek shaking. Sweat was beading on his forehead. “What’s wrong?” She wondered if the tightness had hurt him, too. “Your muscles…they’re contracting around me. It’s so fucking incredible.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Are you okay?” It was then she realized that her throbs of pain had turned into an ache of almost emptiness. He was deep inside the tiniest part of her, yet she had an unyielding need to begin moving with him. His fullness was more intense than she’d expected. They were connected to one another on a different level. “Yes. Oh, Derek. I love you. Please, don’t stop.” She returned his kiss and moved her hips. **** Derek bit down on her lower lip and grunted his frustration. He was torn between agony and pleasure. She was so tight. This was different than any experience he’d ever had. He didn’t know if it was

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the ring on her finger or if it was the feeling of finally sliding that ring on her finger, but his body was beyond any control. Thrusting in her, he tried to restrain himself. It would have been so easy to come. The feeling was just clawing at him. Never had he felt such strength from an orgasm waiting to break free. He refocused his attention and began strumming his thumb against her clit. She was whimpering and bucking against him. Her beautiful head was shaking from side to side, flipping her hair around. He couldn’t remember a time he’d seen her so lost in it. “You are so damn beautiful! Come for me, baby.” He worked his fingers even harder, wanting to see her fall over the edge. Still thrusting inside her, he knew he was barely hanging on himself, but he refused to fall before she did. Then the most beautiful sound echoed in the room. She screamed her ecstasy. Her whole body shook, and he felt her sweet release spill out and drip down to his dick which was thrusting wildly in her. As if that sight and sensation of her wet heat wasn’t enough to send him over the edge, he felt her orgasm reverberate through her insides. It was massaging and convulsing around him. Two seconds, and he was unable to control himself. He let out a scream he didn’t know he was possible of making. While her legs trembled, his body shook, his cum spurting out inside of her in a seemingly never-ending stream of pleasure. Derek fell on top of her. The last time he’d felt that exhausted was after running a ten-mile marathon, yet somehow now, he was even more spent. They laid there for several minutes, their breaths heaving as sweat covered them both. He had no idea how much time had passed when he opened his eyes from the sound of her voice calling to him. “Yeah, baby? You okay?” He could barely get the words out. Every part of him was drained. “We should do that more often.”

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He lifted his head and saw a cute little grin on her face. Laughing, he dropped his forehead to hers. “Uh-oh, have I created a monster?” She giggled. “I think so.”

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Epilogue: Warren’s Story Begins… Warren stumbled into his bedroom. Having shared in one too many congratulatory shots of whisky in honor of his friends Derek and Sandi’s news of upcoming nuptials, he was a bit more drunk than usual. Thankfully, Ann and Quinn had driven his sorry ass home. He had to admit the good old Travis boys had lucked out in the woman department. Ann was a goddess, and Sandi was an angel. No matter how happy he was for his old buddies, he was glad it was them and not him. The last thing he needed was to be stuck with one woman his whole life. He was very satisfied with bachelorhood. “Hi, handsome.” He flipped the light switch on and was met with the image of a nearly naked, but gorgeous redhead lying in his bed. The only thing covering her was a tiny pair of green panties. He’d always prided himself on his practicality in any situation, but some questions just need to be asked. “Hey there, sweetheart. Pardon me for asking, but do I know you?” The brazen bombshell seemed hurt by his question. “Well, not really, but I thought I left a bigger impression than that.” He scanned his memory for any indication of her. Surely, he hadn’t slept with her. Something like that he would remember. That ruled out any chance that he’d taken her out on a date since all of his dates end in sex. “Sorry, sugar. I’ve had a few too many shots of whiskey tonight. Help me out?”

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“Actually, I think I’ll just be leaving.” She got up from the bed and reached for her clothes. As she bent over, he got an incredible view of her ass. Instantly, his dick became hard, and the idea of her leaving was not something he was going to let happen. “Hey now, don’t be like that. Of course, I remember you. I was only teasing, babe.” She flung her long red locks around and put her hands on her hips. “Oh, really?” He gave her his best smile. The one that made all the women in his life fall to their knees. “Really. Now why don’t you come here and let me make it up to you?” She came toward him slowly, her beautiful, round tits all but begging to be sucked on. He had no idea who the hell she was, but he couldn’t wait to get her back in his bed. She was only a couple steps away from him when he grabbed her and pulled her into him. Her ass was so round and soft, he wondered if she bathed in creams and lotions. He wasted no time as he brought his mouth down to hers and swept his tongue inside hers. There was a brief moment of hesitation on her part, like she hadn’t been expecting him to be so aggressive. It only took a couple seconds to coax her to give into him. He was used to women who needed a little help relaxing. She was a gorgeous woman, definitely worth his patience. “Oh, Warren. I’ve wanted you for so long.” She had? Who the hell was she? Nothing about her seemed familiar. He very rarely forgot a pretty face and never forgot a hot body. His curiosity was getting the better of him, and he was dying to ask her who she was, but he didn’t want to risk her trying to leave again. “Me, too, sugar.” It wasn’t a total lie. He’d wanted her for the past five minutes. For dogs, that was a very long time. Lord knew, he had been compared to a dog a time or two.

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She pulled away from his kiss. “You have?” He couldn’t exactly burst her bubble. She looked so happy to hear him say it. “Yeah, sweetheart. Really.” “Oh, Warren, make love to me.” Their mouths locked together again. This time, she was not timid. Her mood had changed, and she seemed eager to play. He could hardly wait as he undid his jeans while she was ripping open the front of his shirt. He knew she’d broken some buttons and heard them hit the floor, but he didn’t care. He wanted to bury himself inside this sexy, mystery woman. Figuring out who she was could come later. His shirt was on the floor, and his jeans soon met with the same fate as he kicked them off. He slid his hand in her panties. A small patch of hair was coated in her wetness. Dipping a finger inside her to test her readiness, he was struck at how wet she was. Whoever she was, she wanted it as bad as he did. “Mmm…I have to be inside you, sweetheart.” “Yes.” She was breathless. “Please, I’ve waited so long.” He knew he should be confused about who she was. She clearly knew who he was, yet he had no memory of her. Hell, he didn’t care though. He wanted to fuck her senseless. Getting acquainted could come later. Hurriedly, he pulled her panties down to her ankles and lifted her to the bed. He covered her with his large body and reached over to his bedside table. Grabbing a condom from the box, he tore it open with his teeth and threw the package on the floor. Mere seconds went by as he rolled the condom on his dick. Her glistening, pink lips looked so delicious. He wanted to bend his head down and slide his tongue in her slit, but his need to pound inside her overpowered his thirst. He spread her legs apart and positioned the tip at her entrance. A second later, he drove into her. A loud scream tore from her. Being a man that made women scream on a regular basis, he knew what pleasure sounded like, and that scream was not one of them.

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Scared he’d hurt her, he stopped and looked at her. “Are you okay?” Her eyes were squeezed tight. Biting on her lower lip, she mumbled, “Uh-huh.” She was lying. Something was wrong. “Open your eyes.” Her eyes opened, and he saw tears fall. “Oh fuck!” For the first time in his life he was losing his hard-on. He pulled out of her and got off of her. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he put his head in his hands. “What did I do wrong?” Her shaky voice perplexed him. He turned around to answer her. “What? Sweetheart, you did nothing wrong.” Reaching over he wiped a tear from her cheek. “You’re crying. I hurt you.” She nuzzled her cheek into his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect it to hurt so much. It’s okay now. Can we try again?” What the hell? He knew he wasn’t small in size, but never had he hurt a woman. She was wet and ready. It didn’t make sense that—oh shit! He closed his eyes, almost afraid to ask the question. “Are you a virgin?” His mystery guest looked up at him from her tear-filled, green eyes and nodded. “Oh fuck!” He rose from the bed and paced the room. No matter how much he loved women and sex, he still had a heart. If he knew she was a virgin, he would’ve never taken her so roughly. Hell, he would’ve never taken her, period. “Warren, please don’t be angry with me. I’ve wanted to be with you for so long. I figured if I told you, then you wouldn’t want to.” “Oh gee, ya think? Of course I wouldn’t have.” He didn’t know what to do. How was he going to deal with the fact he’d taken a girl’s

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innocence. “Jesus, how old are you?” He prayed her answer would make her at least legal. “I’m twenty-three.” Thank God for small favors, he thought to himself. “Why do you keep saying you’ve been waiting for this for so long? Who the hell are you?” As soon as he saw her pretty eyes flood with even more tears, he wanted to kick himself for being so cold. He’d just taken her virginity, and now he dug the knife in a little deeper for her. “You…you said you remembered me.” “Look, I’m sorry.” He came to the bed and sat next to her. She’d pulled her knees up into her body and was curled up. “I don’t remember you. Where did we meet?” “At my grandpa’s stables.” He shook his head and wondered if she had him confused with someone else. “At your grandpa’s stables? Sweetheart, that doesn’t make sense. The only stables I’m ever at are…” He stopped. His heart suddenly ceased its continuous beating when images of a sweet thirteen-year-old girl who always wore her long, auburn hair in a braid. “What is your name?” he asked while silently praying his suspicious were wrong. “Amber.” “Amber Jenkins?” She gave him a soft smile. “Yes. It’s me, Warren. You do remember me.” She leaned over to kiss him, but he quickly pulled away. “Amber Jenkins! As in my boss’s granddaughter, Amber Jenkins. As in the girl that old man Jenkins vowed to shoot the nuts off of any man who went near his precious granddaughter!” “Warren, I’m not a little girl anymore.”

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He wanted to hit something. He didn’t just have sex with the one woman who would not only cost him his job and probably make old man Jenkins chase him down with a rifle, but he took her virginity.

THE END HTTP://NICOLEMORGAN1.WEBS.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nicole Morgan was an avid reader who kept having one recurring problem. Ideas of stories kept popping into her head. Today Nicole is an author of erotic, romantic novels, which more often than not have a suspenseful backstory. Erotic romance mixed with a good old fashioned who-done-it. She tries to place strong emphasis on the characters’ emotions while also throwing in some spicy and hot love scenes. Nicole wants her writing to inspire you, the reader, and open your heart to feel the same things the characters are going through. While still trying to stay true to her style, she is finding her writing is evolving as she takes on new and uncharted territory. There are many areas of erotica out there that she hasn’t had a chance to really delve into and is anxiously looking forward to doing just that.

Also by Nicole Morgan Siren Classic: Sudden Devotion Siren Allure: Love Knows No Boundaries Siren Allure: Sweet Awakenings 1: Sweet Redemption Siren Allure: Sweet Awakenings 2: Sweet Salvation Siren Classic: Sweet Awakenings 3: Sweet Vengeance Siren Classic: Intimate Temptations 1: Intimate Persuasions

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com