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Z ack cursed at the suspicion and uncertainty he saw in Dani’s eyes.

This wasn’t the way he’d wanted to tell her he’d finally gotten a lead on Emylyah’s whereabouts, and of course, his girl wanted to know more than he was at liberty to tell her.

More than anything, he wanted to confide in Dani, but he couldn’t risk his loose lips scaring away the only opportunity he’d had in all the time he’d been searching for his child bride.

Already the link was tenuous. Zack had a feeling it wouldn’t take much to spook either Gabi or her sister.

He wanted to find Emylyah Baskov, or Lyah Radaeva, or whatever name she went by these days, and finally free himself so he could commit to Dani fully.

Surely, she understood that? Wanted that?

Dani had, after all, placed so much importance on his marital status that she’d walked out on him without even allowing him to explain.

And for his own part, Zack wanted to be untangled from this weight that was dragging him down and preventing him from moving forward with his life.

Carefully, he maneuvered the subject away from Emylyah and focused on the other stuff Dani had said. That was far more important right now, anyway.

He’d hardly dared to believe it when she’d said she wanted to give their relationship a chance, and now he latched onto that hope with the desperation of a drowning man clinging to a piece of driftwood.

Dani’s admission flooded him with something that felt so much like relief he felt close to losing it.

While Zack had been prepared to fight for her, he’d barely allowed himself to entertain the possibility that she might still want him after everything he’d put her through, after the secrecy and his obsession with finding the wife who stood between them and who had left him unavailable in more ways than just the legal.

Yet here she was, offering a glimmer of what he wanted most in the world, and she was offering it to him now despite her fears and uncertainties.

Far more important in this moment to work on cementing that, rather than pursuing a lukewarm trail that might never lead to the freedom he longed for.

If Dani was prepared to take him as he was, then he could work on the rest, no matter how long it took.

As long as he had Dani by his side, it seemed like anything was possible.

They could make it work; he was certain of it.

"Dani," he breathed, reaching out to cup her face gently. "You have no idea how much that means to me. I swear I'll do everything in my power to be worthy of this second chance."

His thumb brushed across her cheekbone, savoring the softness of her skin. Dani's eyes fluttered closed at his touch, a small sigh escaping her lips. The tension in her shoulders eased slightly.

"I want to believe you, Zack. I really do," she whispered.

"Then believe me," he murmured, leaning in closer. "Let me show you how much I've missed you, how much I need you."

Their lips met in a tentative kiss that quickly deepened, years of pent-up longing and desire pouring out; a well their previous joining had barely touched. Perhaps because neither of them had allowed it.

Zack's hands slid down to Dani's waist, pulling her flush against him as her fingers tangled in his hair.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Zack rested his forehead against hers. "God, I've dreamed of this for so long," he admitted hoarsely.

Dani bit her lip, a familiar mischievous glint in her eye. One he suddenly realized had been missing until now. "Well, we are at a kink club. Why don't we make some of those dreams a reality?"

Zack's breath caught in his throat, and his eyes flicked to the bottle of wine he’d ordered.

It was still more than half full and the glass he’d been drinking from wasn’t finished, he’d only had a couple of sips, so he’d had nowhere near the two-drink limit enforced for scening.

Still… "Are you sure? I don't want to rush things. "

"I'm sure," Dani said firmly, taking his hand and leading him towards one of the private rooms. A very specific private room. The suspension room. "I've missed this - missed us - too much to waste any more time."

As they entered the dimly lit space, Zack's dominant side surged to the forefront. He turned to Dani, his voice low and commanding. "Strip for me, pet.”

A shiver ran through her at the familiar endearment. Slowly, teasingly, she began to remove her clothing, never breaking eye contact. Zack's gaze raked hungrily over every inch of exposed skin.

When she stood naked before him, he circled her appraisingly. "Beautiful," he murmured. "Now, hands behind your back and clasp your elbows.”

Dani complied instantly, her breath quickening as Zack retrieved a brand-new length of red rope from a nearby shelf and scanned it on his phone to charge his account.

He ran the silky material through his fingers, savoring the anticipation building between them. With practiced ease, he began weaving intricate patterns across Dani's skin, the rope hugging her curves and accentuating her feminine form.

"What’s your safe word?" Zack murmured against her ear as he worked.

"Red," Dani whispered, her voice breathy with arousal.

"Good girl," he praised, continuing his meticulous work, even though his heart dipped a little that she’d chosen to use the traffic light system, rather than the unique safe word they used to use. Clearly, they had a little way to go before the trust was completely rebuilt between them, but that was okay. She was giving him a chance. That’s all he could ask for.

The rest he was more than happy to prove to her.

The familiarity of the rope in his hands, the silky lengths drawing through his fingers, calmed Zack’s mind. Each movement was deliberate, precise, his practiced touch working with an almost meditative focus as he began constructing the sinuous weave.

He’d missed this. The intricacy of the knots, the beauty of the filigree pattern he began to construct, the way the bright red hugged her flesh and contrasted so beautifully with her olive skin—all of it took him to his own happy place.

It had been too long. Far too damn long.

Where once they had known each other’s every kinky secret and every dark desire, now there was so much uncharted territory for them to explore.

Above all, he’d missed her. Missed the undeniable connection they shared.

He’d half expected never to have this again. Yet here they were, and Zack was determined not to let anything stop him from savoring Dani this time around.

As he worked, he watched her closely, noting the way her eyes fluttered closed in submission.

She’d missed this too if the look of absolute peace on her beautiful face was anything to go by.

He knew it from the way a small sigh escaped her lips and the way she surrendered each time he extended her bindings.

That sigh was sweeter to him than any words she could speak. That sigh was the promise he’d hardly dared to hope for. The promise that they could make things work.