News Boy - Susan Hawke Page 0,25
his back, flopping an arm over his head as he turned to study me. “I don’t think either of us expected this or has a clue where it might lead, but I want you to know I’m glad I shared this with you.”
“Me too.” As a thought occurred to me, I lifted my head. “You won’t get in trouble for this, will you? I mean, I don’t plan to advertise our relationship until we know what we’re doing. But if word got out, I wouldn’t want you to lose your job.”
“Honestly? I am too blissed out to care. I would assume it’s frowned upon, but whether or not there’s an actual rule I couldn’t say. You’re my first client. Mack and I served together, so he contacted me when your case came up.” Brody faltered before shrugging. “He doesn’t hide it, so I can tell you the rest of the truth. He and I knew each other from a local BDSM group where we were both Doms.”
Somehow, I was not shocked. “You say were, as in past tense. Are you no longer a member?”
Brody turned back onto his side, pulling me into his arms. “I am going to need some cuddles for this story. I can’t tell you many details or who it was or where it happened because it’s classified. But I was caught by the enemy and held captive a couple years ago. I spent what was left of my time in the army keeping my head down and basically putting one foot in front of the other to make it through until I could sign my discharge papers. It messed with my head, and after the things I lived through, I don’t have the heart to properly flog a sub anymore. Hell, I don’t think I could even tie someone up. My Dom days are in the past.”
My heart ached simply thinking about what he had endured. I had interviewed soldiers in the past and delivered enough news stories about military prisoners to have an idea of what he was talking about.
“I’m sorry you had to go through such an ordeal, Brody. But can I say how happy I am you are here and in one piece now?”
“You and me both, sweetheart.”
We were both quiet for a few moments until I found the courage to speak up. “When you say your Dom days are behind you, do you mean you’re completely done with kink?”
With a sigh, Brody rubbed a hand along my back. “I hear what you’re actually asking, and I don’t know if I could ever be the Daddy you’re looking for. Before I met you, the thought never would’ve entered my mind.”
He paused, as if searching for the right words. “And now… I honestly don’t know. I’ve been feeling my way along and trying to give you what you need so we could coexist peacefully. Somewhere along there, I’ve discovered I like taking care of little you. But I think we both have to decide if we really want to be together. Forced proximity can make people fall hard and fast. I guess I’m just worried about what happens when life gets back to normal and you don’t need me anymore.”
I understood his point, even if it wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear. “Well, can I say I don’t think the day will ever come where I don’t need you? Although I guess it would be nice to have you here as my boyfriend and not my paid bodyguard.”
Brody cracked up. “Did you have to add the ‘paid’ part? Now I feel like a male escort.“
“I don’t know what escorts you’ve been hiring, but most of them don’t offer this kind of service. I believe the word you were trying to find was ‘hooker.’” I laughed when he growled and tickled me. We didn’t have to figure everything out today, but at some point we would have to continue this conversation.
As much as the newsman in me would have liked to keep poking and digging until I got answers, I let the subject drop for now and decided to enjoy simply being in his bed. Whether or not this would be repeated or if we had a future was a problem for later me to worry about.
Right now, all I wanted to do was goof around with this hot man and see if it led to a round two. Maybe next time I would even let him be on top.
Chapter Seven
Brody
I'm not sure what