Sweet Obsession: Windy City Kink, Book 1 (37 page)

She trembled and continued to leak tears, but gradually the warmth of his body and his touch calmed her.

“Gonna loosen the ropes,” he murmured.

She made a noise of protest, not wanting to lose the warmth and sheltered feeling of them.

“Just loosen them,” he said. “I won’t take them off just yet.” He held her in his lap as he did so, and she curled up against him. “There you go.” He tugged off the blindfold then rubbed her wrists between his hands, continuing to touch and speak softly to her. “Take your time, Sasha. Come back slowly.”

He caressed her ribs, her tummy, stroked her cheek and kissed her neck, brushed his fingertips over nipples held erect by the rings. She had never in her life felt so cared for, so cherished. She had never in her life experienced such an incredible high. Even though emotion had come pouring out of her, she felt a narcotic pleasure, what she’d been craving all her life and didn’t know it. And Jack had given it to her. Overwhelming gratitude and love pushed her deeper into his arms, closer to his body. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I’ve got you.”

When she at long last felt calmer, her breathing slower, her body no longer shaking, she lifted her head to look at him.

“I want to do something for you,” she whispered. “I want to give you something.”

“You just did.” He smiled and touched her face. “You just gave me the best thing you could. The most important thing. You gave me your trust.”

She nodded.

“Tell me how it felt.”

“You always ask me that after.”

“I need to know. If it wasn’t good, I need to know so I can make it good.”

“God. It was amazing. I felt like I was flying, Jack. It scared me a little…but I knew you were there for me.”

“I am. Always.” He touched the wetness beneath her eyes. “You cried.”

“Yes. I’m not sure why. I just felt really emotional. Like I can’t love you enough. But I want to try.”

“Perfect,” he whispered. “See? I knew it all along.”

“I thought you were working on that arrogance thing.”

He choked on a laugh. “Oh yeah. Right. Thankfully I have you to remind me.”

“Any chance I get.”

They shared a slow smile of understanding and trust and love.

Epilogue

Sasha cast a sidelong glance at Jack as they paused outside the door of her parents’ home the next weekend. In her hands, she gripped a book. Beneath her clothes, she wore his rope, a thin rope fastened into a corset of sorts, what he called a
Karada
. He’d made her stand in front of the mirror with it on, studying the diamond shapes down the front of her body, the way it delicately framed her breasts and passed between her legs. It felt comforting, and with her jeans and T-shirt over it, it wasn’t visible to anyone else, other than possibly the rope that passed around the back of her neck. But it was black, as was her T-shirt.

She took courage from it as she opened the door and they stepped inside, knowing that now she’d found the strength to admit her true desires, to start the journey to truly knowing herself, she was strong enough to do what she now had to do.

“I was so intimidated by this place as a teenager,” Jack murmured next to her. “It’s easy to slip back into that.”

She nodded, remembering the feelings that had resurfaced earlier when she’d been talking to her parents. She understood that. But she turned to him and went onto her toes to kiss his mouth. “You are the most amazing man I know,” she said quietly, her hand holding the back of his head. “You’re strong and determined and generous. You have no reason to feel intimidated. They should be intimidated by you.”

“Definitely.” He smiled against her lips and gave her butt a gentle tap that sent a thrill through her.

“Sasha. Oh.” Her mom stopped dead at the entrance to the den. Her eyes flickered over Jack, and the two of them standing so close and kissing.

Sasha slipped her hand into Jack’s, clutching the book she carried in her other hand. “Hi, Mom. You remember Jack?”

Mom’s fingers fluttered to her throat, her other arm around her own waist. “Yes. Of course.”

“Mrs. Bandel.” Jack gave her a courteous smile.

“I didn’t know you were bringing him,” Mom said. “When you called I thought it was just you.” She was clearly remembering Sasha telling her earlier that she and Jack were finished.

“Jack and I want to talk to you together. Is Dad in the den?”

“Yes. Come in.” She sounded like she’d rather chew broken glass.

They followed her in and Dad was in his usual spot on the couch. He did a double take when he saw Jack and rose to his feet. A flush rose from his neck up into his face, but he kept his expression neutral.

Jack walked over and shook his hand. “Mr. Bandel. I have something for you.”

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope, which he handed to Dad. Dad’s eyes flickered back and forth between Jack and the envelope, and he opened the unsealed flap to peer inside. His gaze shot back up to Jack.

“Yes. It’s the money you gave me twelve years ago.”

Sasha watched them, nerves fluttering in her stomach. She had to do this, wanted to do this, but it was still hard.

“I’m not going to go as far as thanking you for what you did back then,” Jack continued, his voice deep and steady. “But I will tell you that I’ve forgiven you. I know what you did was out of concern for your daughter, and I get that. I also think things happen for a reason. The things we have to work the hardest for are the things we appreciate the most. The things we have to wait for, we appreciate the most. I waited twelve years for Sasha. And I want you to know how much I do appreciate her.”

Sasha stepped up and slipped her arm through his, hugging it to her. “Jack may have forgiven you,” she said. “I’m not sure if I can. But maybe it’ll be easier now that Jack and I are together again.”

“Sasha.” Her mom spoke. “I don’t think you should—”

“This is my life.” She looked from her dad to her mom. “I know what happened shocked you. But…” She took a deep breath and the ropes hugged her. “I have to tell you the truth. I was too afraid back then, but I have to tell you. For Jack. And…and for me.” She swallowed. “What happened between Jack and me that night was consensual. I wanted to do it as much as he did. Things went wrong, but we were young. Maybe Jack’s right, maybe things worked out best in the end. Maybe we’re in a better place to deal with things now. But I want you to know that I love him. And I trust him. With my life.” Her voice quivered. Damn. She wanted to seem confident. But it wasn’t a lack of confidence that made her throat close up, it was emotion, overwhelming love. “I probably wasn’t strong enough back then. But now I am. Strong enough to admit what I want.”

Jack’s tender smile melted her heart. He gave an encouraging nod. She took more strength from that.

“I wanted you to know that. I don’t want you to blame Jack for what happened. And you don’t need to be worried about me.”

“But you will,” Jack added with a wry smile. “I know how it feels. I know you want the best for Sasha, want her to be safe and happy. And I want to assure you that I will spend the rest of my life making sure she’s safe and happy and loved.”

Now Sasha’s entire body trembled. He’d said the words to her, but saying them to her parents made her heart burst wide open with love for him.

“What happens between Jack and me happens because we both want it,” she continued. “I want you to know that I trust him and…and you should too.” She moved toward her mother and held out the book she carried. “Mom…would you read this?”

Her mother took the book and looked down at it, her forehead creased. “What is this?”

“It’s a book that helps family members understand when someone they care about is into alternative sexual practices.” It was hard to say this to her mom, but she was determined not to be ashamed any more.

Mom’s cheeks flushed and she kept her gaze fastened on the book.

“I think if you understand more about it, and you know that there are other people out there like us, it will help you not to worry so much about me. Actually, I read it myself and it helped
me
understand.”

Reading the book that Jack had shared with her, a book he’d been given by Sensei many years ago, had helped her realize that people like her with appetites for dominance, submission, sadism or masochism, were most likely born with them. She’d read stories of others who’d become aware of those desires early in life, before they even knew much about sex or what they were called. She’d read stories about teenagers who’d outed themselves to their parents and others who’d had their appetites discovered much to their parents’ horror or dismay. Others had been through what she’d been through, and that had comforted her. And she’d read that there were no answers to the question of why she was this way. Turn-ons, turn-offs, fantasies and kinks were different for everyone—for her and Jack, as for Kevin with his cross-dressing.

Dad stood there, holding the envelope of money. She watched his eyes flicker, his mouth tighten then relax. She watched Jack hold Dad’s gaze unflinchingly, his chin lifted. And then Dad looked at Mom, and their eyes met, and Dad nodded. He cleared his throat and looked back at Jack. “When Payton called to tell me what happened, she told me that you’d stepped in and basically saved her from that…jerk she was seeing. And that you made sure she got safely into a taxi.” He looked at the envelope again. “She also told me that your company is the one we’ve contracted with. I didn’t realize it was yours. And I read that article in that magazine.” He nodded at the copy of
TechBiz
on the coffee table. “You’ve done well for yourself, Jack.”

“Thank you.”

“David,” Mom breathed. Dad looked at Mom. “Read the book, Kate,” he said gruffly. “It’s life. I never wanted to think…” He cleared his throat. “Well. Like Jack said, we’ll still worry. Because she’s our little girl. Can’t help that. But she’s an adult. And maybe we should get to know Jack better, to see if her trust in him is well placed.”

Jack bent his head and murmured in Sasha’s ear, “Thank you, brave girl.”

Yeah, it was hard. But she knew she couldn’t have Jack’s love—didn’t deserve his love—if she wasn’t honest with him. With her parents. And most of all—with herself.

About the Author

Kelly Jamieson lives in Winnipeg, Canada, and is the best-selling author of over thirty romance novels and novellas. Her writing has been described as “emotionally complex”, “sweet and satisfying” and “blisteringly sexy”. If she can stop herself from reading or writing, she loves to cook. She has shelves of cookbooks that she reads at length. She also enjoys gardening in the summer, and in the winter she likes to read gardening magazines and seed catalogues (there might be a theme here…). She also loves shopping, especially for clothes and shoes. She loves hearing from readers, so please visit her website at
www.kellyjamieson.com
or contact her at
[email protected]
.

Look for these titles by Kelly Jamieson

Now Available:

Love Me
 

Friends With Benefits
 

Love Me More
 

2 Hot 2 Handle
 

Lost and Found
 

One Wicked Night
 

Sweet Deal
 

Hot Ride
 

You Really Got Me

Rule of Three

Rule of Three
 

Rhythm of Three

San Amaro Singles
 

With Strings Attached
 

How to Love
 

Slammed

Coming Soon:

Reward of Three

All Messed Up

There will be pain…but only if she asks nicely.

You Really Got Me

© 2014 Kelly Jamieson

Kendall Vioget fell hard for Police Chief Jason Holloway, until the best sex of her life became something more, something she wasn’t ready for. Afraid of what he asked of her, afraid of her own desires, she walked away.

Now her brother’s fiancée has gone missing a week before the wedding, bringing Jason back into her life. She needs his help, but her body is losing the battle to resist the hunger to satisfy the dark cravings he can set free.
 

Jason understands what she needs, and when her increasing submission banishes the self-doubts he’s been carrying around, he knows a perfect match like this comes along only once in a lifetime. Until the missing persons case becomes a murder investigation, and suspicion falls on her brother.

Kendall will do anything to protect the only family she has left, and Jason will do anything to make sure a killer is put behind bars. If he doesn’t handle this case right, the most precious gift she could have given him—her trust—will be destroyed. Permanently.

Warning: This book contains bondage, spanking, a sexy police chief determined to catch a killer, a woman determined to protect her family, and wine…lots of wine.