Page 42 of Blinded
“Yes, Sir.” Sandra clasped her hands under her chin, and her eyes sparkled. “Now will you please tie me up?”
GT chuckled and helped her stand. “Although I could consider this topping from the bottom, I’m going to indulge you. Strip!”
Without bothering to get dressed, GT sauntered over to the ropes and went over the possibilities in his head.
When he turned back to Sandra, she was kneeling on the floor. Although she held her head at a respectful angle, it was clear she had been watching him. GT winked and strode over to her. He settled in behind her and placed the ropes within reach on the ground. With slight pressure on her upper body, he encouraged her to lean against him. Inhaling slowly and deeply, GT stroked her arms and shoulders. Her breathing soon matched his, and he picked up the first coil of asanawa. His hands wound, twisted, and knotted the rope. His plans and ideas for designs were no longer essential. All that mattered was having Sandra in his arms and feeling her trust in him. This scene, he realized, was more about bonding than binding.
Much later, he had her cuddled in his lap, and she was slowly coming out of subspace. GT knew there was one issue they needed to address. “I understand now it’s hard for you to hear, but I love you, hana.” Her body stiffened, and he made a shushing sound while he slowly rocked their bodies. When she allowed herself to lean against him again, he continued, “I’m planning to tell you over and over again until you believe me and understand my love for you is genuine.”
She straightened, and for a moment he feared she would push away and run, but all she did was look him in the eye. “When people tell me they love me, it’s usually a sign they want something from me.” Her tone was matter of fact. This was her truth and the heart of the problem.
“Have you ever loved someone?”
Sandra chewed the inside of her cheek. “I care for my dad?” Was that a question or a statement? He couldn’t tell, but he’d seen her with her dad. She more than ‘cared’ for him.
“Not your ex-fiancé?” He knew that David had betrayed her trust, but she had considered marrying him, and GT couldn’t see Sandra being calculating. She had to have had some feelings for him.
She blinked, as though the question confused her, before she slowly answered, “Maybe, at the start of our relationship.” She worked the inside of her mouth again – a sign she was thinking hard. “I think I mostly liked the idea of him, having someone to share my life with, to talk to, to listen to, and who would listen to me. I wanted to make plans together, to support and be supported.” She made eye contact with GT and sighed. “Maybe David was also an easy way out, since my mother was pushing me to get married.” Sandra shrugged and looked a bit guilty. It was not where he wanted her to go.
“How about Ruby?”
She tilted her head aside, and her eyebrows squished together. “What about her?”
“Don’t you love her?”
“I … I don’t know?”
The urge to pull her into his arms, to kiss the confusion off her face and to show her with his body how he truly felt – damn it, how she felt, too – was overwhelming, but he limited himself to cradling her face in his hands. GT gazed deeply into her eyes. “Hana, love is a beautiful gift, and if someone loves you, that should be comforting, not scary. And you know the wonderful thing about a gift? You don’t have to give anything back. You can just accept it.”
Sandra pursed her lips and arched one eyebrow and GT knew he had her attention. He continued by telling her about his parents and how they shared their love and life. How his mother still missed his father and had started the foundation in his memory, sharing his passion for medicine by helping others become doctors. He told her about his sister and how they fought as kids, but also helped each other. “So, what I’m saying, hana, there’s nothing wrong or scary about love. You just had the misfortune of being with people who used your love, because that’s what it was, to manipulate you. But I know you, Sandra. You have a big heart and lots of love to give. Maybe you’re not prepared to accept my love, but I'm ready to accept yours.”
Chapter Thirteen
Following their reconciliation and discussion of love, Sandra and GT spent more and more time together. During the day they worked, but at night they were inseparable. Before he knew it, GT was thrown into last minute details for the spring fundraiser for the Hawkins-Lewis Foundation. This was only the third year they’d had a second event and there had been lively debate among the board members about what to have. Casino Night had been a bust the first year. With four local casinos, the interest in gambling was already satisfied and a charity couldn’t compete. They’d tried a 10K race the second year and had lost money on prizes for the winners. There was opposition to the Color Run because of the failed race, but GT and Marjorie had won over the naysayers. Since it didn’t have any winners, the 5K event was a great way to get people who didn’t usually participate in structured races to try one out. He was optimistic they would have better luck this year. He was pondering all the changes in his life when the phone rang.
“Ticket sales are through the roof,” Marjorie said when he answered. “I love the way this city likes to run. Even with the Color Run taking a share, we should still clear more than the fall banquet after expenses. That will let us add the new scholarship we talked about. I’m so glad you talked me into this, Gregory.”
“I’m glad you were able to win over the board. I really think having the picnic with another silent auction will help, too. What magic did you use to get Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to come?”
“I got lucky,” Marjorie said. “Angela just started working for him when he’s in town. She made the connection for us. It turns out he likes KC a lot. People have made him feel at home so he’s not spending as much of the off-season in Montreal anymore and he wants to give back to the community. Medical education is a natural fit for him as a charity since he is a qualified physician.”
“I’ll make sure to thank her the next time I see her.”
“Good boy. A little extra in her check wouldn’t go amiss either.”
“Yes, Mother. I’d already decided on that. Anything else you need me to do?”
“When are you planning on telling Sandra about the new scholarship?”
“We’ll handle that on the day of, Mother. She’s in the next room.”
“If that’s the way you want to do it. I think it might be a good idea to give her a heads up, but you do it your way.” Marjorie changed the subject. “Have you taken care of the catering for the VIPs, dear?”
“It’s all in hand, Mother. The Sweet and Savory Table will feed the VIPs, and I’ve ordered fifteen thousand box lunches for the participants, guests and extras.”
“But we’re only selling five thousand tickets! Why so many?”
“I thought we went over this when we decided on having lunch? Each participant gets two lunches, so they’ll stay for the rest of the entertainment and fund-raising. I ordered another five thousand because some will come with more than one guest. The Foundation gets seventy-five percent on the single lunches.”
