Full On Read Online Free Page B

the best of their abilities. Honestly, if they hadn’t come at each
other full-on wouldn’t they have lost respect for each other? Doing so
undermined their personal relationship. At least for Valerie. She couldn’t
separate vicious ADA Cambridge from loving Dom Russell. The anger in his eyes
during the trial was real, carried over tonight when he’d first approached her.
Her trust in him to handle those extra needs that were so much a part of her was
shaken.
    They needed to talk this out. She had to know how he really
felt. If he truly held resentment against her. Doing so would ruin the night
though, and she needed the promised sex until the sun shined again more than
she could bear.
    “We’re still good.” On the off-chance he didn’t get her
meaning, Valerie added, “There’s been no one else.”
    A rush of heat washed from him at Russell’s sharp intake of
breath. “No one for me either,” he replied. “When I said exclusive I meant it.”
    Yet she’d allowed another to cause doubt. Enough to shake
his trust in her? Valerie wouldn’t be surprised. At least they were even. Not
that it made it better. It was going to take baby steps to get back to where
they’d been. If Russell wanted that level once more…or if she did.
    What was she thinking? Of course she wanted it. She’d craved
everything about Russell every single second these last months. Even, especially ,
when they faced off in court. And that had taken more courage and
determination than she’d ever anticipated. She’d been warned he was formidable.
That was an understatement. Russell was damn scary.
    Valerie closed her eyes. God, what had she done? Ruined a
damn fine thing in favor of her career. It didn’t matter that he’d made the
same choice. Or maybe it did. If truth be told, it was his refusal to recuse
himself, his assumptions that she, as his sub, would step aside that made her
dig deep in the first place. In reality, either of them stepping aside would
have driven a bigger wedge between them than the one they currently faced.
    Baby steps? Or jump in and take a chance?
    Hell, he was the fucking Dom, let him take the lead. She
glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Maybe he already had. Oh, he
wouldn’t cross the safeword line, but he’d definitely taken control, and
Valerie liked that. A lot. Too much.
    No, never too much. Her heart had ached for him as much as
her body. Her soul had cried out for him. Words she’d longed to say had died on
the vine the second this case fell in her lap. She wanted the feeling, the
connection, the never-ending bond and the heart-bursting love that went with it
back.
    Baby steps or leap of faith?
    “Son of a bitch!” He smacked his fist against the steering
wheel.
    The outburst, too reminiscent of recent interactions,
jumpstarted her heart. Baby steps then. She glanced ahead and spotted
news vans parked outside her house. Good reason to curse.
    “Stop the car.”
    “I’m not going to drop you off and run.” Nevertheless, he’d
pulled to the curb. So far they hadn’t been detected.
    “You won’t have to.” Valerie fished her phone from her purse
and hit speed dial. Bev answered on the first ring. “I’ve changed my mind.
Looks like we’ll be needing that cabana after all.”
    Leap of faith. Most definitely and without a doubt. Ending
the call, she drew breath to take the next leap.

Chapter Three
     
    “I rescind my safeword.”
    Words to empower. She managed to surprise him though, or
rather, yet again. He hadn’t expected her to capitulate so easily, had
anticipated lengthy seductions night after night before she realized this was
one facet of their lives that would never change. It was a blessing and gift
Russell wouldn’t abuse. Hours ago he couldn’t have said the same thing.
    She’d given him a lot to think about. He’d let his driving
need, his pride, get in the way. Forgotten his role and purpose. Not the way to
treat the woman he loved. And god, he loved her. If only