For the first time since he’d met Kata, she didn’t have a cheeky comeback on the tip of her tongue. “Yeah.”
He cradled her cheek in his palm. “Our marriage was no mistake. And when I come back from this mission, we’re going to spend a lot of quality time together, until you’re comfortable with me. I’ll keep doing whatever it takes to earn your submission and your love. Don’t doubt that.”
Sadness furrowed Kata’s brow. She pursed her lips together, as if she were holding tears inside. “I don’t think it will work. I’m independent. I can’t stand people telling me what to do. I’m stubborn and decisive . . . everything you don’t want. You’re a logical guy—”
“But one who knows when to go with his gut. So our courtship was in fast-forward. So I don’t know your favorite color or TV show. So you don’t know which of my scars are from a childhood bike accident and which are from military service. So f**king what? Those are details.” He shook his head. “Don’t confuse a Dom with an ass**le. The truth is, you’ve been in ‘easy’ relationships so your heart would never be threatened. If you were to ask yourself—and be really honest—you know that you can’t ever be truly happy with guys like Ben, who let you call all the shots.”
Pressing her lush lips together, Kata stared out the window. Only the hum of the truck’s engine and the faint twang of an old-time country western station broke the silence. Hunter wasn’t deterred. Even if she didn’t admit it, she was thinking.
“What do you know about me?” he prompted, his tone brooking no refusal. “And watch the sarcasm. You should know I have no problem turning your ass bright red.”
Kata paused, shrugged. “You’re gorgeous, but you don’t act like you know it. You have loyal friends and family, which suggests that you must be loyal yourself. You seem confident in almost every situation, but not cocky. You’re smart and quick . . . and probably good with kittens and babies, too.” Kata quipped with a twist of her lips that gave Hunter hope. “But you’re also relentless and too damn perceptive. Every minute you find some new way to twist me inside out. I hate the word ‘submissive.’ It implies that I’m some simpering, brainless—”
“Never you. I told you, that’s one reason I want you. Some subs lose themselves and their identities to their Masters. If they’re uncollared, in other words if the relationship ends, they’re so used to being dependent, they don’t know who they are anymore. I’ll never worry about that with you. I have no doubt you’ll always challenge me. Honey, the big difference between me and Gordon—and listen closely—is that, with that selfish prick it’s all about his desires. With me, I can’t be happy if I’m not giving you what you need. I’ll concede that our marriage was quick. But give us a f**king chance before you bow to your fear and quit on us.”
RUSH hour, or Lafayette’s equivalent, was nearly at an end when Kata and Hunter approached the city. She stretched, then applied some lip gloss from her purse as her—she still could barely say the word—husband drove with a pair of aviators covering those perceptive blue eyes. With one hand, he held the wheel. With the other, he gripped her hand.
Before last night, the wound he’d made in her defenses in Vegas had just begun to scab over. She could have resumed her life without him, granted, with some regrets. But after last night . . .
Kata trembled. Hunter had introduced her to a whole new pleasure. Electric. Breath-stealing. Once-in-a-lifetime wow. No way was she going to delude herself and say that she hadn’t enjoyed his manacles and firm hand. Hunter had forced her to see deep inside herself and admit her fears to him. In his domination, she’d felt utterly adored, almost pampered, which was contrary to everything she believed. He’d ripped off that scab and permanently scarred her defenses.
Today, she hated the raw, vulnerable feeling left behind. His every move had been designed to shove his way into her life, her head, her heart. He’d made her feel something for him that was way bigger than she could handle. Sure, other women craved being controlled. Kata wasn’t cut out for letting anyone that deeply into her soul.
And whether Hunter fessed up to it or not, he wanted to control bunches beyond their bedroom play. That’s where she had a problem. No, he wasn’t Gordon. Hunter was her stepfather on steroids, smarter, more determined. Under all his pushiness he was probably a decent guy, but he could also act like Asshole version 2.0 when it suited him. He claimed that his behavior was about giving her what she needed. Smooth line. Bet Gordon wished he’d thought of that. Granted, Hunter hadn’t torn her down to build up his own ego, but did that matter if she had no power in the relationship? She’d eventually lose all self-respect and feel like shit anyway.
On the other hand, he’d accused her of not really giving him and the marriage a chance.
She glanced his way. He met her stare, and the electric zing between them charged through her.
Had her mother felt this pull to Gordon, even as her friends, her job, and her individuality slowly slipped away? Hunter even admitted that some subs lost themselves to their Dom. Besides the fact that she couldn’t imagine wearing anyone’s collar, like some pet, Kata worried that if she allowed him complete mastery over her body, she would soon lose herself in the extreme pleasure he gave her, and surrender her heart and soul.
“Are you okay, honey?” Hunter murmured.
Kata chose her words carefully. He terrified her emotionally, but his point about being distracted on a mission was well taken. She didn’t want to do anything that would place him in greater peril. They’d sort out everything when he returned.
“Just tired. Overwhelmed.”
He sent her a searching stare as he pulled into the parking lot of an upscale apartment building, then eased the truck into a spot under a shade tree. Twenty feet away, Tyler stood in the doorway, waiting. Whoa! She’d forgotten how big he was built. With a guy like him, she’d normally assume he was a gym rat whose fantasies revolved around increasing the circumference of his biceps, but she’d already seen him in action enough to know he possessed a sharp watchfulness that promised he could totally kick someone’s ass.
Yeah, he’d keep her safe, but Kata wasn’t at all happy about this arrangement. How contrary did it make her that she’d been dying to put space between her and Hunter, but already she felt the pangs from his withdrawal?
They stepped from the truck, and Tyler jogged down the exterior stairs to greet them. “Hi, baby. I got your suitcase from the back of your car.”
“Thank—” She frowned at the green-eyed beefcake in the killer tight black tee. “How did you get into my trunk without my keys?”
Tyler smiled smugly, then turned to Hunter. “I talked to Jack. He’ll be by to get her tomorrow night.” Then his grin turned sly. “That is, if she still wants to go.”
Hunter lunged into Tyler’s personal space, then growled, “Let’s get one thing straight: Kata is not your ‘baby’; she’s my wife. You don’t touch her. You don’t even think about touching her. Or I swear to God, I’ll rip your face off.”
Really, Hunter had nothing to worry about. Tyler was attractive . . . but her life was complicated enough.
Tyler looked amused. “Possessive much?”
“Focus on the fact that someone wants to kill Kata. I get that other men’s wives turn you on, but—”
“I’ll make sure he’s all bluster, Hunter.” A familiar guy emerged from Tyler’s apartment, with dark, shoulder-length waves that would seem feminine on another man. On him, it looked drop-dead sexy as he sauntered down the steps into the morning light.
“Luc Traverson?” Kata stared, stunned. “Wow, I love your cooking show!”