Page 101 of Worth the Risk

The scowl faded as understanding dawned. Additional partners was a hard limit for both of them.

“No,” he answered immediately, also firmly and decisively.

“How come?”

“What I have with you is enough.”

Now it was her turn to frown, not liking how that sounded. “Are you...settling? I don’t want that. And I certainly don’t want you to end up miserable like in your first marriage.”

His laughter turned heads. So they wouldn’t disturb the others, he led her to a couch in a quiet corner where they could talk. He sat first then pulled her into his lap, astride his thighs, face-to-face with him.

“Bella. You’ve seen Allison in action. You’re nothing like her. Mainly because you’re not a bitch, and also because she isn’t submissive. She wanted to be the one in charge, which didn’t fly with me, and that’s why we ended.”

“Why on earth did you marry her?”

“He’s got my hair, my eyes, my moral code, thank goodness, and goes by the name of Caden.”

“She was pregnant!” Of course. Dan’s moral code would drive him to marry the mother of his child. Bella shook her head. “I get you’re old-fashioned, and that was the honorable thing to do, but you had to know you would lock heads all the time and be miserable.”

“She wasn’t like that when we first met. I thought we could make a go of it, but she changed after we married. Or maybe we both did. I don’t know. I think mostly she wanted to get out of her parents’ house, and I was her ticket to freedom.”

“She used you. That’s horrible.”

“Maybe, but I was gone a lot on multiple deployments. She had to step up and be the decision-maker and take on all the roles I would have fulfilled. It wasn’t good how it ended, but I understand how we got there.” He saw the concern on her face. “That won’t happen with us, Bella. Mostly because I won’t let it, and also because I’ll be present, in the literal and figurative sense.”

“And because, as you’ve proven, I’m not vanilla, and I can’t ever see myself wanting to top you.”

“There’s that, too,” he said, grinning.

“Then, you don’t want to whip me?”

He pulled her against his chest, bracketed her head with his hands. “I told you from the outset that I don’t get off on pain for pain’s sake. And I’ve never pushed the extremes unless the sub wanted it, too. That isn’t you. I have plenty of other tricks up my sleeve ranging from vanilla to sadistic and all points in between, though, never fear.”

Then he kissed her breathless.

“Are we clear on you not being enough for me, once and for all?” he asked long moments later.

“We’re clear.”

“Good. Let’s hurry before the room fills up and we lose our station.”

He got to his feet, pulling her up with him, and started walking again, to her nearly running.

Bella had one last question. Not about them but plain curiosity.

“Why is the whip so revered when there are other equally ouchy and dangerous kinks around?” she asked, breathless from keeping up.

“Because it’s rooted in history, I suppose, and has always been considered the height of sadomasochism. Very few want to give or receive what the whip offers. It sounds exciting and something to strive for in one’s BDSM journey, but, for most, it’s beyond reach, like a nebula on the horizon.”

“You’re waxing poetic tonight, master,” Bella observed.

“Am I? I guess I’m in a philosophical mood.”

When he stopped without warning, she came close to slamming into him.

“This is us,” he announced.

Bella peeked around his broad back and tried not to show her disappointment at the station. A padded bondage table was one of the most innocuous pieces of kink furniture in the place.

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