Page 17 of The Dark Before Light

We turn as the door to the club opens. Music fills the hallway—a dark and erotic tempo that thrums in my bones—before the door shuts again. A woman in a latex catsuit glances at our joined hands and smiles.

“Break time,” she chirps to Nate.

He glances at his watch before nodding. “Thanks, Ginny. See you back in fifteen.”

She waves and disappears through an adjacent doorway.

“Charlie’s gone for the weekend,” Nate says, his tone carefully neutral. “If that’s who you came to see.”

“I came for you, silly.”

I say it without thinking, only realizing what I’ve done when Nate steps closer. He tugs my hand up, splaying my fingers on his chest. I stare at my hand in bemusement; two years ago, he hadn’t possessed the confidence to touch me like this.

I drove here expecting to have a drink, to get out of my head, and unwind a bit. And yes, I was hoping to see Nate, whose presence has always centered me. What I didn’t expect was for him to be single, exhibit a new, intoxicating blend of behaviors, and to flat-out proposition me.

My fingers curl a little, my nails depressing his shirt and the skin beneath. His breath catches. Need and determination war in his expression.

“You haven’t given me a hard no yet, so I’ll try again. Please come to my office and let me serve you. For old times’ sake.”

The awareness that fluttered earlier returns in a bright, heated flash, soothing all the pieces of me that have been fraying since yesterday. Since Kieran Hayes walked into my office with his predator’s grace and broken soul. The thought of him—errant, unwanted—makes my arousal skyrocket, mocking me with blatant proof of how attractive I find my new client. How attractive I’ve always found him.

“Whoever you’re thinking about,” Nate says urgently, “use me instead. Please. I want you so much my legs are about to give out.”

I suck in a breath as a knot inside me unwinds, bringing calm and clarity. Right now, in this moment, I can either spiral out about something I have no control over—my body’s response to Kieran—or I can accept the gift being offered. And the wonderful man offering it.

“We can’t have the boss collapsing in a hallway, can we?”

Relief and triumph shine in his eyes before his gaze drops. He steps back and bows his head, clasping his hands over his groin. Anticipation makes him tremble, makes his breath come fast. The throb between my legs intensifies at the sight.

“Don’t be modest, lovely one.”

His hands fall to his sides, revealing how excited he is at the prospect of my care. Closing the distance between us, I palm the evidence. He jerks, breath hissing through his teeth. I feel a swell of power mingled with a familiar gravity. One of the hidden treasures I’ve discovered in this life: even in dominance, there is surrender. As surely as Nate will surrender to my whims, I’ll surrender to his.

Leaning forward, I place a gentle kiss on his smooth, warm cheek. Then I squeeze him as I murmur in his ear, “Here are the rules: we’re not fucking tonight, but I’ll let you make me come. If it’s good, I’ll return the favor with my hand. If you exceed my expectations, I might put my mouth on you. Do you remember what my mouth can do?”

He makes a strangled noise. “Yes, Mistress, I remember.”

I smile. “Then I expect you’ll work hard for your reward.”

In Nate’s locked office, I find succor and respite. He earns my mouth—I never had any doubts—and I give him aftercare in the form of cuddling on the oversized couch. His head rests in my lap as I scrape my fingernails lightly across his scalp.

Peaceful and replete, he gazes up at me. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I smile softly. “Thank you, but no.”

Unoffended, he closes his eyes. “Well, if you ever need to not talk about it again, my door is always open.”

I laugh and draw the pad of my thumb over his brow. He sighs and mumbles, “We still haven’t replaced you, you know.”

“I know. Charlie calls once a month solely to order me to come back.”

He smirks. “Of course she does. You’re the best kink educator in the city. A fucking legend.” His lashes part, eyes finding mine. “One hour twice a month on Saturdays. Or a seminar every six weeks. Think of it as paid community service.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re under standing orders from Charlie, aren’t you?”

He grins. “Yep. If I see you, I’m required to bring it up.” His smile fades, eyes turning serious. “Do you still feel the way you did when you stepped back? From the club and me?”

“Yes to both questions,” I say gently, then narrow my eyes. “Tell me Charlie hasn’t implied that you’re in any way responsible for my leaving.”

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