Chapter 2 #2
“It’s not strange at all. Animals can be very healing in general, and it sounds as if China’s doing her job. I feel like my little animal crew has helped me deal with… a few issues.”
“Oh?” she asked, one dark brow arching, her eyes regaining focus.
“Yeah. You know injuries ended my football career, and some of that sticks with me. I’m still navigating trying to sort of reclaim myself post-injury.”
“I imagine that would be difficult. But it’s also what qualifies you to teach this class for Arrow, understanding what that feels like.”
“It’s good for me to channel some of those feelings into helping other people. That’s honestly part of my healing. And maybe really getting involved in animal rescue will help, too. Make me feel like I’m of some use in the world, you know?”
She smiled, her face lighting up a bit. “I think you’re a very good man, Brody. A good person.”
He shrugged. “Just want to be of some service, for the planet, and for my kink community, too. BDSM can heal as much as these animals, in my opinion.”
“Do you think so?” she asked. “Because while I’ve read that and I’ve seen what it did for Micah, I’m not so sure it has that effect on everyone. Especially when kink is part of the root of the issues.”
“I absolutely believe in it. That was a big part of Micah’s issue, which I know you already know, or I wouldn’t be mentioning it.
And kink—and Arrow, of course—helped her process it and come out so much stronger on the other side.
But it has to be with the right person, and in the right atmosphere.
It has to be with someone who understands the healing part, the need for it.
And thorough negotiations are maybe even more important than in any other type of BDSM scene. ”
She looked down at the floor of the barn, and he could see her long lashes as she blinked a few times. When she raised her gaze to his once more, her eyes were gleaming, but he wasn’t sure what emotion was behind it.
“I think you may be right. Maybe someday I’ll find that here.”
“Maybe you will,” he agreed, wanting to say more. Wanting to suggest that he could be the one to help her heal. But he wasn’t so sure this was the right moment, despite what he was certain was chemistry sizzling between them like an electric current in the air.
“Brody?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m very glad you’re here. As you said, it’s nice to see a familiar face. Not that I don’t have very good friends here at the Ranch, but… well, it’s good to see you.”
His chest went a little tight as he weighed the possibilities. Before he could stop himself, he asked quietly, “Good enough that you might be interested in doing some of that healing with me?”
A slow smile spread across her lovely features. “You know, that thought had occurred to me, too.”
“You sure? Because ‘no’ is a completely acceptable answer,” he assured her.
“No pressure. I just wanted to throw it out there, since I’m here, and you’re here, and we know each other already.
” Why was he stammering like a high-school kid?
“No need to answer now, if you’d like to take some time to think about it. ”
“I don’t know that I need any time.”
“Take it, anyway. I need you to be sure.”
“Hmm, okay,” she answered. “If you insist. But Brody? I’m a grown woman, and these days I’m very clear on what I want.
I’m not some newbie. I’ve spent the last nearly two years here really getting to know myself.
I can assure you, I understand what I’d be getting myself into. Unless, you’d rather not…”
“I may be cautious, but I’m not crazy,” he said with a chuckle. “But taking some time to think about it is as much for me as it is for you.”
And in the meantime, the idea of getting her under his hands, of taking her to the Dungeon and playing with her, was going to keep him up at night. Because he’d never felt such an intense attraction to anyone before in his life.
Time to shift gears or he was going to be noticeably hard right there in the barn.
He cleared his throat. “Want to introduce me to China?”
“Yes, sure. She’s in the last stall at the end,” Claudia said, her hips swaying as she moved down the center aisle of the barn.
Was she insulted that he’d asked her to wait to decide to scene with him?
He’d had to; he wanted her too damn badly.
But it was so much more than that itch to have her under his hands.
It was her, who she was, and an honest need to drive away her pain—pain she wasn’t fully admitting to, despite all the work she’d done on herself.
He could sense it like some undercurrent hidden beneath her intrinsic sensuality and the way she moved with such confidence.
There was still some struggle there. He could feel it.
Only time would tell. And he was here for just six weeks, which really wasn’t much time.
But he would need her to be certain. Because the truth was, he’d been completely enamored since the first time they’d spoken.
It was a sweetness that radiated from her, and that battled with a stubborn streak he would love to be the one to break, while rebuilding the woman she deserved to be, the woman she should know bone deep deserved every good thing the world had to offer.
Oh yeah, he was in deep trouble. Because even though they were barely acquainted, even though he’d never touched her, he was half in love with this woman already.