For the Sub

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

In Brandy’s driveway, Niles turned off his car engine.

Showing up here uninvited was risky, no doubt.

At one time, he’d lived on the leading edge.

He’d started businesses, invested in uncertain ventures, failed a number of times, lost buckets of money then tried again.

But nothing had ever mattered more than this moment.

Brandy, with her caring nature, zest for life, and persistent questions had put together the heart he’d thought was shattered forever.

He hadn’t wanted her to leave him that Sunday morning.

But as he’d watched her drive away, he’d admitted she was right to do so.

At that moment, he’d truly meant that he would never enter another permanent relationship.

And her experiences with Reyes would give any woman cause for concern, especially a submissive with a heart as big as hers.

In a way, he was saving her from future heartbreak.

Who the fuck had he been kidding?

It had taken losing her, and some brutally harsh words from Damien and Gregorio, to make Niles pull his head out of his ass and stop living in his memories.

But taking a chance on the future was shockingly hard.

What if she rejected him?

Hell.

Unless he wanted to live without her for the rest of his life, he had to take a risk.

She was worth anything.

Everything.

Resolved, he exhaled and climbed from behind the wheel.

Before he even knocked on her door, MW’s high-pitched yips and Dana’s massive bark reached him.

The constancy of the animals was oddly soothing.

From somewhere unseen, Whisper meandered over and wound around his legs.

When he bent to pet the feline, the animal dashed off.

Evidently he wanted things on his terms.

Niles smiled wryly. That was something he understood.

Moments later, Brandy opened the door.

When she saw him, her eyes widened, and her shoulders fell as the breath went out of her.

After reaching for the doorjamb with one palm, she pressed her free hand to the hollow of her throat.

“Niles.”

Niles.Not Master Niles.

What had he expected?

He took comfort in the fact she hadn’t slammed the door in his face. “I, er, had a few things to go over about the website.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You could have emailed.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, voice rougher than he intended. “I could have.”

“Or called.”

“True.”

“Or even sent a text message.”

Her every point was spot on, and they both knew it. “Also accurate.”

Obviously she hadn’t been expecting company. She had on fuzzy pink slippers and faded-to-white jeans with a hole in one knee. Her gray sweatshirt was at least two sizes too large.

Jesus. He’d never seen a woman look more beautiful.

Her hair was in a ponytail, and she smelled of sunshine and hope.

And maybe second chances?

“You could have even tried smoke signals if all those other approaches failed.”

“My fire-starting skills are a bit rusty.”

“I’ve got the flamethrower.”

“Mind if I borrow it?”

For long, emotionally tense moments, she studied him.

“Why are you really here?”

His pulse uncertain, he countered with, “May I come in?”

“No.”

He should have expected that.

Not wanting to discuss this while she was barricading him out of her house and life, he tried to think of a good opening.

He’d been prepared for her to slam the door in his face or give him five minutes. But indifference?

Niles hadn’t counted on that.

Hoping she’d accept his olive branch, he said, “I owe you an apology.”

“No. Actually you don’t.” She swept back her hair. “You were completely honest with me about your emotions. Since no one else ever has been, I appreciate it.”

After pausing for a breath, she went on. “We had a nice weekend. And, really, that’s all that needs to be said.”

“Except for the fact that I wasn’t completely honest with you.” He tipped his head to one side. “Or with myself.”

“Oh?”

Niles raked a hand into his hair, trying a different angle. “I sold my production company.”

“I’d heard.”

She seemed to have turned into a clam, and he wasn’t at all sure how to get her to open up. “It has something to do with you.”

“In what way?”

Because the afternoon was cloudy, he was starting to get chilled.

But now, at least, he seemed to have her attention.

“There is no other woman that I want to scene with.”

Breath whooshed out of her lungs.

“There’s so much more I want you to know.”

“We said everything that mattered when I left your place.”

“I didn’t begin to scratch the surface.” He shrugged. “But if you’re willing to hear me out, I have a few things I’d like to explain.”

When she didn’t respond, he pushed forward, “About Eleanor.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“It’s important.” He lifted a shoulder. “At least I think it is.”

“Since you made the drive all the way up here, I’ll give you a few minutes.”

After the reception she’d given him, that was the best he dared hope for. “Thank you.”

She stepped aside, pulling the dogs back in with her.

He closed the door and caught sight of the necklace he’d given her, sitting atop of a stack of yellow legal pads on the kitchen table.

Pointing to it, he said, “I figured it would be in a jewelry box.” If she’d kept it at all.

“I like looking at it,” she admitted.

Parts of the silver were marred by her fingerprints. “Looks better on you,” he said.

MW dragged over his rubber foot and dropped it near Niles.

Demanding to be petted, Dana nudged his hand.

Though Whisper hadn’t followed him inside, he now forced his head through the pet door.

“So what’s so important that you couldn’t call or email?” she asked, leaning against the counter, keeping the distance of half a room between them.

“You are,” he choked out, voice raw with emotion. “I let you go. It was foolish.”

“You didn’t let me go,” she corrected. “I chose to walk away. And nothing is different.”

Except everything is.

Going for broke, he exhaled. “I love you, Brandy Hess.”

“You…?” She grabbed hold of the counter.

“Yeah.” He remained where he was, despite the gnawing sensation inside that demanded action. He needed her in his arms and wouldn’t be complete without it. “I love you. I love you.”

Eyes wide, she swallowed deeply, as if not daring to trust what she was hearing. “What? I mean…how? What changed?”

“Me,” he confessed. “I did.”

She shook her head. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“I want you in my life. As my woman. My sub…” Then the most important words of all followed… “My wife.”

“Your…” Her mouth went slack.

Dana trotted over to Brandy and sat by her side.

“I swore I would never give my heart again.” This is where it became trickier for him. “With good reason.”

God, he wished she’d invite him to sit, anything but keep this emotional and physical gulf between them. “There are things you need to know.”

Eyes wide, she said, “I’m listening.”

Dana pressed her head against Brandy’s thigh while MW nudged the foot in Niles’s direction again.

Grateful for the distraction, Niles picked up the toy and tossed it into the living room.

With a yip, MW dashed after it, skidding across the hardwood.

“The night Eleanor died…”

Unmoving, Brandy remained silent, giving him the space he needed to tell his story.

“She was with her brand-new fiancé.”

As if not comprehending, unsure what to say, Brandy blinked.

“I’d thought we were happily married.”

Her knees buckled a little before she caught herself.

“Or at least happy enough.”

“Oh, Niles…”

“When I went to the morgue to identify her body, she was wearing a ring that wasn’t the one I’d given her.”

Brandy absently stroked Dana’s head.

“And then… The rest of the details emerged over days, weeks…” He recounted finding out about Dale, and the proposal on Lookout Mountain, ending with, “Dale’s family loved her, and they had no clue about her secret life, either.”

“This is…” She blew a breath between her pursed lips. “I can’t begin to understand what you’ve been dealing with.”

“I didn’t want to ruin her reputation.”

“So you kept it quiet,” she guessed.

“Yeah.”

“Damien and Gregorio? They know?”

“The only two people on the planet, besides you and me and Dale’s family.”

“I appreciate you telling me.” When Dana whined, she scratched behind the dog’s ear. “But you didn’t need to.”

“You’re the most important person to me, Brandy. And I’m serious that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

A soft sob caught in her throat. “I’ve told you before that I can’t compete with a ghost.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

Without being invited, he pulled back a chair and sat.

The anguish of all of this, her refusal to say she loved him as well, was exacting a toll.

“I saw Damien and Gregorio. And…”

“And?” she prompted.

“Damien told me I had to let go of the past if I had any hope of a future.”

She nodded. “Sound advice.”

“Gregorio threatened to crack my head if I caused you any further emotional harm.”

Half smiling, she asked, “Did he really?”

“Yeah.”

“He could do it.”

“And I have no doubt he meant it,” Niles confirmed. “You deserve to be treated well, by someone who would sacrifice anything for your happiness.”

“It’s taken me a while to believe that myself.”

He winced, hating that any man had hurt her, including him. How could he have been so selfish? “I’ll spend a lifetime making it up to you.”

“Niles…”

He extended a hand. “Can I finish?”

She wrapped her arms around herself. But at least she’d released her grip on the counter.

“I drove out to the crash site. There are crosses there, I think his sister placed them. I left her wedding ring and day collar.”

“Symbolically letting go?”

“Physically, emotionally,” he added. “Damien was right.” He nodded. “It was time. Past time. I’ve learned that I can look back, or I can commit myself to the woman I love, being sure she feels honored and cherished.”

“I’m not like her.”

She didn’t need to tell him that. “Brandy, you’re loyal to a fault.”

“I don’t fall in love by half measures.” She ruefully wrinkled her nose. “Much to my regret.”

“I promise you, if you take a chance on me, on us, I’ll be sure your emotions are cherished and that your love is returned tenfold.”

He stood and crossed the room, a step at a time, waiting, reading her, watching for signs that she was retreating or didn’t want him close.

But her lips were parted, and her eyes were wide, with trust. With hope?

“I don’t want to live without you. Brandy Hess, will you give me a second chance?” He knelt and reached into his jacket pocket.

“Niles—”

“Please accept this as a token of my undying commitment.”

Just then, MW bounded back into the room.

For a moment, he played tug of war with the dog’s toy before MW let go.

This time, Niles threw it as far as he possibly could. “Knows how to ruin a mood.”

“It’s not ruined,” she promised.

Her breaths were short, and her eyes were wide as he pulled out an envelope.

Clearly surprised, expecting something else, she stared at the paper, then back at him. “What is this?”

“Open it and see.”

Her hands shaking, she did.

Then, eyebrows furrowed in a puzzled frown, she met his gaze. “Airline tickets?”

“Alaska. To see your brother.”

Her eyes widened.

“Family matters to you. To me.” He glanced at the Great Dane, then at MW.

“This… I would have never expected it. I’m not sure anyone has ever done something this wonderful for me.” She held the envelope to her chest. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“By agreeing to go.”

“There’s a lot to—”

“While you’re considering that…” He reached into his pocket again and pulled out a small, unmistakable jeweler’s box.

He flipped it open, and she seemed mesmerized by the stunning ring he’d selected for her. A single diamond was surrounded by numerous others. “One for each of us, the dogs, cat, and lizards.”

Laughing, tears spilled down her cheeks. “You’ll need two more.”

“Good God, not—”

“Guinea pigs. The rescue—”

“Had no one else to take them?”

“That’s what they said.”

“It’s a custom piece. Easy to add two more diamonds for…”

“Jekyll and Hide. With an I, not a Y. Because he hides all day, and I never see him.”

He laughed. “Can’t wait to meet them.”

“There’s still a million things before I can agree.”

“Let’s talk about them before my knee goes completely numb.”

Though she laughed, she didn’t sound apologetic in the least. “Where would we live? What about my menagerie?” she asked. “And I will need to take in more dogs on a foster basis from time to time.”

“We’ll work it out. If it’s important to you to remain here, we can add on. Or we can find a place with more land so you can have as many pests—I mean pets—as your heart desires. Or we can sell my condo and get a place in the suburbs.”

“You’d really move up here?”

“In a heartbeat, if it means being with you. Nothing matters more.”

“This… It’s almost too much to take in.”

“Say yes, beautiful Brandy. Say you’ll be mine. Forever.”

“I love you, Master Niles.” She met his gaze. Her eyes, blue as a cloudless winter sky, radiated the heat of her inner beauty. “Yes. Yes, yes, Sir.”

He slid the ring into place, and it snuggled in perfectly.

After lifting her hand to his lips, he stood to pull her against him, and he kissed her with all the emotion he’d kept buried until now.

As it went on and on, with them lost in each other, the dogs danced around, barking excitedly.

“About your work at the Den,” he said after the kiss ended. “I’m a selfish, possessive bastard, but I won’t get in the way of what you want to do.”

“There’s no need to worry about that.”

He cocked an eyebrow.

“I figured you had heard. I don’t work there as a submissive anymore. They realized my heart wasn’t in it and, well, kind of embarrassingly, they let me go.”

“You were fired?”

“I’m not sorry,” she hastened to reassure him. “At the time, it stung, I’ll admit it. But I’m doing some remote work for them on the website and online booking system. Interesting work, challenging, too, which I appreciate.”

He dug his hand in her hair and used it as leverage to tip back her head. “I’m not sorry that I don’t have to share you,” he admitted.

She smiled. “Me either.”

“If you’re willing to, I’d appreciate it if you’d continue to wear the pendant I got for you. Unless you’d like to go shopping for a formal collar?”

“That might be nice. Sometime down the road.”

They were in agreement. “So you’ll wear it?”

“I’d be honored, Sir. I love it.” Lifting her hair, she turned her back to him, and he secured the necklace in place.

Then she slowly faced him again.

The triskelion glimmered, and having it there, on her chest, was every bit as rewarding as placing his ring on her finger had been.

Brandy exhaled slowly.

Then for a second, she closed her eyes. “Thank you, my forever Sir.”

“Thank you for the honor of being mine, my perfect pet.”

“I really do like it.” With her fingertip, she traced the circle. “I didn’t want to take it off.”

“You never have to again.”

“At the hotel, you told me this has whatever meaning I give it.”

“Yes.” He nodded.

“Then it means my heart belongs to you.”

His cock hardened.

This woman, every moment with her, was worth any risk.

“There’s one more thing we need to do to make this all official.”

“There is, indeed, Sir.”

“Your bedroom,” he instructed.

“Mind if I change, and you can join me in a few minutes?”

“Make it worth the wait.”

When she called his name, he entered the bedroom and let out a deep, appreciative wolf-whistle.

His Brandy was dressed in a white button-down shirt, exposing her cleavage, and his pendant was nestled there.

Five-inch heels lengthened her calves. The showstopper was the stupid-short kilt that had been fueling his filthiest fantasies. “It’s even better in reality.” His voice was suddenly hoarse. “Is it true that people wear nothing beneath a kilt?”

“Shall I show you, Sir?”

“Yeah.” The word was guttural, he wondered if she’d understood him. “Bend over and touch your toes.” He took a couple of steps toward her.

Her movements sassy and seductive, she did.

The tartan rode up, exposing her rounded cheeks, and, God help him, a stainless-steel butt plug with silver crystals refracting light a hundred directions.

“Unbelievable.” No sub had ever surprised him, delighted him this much.

He stripped then took out a condom from the box she’d placed on top of her nightstand.

“I’m ready for you, Sir.”

He fingered her labia and found her wet. “You are.”

“The very thought of you fucking me arouses me, Sir.”

“With the plug, this will be tight,” he warned.

“The way I want it, Sir.”

Reverently he parted her buttocks, leaving her off-balance, depending on him to keep her stable. Then he clamped her hips to keep her secure.

Even with her heels, he had to bend his knees to enter her pussy.

The sharpness of her scent, the wetness of her pussy and the tightness because of the plug stuffed up her ass were a near-lethal combination, and he had to grit his teeth to keep from spilling prematurely.

“I want all of you, Sir.”

Goaded by her honesty, he took her with a single thrust.

She screamed, and he caught her weight as she pitched forward.

“I’ve needed this,” she said, her voice hardly audible.

“Me too,” he responded. He fucked her hard, then pulled out before he ejaculated.

“Sir?”

He helped her to stand and look at him. “I want to finish this differently.” Niles placed her on the bed, then entered her with slow strokes, watching her expression.

She kept her eyes open, meeting his gaze. Even if she hadn’t told him she loved him, he’d have known by looking in the crystalline depths.

Brandy wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Who am I?”

“My Master,” she answered. “My love. My husband-to-be.”

All three sounded exactly right. Perfect.

He fucked her hard, claiming her. He made sure she came, crying out his name.

Then he sought his own release, sealing their mutual promise. “Mine,” he said.

“Yours,” she agreed, cradling his face. “Yours, Sir. Now. Always. Yours.”