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strained, even now, years after the stain of my bastard father should’ve been erased from our lives, Stephanie’s conniving ways and betrayal the reason I’d ended up here in Alaska. With my past and my present riddled with deception and duplicity, I was one hundred per cent sure I wouldn’t take it well if Graciela Mortimer fucked with me that way.
Her head tilted in that way that said she was tunnelling furiously towards the truths and wounds that resided in my very core. And sure enough... ‘Is that what she did to you? She lied?’
‘Graciela...’
She didn’t even bat an eyelid at my warning tone. Man, she was fearless. Not that she needed to
fear me, but one day she was going to poke a wounded bear and get herself in a whole world of hurt.
‘Gud hjælpe mig.’
‘What was that?’
I inhaled slowly. ‘Nothing.’
‘Are you sure? Only it sounded like you said, “God help me”.’
I stiffened. ‘You speak Danish?’
She shook her head. ‘Not one of my many talents, sadly.’
I exhaled. Sure, the words were similar enough to translate.
Note to self—watch yourself in future.
I snorted under my breath. What future? The sharp rip of something in my chest told me it wasn’t as laughable as I was attempting.
‘I gave you a command, Jensen.’
I took the vital step that brought me close to her.
‘Take my cup,’ she instructed.
I took it, turned and set it down next to mine.
With a soft snap of her fingers, she pointed to the floor.
I dropped to my knees, my heart threatening to burst out of my chest as I lowered my gaze. She
inhaled sharply and moved closer until only inches separated us.
She placed her fingers beneath my jaw, nudged my gaze up before leaning in even closer. ‘I’ve seen
you out there in your element, owning and bending nature to your will. That’s great. Out there, you can be in charge all you like. But in here, you hand over control to me. I own your every move, your every breath. Do you understand?’
The knot I’d carried since Stephanie’s lies unravelled, the raging need for the thick promise in
Graciela’s words shocking me to my soul. ‘Yes,min elskerinde.’
She gave a brisk nod. ‘Let’s establish rules. You have my word that I’ll be truthful. That I won’t do anything to degrade you. We’re both free to end this any time we want, storm or no storm. Agreed?’
Relief washed through me. Something else threatened to unravel, but I kept a tight hold on it. I
wasn’t ready to trust. Not just yet. ‘Agreed.’
‘Good. Safe words. Do you have one for me?’
I wanted to tell her I didn’t need one. That I’d willingly follow her every instruction. But that was a slippery slope. Checks and balances were in place for a reason. I couldn’t go into this ignoring rules right from the start. Besides, if she truly was a Domme, she would insist upon it.