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His dry sense of humor popped up at the oddest tined them, and dismissed them, until only Linda was left Lovely

Heher gaze on the floor

When he lifted her chin, his calloused hand ared in her soul "I don’t want you to do this, Linda"

She saw the crease between his brows, the tenseness in his face Oh, he cared, the stubborn, closed-off cretin "Nobody tellsmoment, he repeated, "Not now?"

He really didn’t understand "When I was younger, if I’d known about any of this, I ht have wanted a full-tied when I was kidnapped" His hand smelled of soap with the faintest trace of horses She wanted to kiss his palrown cold and reone as if it had never happened, and the loss hurt her

Her words spilled out "You look at me now like they did--like I’ to their dogs"

Sam stiffened as if she’d struck him His hand dropped

Oh, she hadn’t meant to say that To attack him "I’m sorry That’s how I feel, but that wasn’t what I ain, then," he said evenly

She sed and chose her words carefully "You and I talked about this before It’s about taking orders The slavers dictated everything--shower, grooraaze "I like being submissive But I need to choose when I hand over control And the rest of the time, I have to own myself Make my own choices Especially decisions on what risks I’ll take I’m nother in danger Had she ever met anyone more protective? His face wasn’t expressionless now; she could actually see his need to keep her safe warring with his desire to give her what she required for herself

Finally he stepped back "First shift, you barmaid in the main room We’ll discuss the second shift when the time coers chilled and fear started to rise "Thank you, Sa her to go

She headed for the door, forcing her feet forward rather than running back to hi him to keep her safe

She didn’t look back No, not at all Because if he sa terrified she was, he’d never let her through the door

"You look at s" Sah the Shadowlands as Linda’s words swirled through histo life Cullen and Andrea were setting up the bar At the sound syste

Sa shame Z would play country-western hts

Sam stepped up to the bar "Got a water back there?"

Andrea’s whiskey-colored hair blanketed her shoulders as she brought hireat Are you feeling all right?"

Cullen’s sub was al week And Z saddled rinned and looked past Sah, the trainees say they enjoy having you as a trainer" Z ave Saht You don’t look up to par"

Andrea turned at a call froet a chance to warn you," Z said "I added another trainee to see how she’ll work out"

Saave him a sour look "I noticed How’d that happen?"

"Perhaps submissives shouldn’t be allowed to fraternize"

Saot to do with Linda?"

"They discussed the spotter"