WrappedAroundYourFinger (12 page)

“Indie—”

“No, you wanted me to talk so I’m going to talk. You were
right when you said that I hide. Do you want to know why? Because I don’t want
anyone seeing the person I used to be. When I said my mom had a hard time when
my dad was on the road, it was a big fucking understatement. She was depressed;
so depressed she couldn’t drag her ass out of bed to care for five kids.
I
did it.
I
made sure we all got to school, everyone was fed and the house
was livable. Me, Indigo Jane Hartley. But you know what was almost as bad as my
mom’s depression? The way people would talk—that poor Hartley girl. It’s a
shame she’ll probably end up just like her momma—married young with a passel of
kids and never moving more than a few blocks from where she was born.” She took
a shaky breath and wiped her face with the back of her hand. It came away wet.
When had she started crying? Great, Banner would think she was a complete
basket case after this. She’d told him this much, she might as well tell him
all of it.

“When Daddy retired, I got out as fast as I could. I moved
down here, where nobody knew me and I could be whoever I wanted to be. Getting
into modeling just made it easier for me to leave my old life behind. I wasn’t
that poor girl from the sticks anymore whose momma was a little loose in the
head. I was Indigo Hartley, fetish model and aspiring chef. After a few tattoos
and blue hair, no one really looked beyond that. Well, it used to be purple,
that’s beside the point. I’m babbling again aren’t I?”

Banner grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to him. She
settled into his arms and wrapped herself around him. This was where she
belonged. There was no other way to explain why he felt so safe. He felt like
home. With a deep sigh she sniffed back the last of her tears.

“Thank you,” he whispered as he kissed the top of her head.

She pulled back from him so she could look into his eyes.
“For what? Blubbering all over you for the second time in less than twenty-four
hours?”

“No, for trusting me enough to tell me that.”

“Well just don’t go feeling sorry for me. I couldn’t take
that.”

“I don’t feel sorry for you. I’m amazed by you.” He cupped
her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. “You’re a strong, capable
woman who decided you wanted more than what life handed you and worked to make
it happen. As my mother used to say, it takes grit. Now if I could just get you
to let go of this delusion that I told you our time together would be casual
and fun. I don’t recall ever saying those words to you.”

“I don’t understand, Banner. Then why three days? What was
that all about?”

“It was about a start.”

“A start?” Then it hit her like a good, stinging slap on the
ass. “You planned this out from the beginning, didn’t you? You just sold me a
three-day package because that’s all you’d thought I’d buy,” she said in
disbelief.

“That’s a bit blunt, but essentially yes.” He nodded as if
luring her in and seducing her was perfectly okay.

“I can’t believe you! You took away my clothes, strapped me down,
gave me the best sex I’ve ever had, made me cry, made me care about you!” She
slapped him on the arm. “For what?”

“Because I want to keep you.”

He what? “You what?”

“Indie, I’ve looked a very long time to find someone like
you. Three days is not enough. I need more…a lot more.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you and me not just playing at Dominant
and submissive,” he said softly as he ran a hand through her hair.

“You’re serious aren’t you?” she asked, hoping yet afraid
that he’d say yes.

“Very.”

“I can’t be like those subs that Jared trains.”

“Nor would I want you to be. I don’t want or have use for a
slave. I can’t lie and say I won’t push you, because I will. I can’t say it
will always be about what you want, because it won’t. What I
can
say is,
I care about you and I can give you what you need.”

“You really care about me?” She almost couldn’t believe he’d
said it. She needed to hear him say it again.

“Do you think I would be here if I didn’t?”

“I don’t know, I mean what do you want with someone like me?
I’m a pain in the ass. I’m not trained. I say fuck a lot. I’ll never be a size
two and I have a horrible addiction to cupcakes. Do you really want all that?”

“How many times do I have to tell you that I think you’re
perfect, just the way you are? I think I’ll add a few more swats to your
punishment for making me repeat myself.
Again
.”

Her breath caught. “What?”

“Mmm, you didn’t really think that I would let a thing like
you leaving before our time was up go unpunished did you?” There was that
wolfish grin again.

Uh-oh.

“And you slapped me. I think we can add a few for that as
well,” he continued as he rubbed the wooden spoon he still held along the
outside of her arm.

“So, um, how many am I up to now?”

“Oh I think at least twenty.”

Indie felt her eyes widen and her clit pulse.

“Clothes off. On second thought, put the apron back on after
you’re naked. It’s kind of sexy.”

“What about Aimee, Sir?” It was funny how easily that word
just slipped out.

“You should have thought about that before you decided to
cheat me out of my last day with my submissive.”

“What? I didn’t cheat—”

“Shh. Am I going to have to put vocal restrictions in
place?”

She shook her head a little too vigorously. He would and she
knew it. She’d rather not earn a spanking every time something flew out of her
mouth. Slowly she undressed until she stood before him completely nude, then
retied her apron around her waist.

“Bend over the kitchen table.”

Oh shit. This was going to hurt.

The End

Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the
multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer ebooks or
paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic
reading experience that will leave you breathless.

www.ellorascave.com