Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
I remember the times Victor had my back in a dangerous place and how he became a silent shadow. “He’d probably find a way to elude them.”
“Too right. But maybe I will send security after them, just to make things interesting.”
I wait until Rex gets cornered by the mayor and slip away to find St. James. He’s lingering on the edge of the dance floor, studying the dancers. For a moment, the torchlight plays on his face, and he looks lost. Then the shadows flicker, and the vulnerable expression is gone as if it never was.
He turns to me. “Congratulations, Mrs. Ramos.”
“Roy-Ramos. We’re going to hyphenate.”
“Ah. In any case, well done. You’ve tamed the lion.”
“I don’t know if he’s very tame. And it might be fair to say he tamed me.”
St. James dips his head to show his agreement, and I sense a beam of light glowing deep in the foggy depths of his aura. I have a premonition that he’ll soon find the submissive he will want to cage forever. Then it will be his turn to have someone drive him out of his mind and break all his iron-clad control.
“What is it?” he asks. His gray eyes miss nothing.
I shake my head. “I just wanted to thank you. For everything.” On impulse, I push up to tiptoe and kiss his cheek.
His breath huffs out of him, and he goes still, as if the touch of my lips turned him to stone. Then his lips curl up slightly. “You’re playing with fire.”
I look past him to where Rex is glowering at both of us. “I know. He’s not going to be happy with me.”
“Ah, the bratty games of a masochistic sub,” St. James chuckles. “You better return to him before he tries to kill me in front of the mayor.”
“I won’t let him do that. He has to get permission from me before he murders anyone else. We agreed.” But I move on, returning to Rex’s side.
“Do you want to spend another night in the dungeon?” he growls in my ear after he extricates us from another boring conversation with a senator.
“You know I do.” His fingers tighten on my arm and I get a thrill.
“Don’t test me, little bird. I will put you in a cage.”
“I know.” That’s what I’m hoping for.
He thinks he’s clipping my wings, but I know the truth. Before Rex, I was in a cage, and now I fly free.
And tonight, when the guests have gone and we’re in the dungeon together, he undresses me himself. My gown falls away, leaving only the body harness framing my breasts and my sex. I feel perfect like this, bound and on display and owned.
Rex starts with gloves, stroking his leather-clad fingers down my skin until I’m mindless. Then he removes them and pinches my nipples until the pain washes me clean. We repeat our vows.
“Will you let me cage you?”
“Yes.”
“Will you let me keep you?”
“Yes.”
“Will you let me love you?”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
He grazes his teeth along my shoulder, biting into my skin until I cry out. I hope that he leaves not just a mark but a scar. I want this moment written on my skin. This blissful feeling, this all-encompassing love.
I can’t imagine feeling any more happy than I do right now.
But there’s more. Another revelation for us to share. Another frontier to conquer together.
It starts with a dream.
* * *
I’m lying in bed clutching my plush toy rabbit, pillow soft under my cheek. There’s a noise outside my door. A rush of air, a crackling sound, then I’m drenched in smoke and heat and flickering flame—
* * *
I jerk upright out of the dream. Rex is awake almost before I am. His hand slides over my back. The gentle touch brings me to the present moment.
“What is it?” Rex asks. “A dream?”
“A vision.”
“Past or present?” He’s not using his dom voice, but the commands help me focus.
“Future.” I squeeze his arm and nod to let him know I want him to keep prompting me.
“What did you see?”
“Smoke. Fire.” I describe the scene as best I can. It’s not a memory, although it felt like one. At first, I thought I was in my childhood bedroom, but it wasn’t mine. I explain this to Rex. “It was an apartment building. There was a window looking out onto the city.”
“Where? Can you give me any details?”
Please, I beg the gods, or my own mind, or whatever the supernatural source of the visions is. Please give me what I need.
The picture comes clearly. “There are four bell towers. A church. . .” I describe the view. “It’s a family. Mom, dad, four children. Twin toddlers and an older brother. And a little girl.” I saw everything through her eyes.
“All right.” Rex rises. I know he’s headed to his lair and surveillance system. He’s going to search the city, using the details of vision to try and help. If anyone can do it, it’s him.