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The word he said under his breath could never have come frohed, his deep, infectious laugh that was al him curse He pulled her hand away fro up the shoes, he put his arain

As the tide ca and tickling their feet in frothy white water She shtness returned to her chest What would it be like to never be part of any of this again?

He squeezed her shoulder, breaking into her thoughts "Do you think less of yourself because you’re afraid?"

"A little Other peopleall the time"

"And some hide in their houses scared to coe and in a particularly ugly way, Gabrielle But lanced up at hi personality You understand people and want to help That’s different froe that evil can create" His brows drew together "YouYou should know this, sugar"

She gave hi myself up for--" She halted She hadn’t planned to mention--

"I heard you volunteered because of your friend" Despite the concerned expression on his face, his gaze held only warh came easily, as if her tears had hollowed out roo out in a BDSM club"

He chuckled, then cursed as an incogled

One second before the next wave hit, he swung her around to reverse their positions She squeaked as cold water splashed up her calves, soaked theher skin to goose bu dipwad"

His eyes narrowed "Did you call your doled, then protested, "You’re not my dom"

"Am I not?" Deliberately, he tossed their shoes onto the dry sand and advanced on her

"No, wait" Hands up, she waded farther into the water until it hit her knees and each wave tested her balance

He stopped, and his se a different do him actually hurt, like a cruel blow somewhere deep inside Obviously she’d ventured farther with hiered on the shifting sand--the footing was definitely unstable She and Marcus had no solid foundation either, but…for right now, she’d cherish the time with him Hell, she could end up enslaved or dead before this week ended--ht as well take what she wanted from life "I want you," she said, then winced "Uh I still have to behave like a brat"

He chuckled and heaved ato htmare for me?"

"You bet" And what a relief he now realized it was an act--well, some of it was an act

"In that case, I’m fixin’ to feel badly every time I punish you" His face sobered "I truly will, Gabi I understand why Galen and Vance demanded secrecy I don’t think I could have…" He shook his head

He was the kind of do what ood then" He curved his hands around her waist in a hard grip "However, Li’ll brat, I reckon I’ret this at all"

She frowned at hirinned Then he lifted her and tossed her head over heels into the water

Chapter Sixteen

When Gabi walked into the Shadowlands that Friday, apprehension crept up her spine Hoould the Masters treat her now?

She spotted Agent Rhodes sitting at the end of the bar and snickered at his glare Had Vance or Galen taken hi? Or maybe the fact that they hadn’t reprimanded her torqued his jaw She veered to avoid him and headed for the other end of the bar, where Master Raoul talked with the big bartender