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Gradually she relaxed, the tension that coiled in heras they continued their intimate dinner in silence

What would happen after? He’d said they’d go to bed He’d hinted that they would have sex But her mind was overwhelht? Would he exert his doo slower? Ease her into his world?

She couldn’t decide which option held more appeal She wanted to experience the full measure of his dominance but she didn’t want to be overwhelmed from the very start She wanted this to work

Trust

He’d asked for her trust Had told her to put her faith in him That he’d come to know her boundaries, her needs and her desires better than herself If this was going to work, she had to do just that Put herself into his care Fully in his care And trust that he’d never take things too far

He held a glass of wine to herit so she could take a small sip Eue,h to sithout choking on it

It was her favorite How had he known? It was a wine Carson bought for every birthday and anniversary And though she’d drank Carson’s favorite every year on the anniversary of his death, she hadn’t tasted her favorite wine since the last time she drank it with Carson

"Good?" Dash murmured

"Yes," she said huskily "My favorite But then you knew, didn’t you?"

He smiled "Of course There isn’t much I don’t knohen it comes to what pleases you I told you I was prepared to spoil you sha"

A drop of wine slipped from the corner of her mouth and when she would have lifted her hand to wipe it away, he stopped her and then leaned forward

"Let ers, he swept in and lapped at the corner of her ed her skin He didn’t just lick it away quickly He tongued the sensitive area and then nibbled at her lips before swiping one last tiue

"Delicious," he said, and she kneasn’t talking about the wine

Inti the else existed The rest of the room faded away There was just him and her and the delicious meal he’d prepared and served her in such an intis when she’d considered the pathway she was taking But nothing had prepared her for the reality Would it have been this ith another man? She kneouldn’t No one but Dash could ever provide her with this experience The depth of this experience

"Do you have any idea how beautiful you look?" Dash said in a voice edged with desire and arousal "Do you have any idea how long I’ve drea by my hand, nad So damn beautiful that it’s a physical ache inside me"

She cocked her head to the side, curious as to the effect She could see the intense satisfaction in his eyes and it made her wonder why What was it about a woave hi, Dash?"

"Of course"

He sat back so he could see her fully She was careful toat her just as he was right now With so much approval andcontentment

"What is it about a submissive woman that appeals to you so much? I’ve often wondered about Chessy and Tate It’s obvious he loves her so much He practically worships her He’s sopossessive of her It’s why I can’t wrap my head around the fact that he shares her with other ht laugh "I want to knohy it appeals to you soher position "You like this-- his hand down the long tresses, pulling them briefly away from her brsts so he could see her fully There was definite aze That approval removed her hesitance Gave her confidence where before she’d been so vulnerable

"How to explain how I feel?" he mused "I don’t know that there’s a cut-and-dried explanation for why it pleases me It’s not a power trip In soreat pleasure, and yes, satisfaction It’s a heady sensation for a woman to put her absolute faith and trust in ives up control because she trusts that I’ll give her what she needs That I’ll take care of her That I’ll absolutely protect her with my life"

"You like to be needed then"

He paused aher words "I suppose that’s one way to put it But it goes much deeper My instinct is to provide To protect To absolutely cherish, spoil and pamper my woman In this case, you But it’s a drive strictly personal to you With other wos s to another woman But with you it’s very different I don’t just want your trust and subs for you, Joss Never think even for a eable with you That it would be this ith another woman Because that si," she said painfully "I never knew, Dash I don’t knohat I would have done if I had known You mean a lot to me Even when Carson was alive, youI couldn’t have stood it"

He s armth and affection

"It’s why I was detere, soft heart You would have been in an untenable position You loved Carson and were absolutely faithful He knew it and I knew it It’s why he never worried that I had feelings for you One, he knew that I would never act on thee between us But he also had absolute faith in you He knew you would never be unfaithful to him That you’d never even entertain the idea I knew that as well It wouldn’t have been fair for me to have revealed what I felt for you It would have only hurt you and that’s the last thing I ever wanted Carson made you happy You were happy and you damn sure made him happy What else could I ask for? It seemed selfish to insert myself because the end result would have only been pain for us all You Me Carson I loved you both And you would have never strayed, so as the point? I wouldn’t have wanted you at Carson’s expense It would have devastated him and I would have lost a friend You would have lost friends, your life, everything All for me That wasn’t what I wanted for you It was never what I wanted for you I only want you to be happy And so I waited I waited for you to be ready But there was never a question ofin Once Carson died, I kneithout a doubt that I would be the only man in your life"

"That’s a heavy answer for such a siives me a lot to think about"

He cupped her chin and rubbed tenderly over her skin, his thuh you down or burden you unnecessarily I don’t want you to think at all I only want you to feel I want you to feel what I feel I want you to burn with the same need that I burn with--that I ache with And then I’ll ease it, Joss I don’t want you hurting Ever I’ll give you everything you could possibly ever need"

"I needyou," she whispered, finally giving voice to her --entire day--had been an exercise in frustration She was restless and edgy, wondering, constantly battling with herself over whether she was ht decision