12. Chapter Twelve
Monday morning.
Angie strode into her office. This place was worse than hell. When she arrived home last night, she dropped her suitcase, climbed into bed, and cried, then cried some more. She couldn’t seem to stop.
Finally, she climbed out of bed, took a hot shower, made herself some soup, and curled up on the sofa and watched a sappy movie so she could cry without feeling guilty. It had taken her twice the time this morning to conceal her tear-ravaged face.
She looked at her desk and felt like crying again. It was piled high with work. Did no one do anything while I was gone? As she blew out a breath between pursed lips, she sat and turned on her computer. The company logo swam before her eyes.
No more crying. Hadn’t she cried enough? Forcing the tears away, she began sorting out the piles on her desk. Then she turned to her computer and opened her task manager app. While she laid awake and stared at the ceiling, she started making priority lists in her head.
First task: Resign from her job. She hated this job. She’d only stayed out of a sense of duty.
Well, screw that .
She ignored her full inbox and began typing.
Second task: I’m going back to the ranch and confront Jared .
How dare he ignore her love for him? She wasn’t ready to give up on him yet. There had to be a reason he walked away from her, and she was going to find out what it was. She was going to get her man, even if it meant giving up her pride to do it.
Jared made her feel whole, wanted, and sexy.
She wasn’t going to give that up. She needed him.
She loved him, even if he didn’t love her.
Angie was determined to be with him. On his terms, if need be.
But if a relationship with Jared was impossible—for whatever reason—she would at least have closure.
And closure was better than not knowing.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Miss Ice Queen back from her vacation.”
Angie glanced up to see Bill from customer service step into her office. Great, I have to deal with this idiot today. “I really don’t have time for your issues today, Bill.”
“Oh yes, you do.” He gave her a slimy grin, and she shivered.
What a contrast from Jared’s grin. Jared’s made her wet. “As you can see, I have a ton of work.” She gestured to the files on her desk. Not that she was planning to do much today.
“Don’t worry; this won’t take long.” He pushed the door shut behind him.
***
Jared followed the receptionist’s instructions to Angie’s office. Outside the closed door, he took a deep breath. I should kick my own ass for letting her drive away.
When she blew his mind with her words of love, his instincts kicked in, and he walked away from her. He was an idiot. After he made it back inside the ranch house, he knew he’d made a mistake, but by the time he got back outside, she was gone.
He’d spent last night doing some long hard thinking. He’d been a coward not to ask her to stay. Angie’s words of love were honest and true. She wasn’t like his childhood sweethearts, his college girlfriends, or his ex-fiancée.
No, Angie said the words because she meant them, not because she thought he wanted to hear them.
Unlike the women of his past, Angie loved him for who he was.
She enjoyed his domination and his need for sex.
And instead of embracing her love, he walked away, giving in to the old tapes playing in his head.
Therapist, heal thy self.
Jared wasn’t going to walk away now. He would make this up to her, show her that he was a man worthy of her love.
And, yes, he loved her.
He had for a while, but he’d been too blind to recognize it for what it was. He wouldn’t let Angie down this time. He raised his arm to knock when he heard the raised voices.
“I don’t have time for your crap today.” Angie’s voice. Jared heard the frustration but also the exhaustion.
“I saw you at Xavier’s on Friday,” a male voice said.
Jared swore silently. Who was this man? The last thing he wanted was to endanger Angie’s work. Besides Xavier’s had a very strict NDA.
“So?” Angie’s voice was strong. Go girl.
“Angie, my dear. This is a conservative company. What do you think the higher-ups would say about finding out you went to a BDSM club?”
Jared was beginning to hate this guy. Plus, he had to find out who he was so Gabe could expel him for violation of the NDA.
“What’s to stop me from telling them about you being there? And notifying the club that you confronted me in violation of the NDA?”
There was his Angie. The fighter.
“Ah, but you didn’t see me, did you? You were too wrapped up in your pretty little man and his friend. It really doesn’t matter, you see, because you’re going to do everything I tell you to do. And if you don’t…” The man gave a cruel laugh. “I’ll make your life a living hell.”
Jared’s anger overflowed. This little weasel was trying to blackmail his woman. Oh, hell no. Time to put an end to this. He turned the knob and started to open the door.
“Bill, go fuck yourself.”
Jared barely held back his laughter.
“I’m my own woman, and I’ll decide who my Dom is, and it isn’t you. Now, run along, I have work to do.” Her tone was dismissive.
“You won’t have a job. I’ll make sure you’re fired.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve already emailed my resignation. Now, get the hell out of my office.”
She quit her job? Why? It couldn’t be because of this man and his threats?
“You’ll never get another job as a CPA.”
That was enough. Jared strode into her office. “She already has another job with my company.”
Bill turned, his jaw dropped open, and his face paled.
“Bill, is it?” Jared started. “I heard everything you said. Expect a call today from Xavier’s revoking your membership followed by a lawsuit for harassment of a member and breaking your NDA.”
Angie’s expression was a mixture of surprise and relief. “Yes, go, Bill. I’ll be calling HR and reporting you as well.”
Bill glared at Angie for a moment, before skirting around Jared and leaving the office.
“Alone at last.” Jared walked over to Angie and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry I walked away. I want you in my arms and in my life.”
“Jared—”
“ Shhh .” He brushed his lips against hers. “Let me get this out. I walked away from you yesterday, and that was the biggest mistake in my life. One I will never make again.” He gazed into her eyes. “You surprised me when you said you loved me.”
“Why did you walk away?”
“I’ve had other women tell me that they love me, but the minute they understand I like my sex kinky and frequently, they leave.”
“Are they crazy?”
Jared grinned. “I don’t know. I was engaged for a while.”
Angie’s eyes grew wide. “What happened?”
“She said she loved me and didn’t mind that I like my sex a little different. But when I showed her what I liked and wanted, she lost it and told me I was a freak. I never saw her again.”
“You’re not a freak.” Angie curved her fingers around his neck. Her warmth making him feel better. “How long ago was this?”
“Six years.”
“She scarred you.”
“Yes. Yesterday, I didn’t know how to respond to you. Today, I do. I love you, Angie. Come back to the ranch with me. Be my accountant, my lover, my everything.”
Angie froze in his embrace. Jared fought back his insecurities. He wouldn’t force her to do anything, that wasn’t him. This had to be her decision, but his heart hurt at the thought of her refusing. Also, he would use every trick in his arsenal to make her agree.
“I have one question.”
“Yes.”
“Will you be my Dom?”
Relief poured through Jared. “Forever.” He lifted her onto her desk. “Stay there.”
He closed the door and flipped the lock.
***
Angie’s heart pounded. Jared loves me. She almost thought she was dreaming. While some women might say he needed to grovel more, Angie didn’t want that. Jared was a proud man, but he’d come to her. Her Dom bared his heart to her.
“Strip off your panties.”
His words sent a shaft of excitement through her. Thank goodness she wore a skirt today. She wiggled on her desk until she got her panties off and dangled them from her finger.
Jared stalked over, and she couldn’t stop smiling. He pulled her off the desk and onto her feet. He took her panties, wadded them up, and placed them in his pocket. Then he took her hand and dropped to one knee.
Angie trembled. Oh. My. God.
“Angie Davidson, you are the love of my life, the only woman who has ever understood me and loves me for the way I am. Will you be my wife?”
“But…it’s only been two weeks.”
“I knew what I wanted the moment I saw you at the ranch. You. It just took my brain longer to catch up. I want you forever.”
Tears filled Angie’s eyes. Happy tears. She had to clear her throat before she could speak. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you so much.”
Jared rose to his feet and pulled something from his pocket. “In a few days, we can go get a ring to match this.”
She stared at the diamond choker in his hand. Jared’s words about what a choker meant in the lifestyle came back to her. “But how?”
“There are some very good jewelry stores in San Francisco.” He fastened the choker around her neck.
A sense of peace and love flowed over Angie. “I’m never taking this off.” She threw her arms around his neck. “Now, take me home to our playroom.”
“Anything my love wants.” He swept her into his arms and carried her out of her office.
***
Thank you for reading Tangled Temptation.