Page 153 of Enthrall Climax

“De Sade has a client in the dungeon. Wanna take a peek?”

“Thought you’d never ask.” I grinned.

“What’s going on with you?”

“Later.”

“You’ve got me worried.”

“Me?”

“Yes, Cole, you.”

“How are the peacocks?”

“Still pea-cocking. Think they own the place.” He laughed. “Let’s get some fresh air.”

A burst of heat hit us when we stepped outside, and I had the urge to leap into the crystal blue swimming pool. So many mornings I’d dived in there and swam laps to start my day. My gaze turned up toward the window of the room where Mia had stayed when I’d kept her here during her training.

Tearing my gaze away, I felt another stab of doubt. I wondered if Mia would ever forgive me.

Off in the distance, a female peacock crested the hill. It really was as though I’d never left this place.

“Funny how it’s reversed with them,” said Richard. “The males have the flashy plumage.”

I turned to face him. “Remember that time when you told me you were giving up BDSM?”

“Yes.”

My expression changed, telling him what I couldn’t say. This lifestyle had always been a big part of who I was; it had defined me, and yet something within had altered.

“Does Mia want to go vanilla?” There was sympathy in his tone.

“No.”

“Just a suggestion, because it’s what you’d say to me—”

“My testosterone levels are fine.”

“You can’t blame me for being shocked. You’re Cameron Cole.”

“I can’t, Richard. Can’t do it. I can spank her. Tie her up. Fuck her hard. Just can’t…” I turned to face the horizon. “Pain has no appeal anymore.”

Had she changed me or had this been inevitable?

“So you’re leaving us?”

“Hell, no, I still like to watch.” I arched my brows playfully. “Just can’t inflict pain on Mia. I want to make her laugh. I want to make her constantly delirious with happiness.” I wanted to make her toes curl in pleasure for hours.

This sounded wrong because so many couples had great relationships and it never affected them like this. They could separate the play. Their sadism was a thing of beauty and nothing to pull back from.

“Let me see if we can change your mind?” Richard elbowed me.

We walked back into Chrysalis and a blast of air conditioning chilled my flesh.

“De Sade?” I warmed to the idea.

“This will be fun.”