Chapter 4 #2
I should be backing away, closing the door, pretending I never saw this.
Instead, I find myself moving further into the room, fingers trailing lightly over the leather of a flogger.
The craftsmanship is exquisite, the materials premium.
Like everything else in Dario's world, his toys reflect careful selection and quality.
"Find something interesting?"
The deep voice from behind me nearly stops my heart. I whirl around to find Dario standing at the foot of the stairs, expression unreadable, snowflakes melting in his dark hair.
"I..." For once, words fail me. There's no excuse for this invasion of privacy.
"You shouldn't be down here." His voice is calm, controlled, but with an edge that sends a shiver down my spine.
"I know. I'm sorry." I force myself to meet his gaze. "I was curious."
"Clearly." He doesn't move from his position, effectively blocking the only exit. "See anything you like?"
The question throws me. I expected anger, not... whatever this is. "I was just surprised."
"Why?" He takes a single step forward. "Because a man who lives on a mountain couldn't possibly have sophisticated sexual preferences?"
"No. Because you're so..." I search for the right word. "Controlled."
Something darkens in his eyes. "Control is precisely the point, Judith."
The way he says my name, low and deliberate, sends heat curling through my abdomen. "I should go upstairs."
"You should." He doesn't move. "But since you've invited yourself into my private space, perhaps we should clear the air."
I swallow hard. "About?"
"About the fact that you're now living with a Dominant." He gestures to the room around us. "This is where I play, with consenting partners who understand exactly what they're getting into. It has nothing to do with our arrangement."
"I understand." My voice sounds steadier than I feel. "Your personal life is your business."
"Exactly." He studies me with those intense blue eyes. "Though I admit, I'm curious about your reaction."
"My reaction?"
"You're not running for the hills. Most women who stumble across a dungeon react differently."
I lift my chin. "I'm not most women."
"No," he agrees, something like appreciation flickering across his features. "You're not."
I’m acutely aware of my heartbeat, my breathing, the heat spreading across my skin.
"Have you ever submitted to anyone, Judith?" The question is soft, dangerous.
Truth hovers on my lips. No, never. But I've thought about it. Wondered what it would be like to surrender control, just once, to someone worthy of that gift.
Before I can answer, a harsh buzz cuts through the tension. Dario pulls a satellite phone from his pocket, frowning at the display.
"Wallace," he answers, eyes still fixed on me. His expression changes as he listens to whoever's on the other end. "When? Are they certain?"
I wait, frozen in place by uncertainty and the lingering charge between us.
"I'll be there." He ends the call, expression grim. "That was Silas. There's a situation in town."
"What kind of situation?"
"Avalanche risk on the north face. They're calling in everyone with rescue experience." He's already turning toward the stairs. "I need to go."
"In this weather? How will you even get there?"
"Snowmobile." He pauses at the bottom step. "I've done this before."
"But it's dangerous." The words escape before I can stop them.
Something shifts in his gaze. "Worried about me, wife?"
"About our arrangement," I correct, though we both know it's not entirely true. "If something happens to you, I'm stuck here alone, and my ex wins."
A ghost of a smile touches his lips. "Practical as always." He gestures for me to precede him up the stairs. "We'll continue this conversation when I return."
The promise in his words sends another wave of heat through me. I climb the stairs on unsteady legs, hyper aware of his presence behind me.
In his bedroom, he moves with efficient purpose, pulling gear from a closet. "I'll likely be gone overnight. There's plenty of food. Keep the fire going. If the generator fails, there's a manual in the kitchen drawer."
"I'll manage."
He pauses, looking at me directly. "This doesn't change anything about what I walked in on."
"I know." I cross my arms. "I shouldn't have invaded your privacy."
"No, you shouldn't have." He shrugs into a heavy weather jacket. "But now that you have, we'll need to establish some new boundaries."
"Be careful out there." I'm surprised by the genuine concern in my voice.
He studies me for a long moment. "Always am."
Twenty minutes later, I stand on the porch watching the snowmobile disappear down the mountain, Dario's broad form growing smaller until the trees swallow him completely. The cold air burns my lungs as I breathe deeply, trying to process what just happened.
I discovered my temporary husband's secret dungeon. He caught me. And instead of anger, there was... interest? The memory of his voice asking if I'd ever submitted sends renewed heat spiraling through me.
Back inside, I build up the fire as instructed, then sink onto the couch, staring into the flames.
My phone remains stubbornly without service, the internet still down.
I'm alone in this beautiful prison with nothing but my thoughts and the lingering image of Dario standing amid implements of pleasure and pain, looking at me like he could devour me whole.
What the hell have I gotten myself into? And why does the danger of it thrill me more than it should?