Page 46 of The Dom with the Clever Tongue

“I didn’t hit you that hard.”

“You underestimate your strength,” she mumbled, scooting toward Scarlet.

They sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed, both awkwardly gazing at anything other than each other.

Before Reece could fill the silence, Scarlet said softly, “I don’t want you to be scared of me.”

“I’m not scared ofyou.” She looked up and saw the sadness there on Scarlet’s face and it felt like a punch to the gut. She deserved better. An explanation at least. Or an attempt at one.

“I love you too much to let this break us up,” Scarlet said. “If you don’t want to be my sub –”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what are you scared of?”

After a loud sigh, she gave in. “Everything. I’m scared this will change us. I’m scared I won’t be good enough for you. I’m scared something bad will happen if I lose control –”

“Not lose,” Scarlet said, shaking her head. “You’re not losing control. You’rehanding it over willingly.”

Reece looked at her. “Right.” Same difference.

“You still don’t get it. Submission isn’t me taking your will away. It’s you giving it over to me. Because you trust me.” At Reece’s silence, she frowned. “Do you trust me?”

Did she? Trusting anyone was a stretch. She was a classic type A personality. Giving up the slightest bit of control made her panic. But that was what Scarlet wanted of her. She wanted her to hand it over. Just like that. To prove she trusted her? Was this a test?

“Don’t think about it so hard,” Scarlet said then pressed her finger between Reece’s knitted brows. “Just answer. Do you trust me?”

She thought back through the last year of their relationship. She’d shared parts of herself she’d never shared with anyone. Her deepest, darkest secrets. Her biggest fears. When her grandma had died suddenly from a heart attack, she’d fallen into a deep depression, gained twenty pounds then almost slipped into a full-blown eating disorder. Not only had Scarlet been there for her, she never judged her. Not even a little bit. She made her feel beautiful – stretch marks and all.

Scarlet had seen every bit of ugliness inside her – every nasty thought, every weakness, and loved her anyway. Reece had spent the first six months of their relationship shocked that she could tell Scarlet anything and it wouldn’t scare her. She’d tested it, waited for Scarlet to become disgusted and leave. But she only loved her harder, insisted she was beautiful and smart and worthy. At this point, trust was a no-brainer.

“Of course I trust you,” she said.

“So why don’t you trust me to take control for a little while? Do you think I’d push you further than you can handle? Do you think I won’t take care of you? I love you more than anything. I love you so much it hurts. Every time you walk into the room, it takes the air from my lungs. I’d never do anything to risk losing you. Or to hurt you –”

Reece tossed her a look.

“ –morethan you can handle. I’d do anything for you. Even go back to vanilla if that’s what you want.”

“It’s not what I want.” That much she knew was true. Then whatdidshe want?

“Do you want to go back to switching? We could do that. Maybe you just need some pointers from Malachi then –”

She shook her head. “No. He’s right. I’m not a switch.” Then what was she? A submissive? A weak-willed woman who needed someone to direct her life? If that was what Scarlet wanted... Tears fell from her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

“Ohhh,” Scarlet said then shifted to sit against the headboard. “Come here, love.”

Reece looked at her arms, open and inviting, just like her heart. Scarlet deserved someone better. Maybe she’d finally come to her senses and dump Reece. But the comfort was too much to resist right now so she crawled across the bed and into her arms.

Lips pressed against her head and Scarlet stroked her hair, soothing the ache she’d caused. “Don’t cry. We’ll figure it out. The important thing is we do it together, right?”

She didn’t trust her voice so she just nodded.

“Nothing will ever change that, Reece.” Scarlet rubbed her back then kissed her hair again.

She wasn’t dumping her? After all this, Scarlet wasn’t giving up on her? She felt a huge relief lifted from her shoulders.

Stuttering and hiccupping, she asked, “If I agree to be your sub, will you still...” Her voice quivered. “Love me the same?” She squeezed her eyes shut, fearing the worst.

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