Page 109 of With this Ring

He answered with a devilish smile. “Maybe a little of both.”

Before she could respond, he tipped back her chin.

“Have no doubt how important you are to me, how important your safety is, your comfort, your pleasure.You.”

No one had ever said anything that meaningful to her before.

Gregorio made her feel cherished, important.

He repacked his bag, dropping the lube in alongside her leash, then he hooked a finger through the D ring of her collar, like he had earlier. “I’d like you to keep this on. For now.”

He was giving her a choice?

Earlier, when he’d placed it around her neck, she hadn’t been sure she liked it, but now she couldn’t imagine taking it off. “Yes, Gregorio.”

The appreciation in his eyes made her doubly glad she’d agreed.

“Ready?” He offered a hand to help her up.

This time, he didn’t ask her to crawl. Instead, he placed his fingers at the base of her spine as they left the room.

Upstairs, he helped her to dress, and she offered him back his T-shirt, even though she didn’t want to give it up. It smelled of him, and the outdoorsy scent comforted her.

“Give me a couple of minutes.” He dropped a quick kiss on her forehead. “I need to sanitize our playrooms.”

“Do you want me to help?”

“Not at all.”

While he returned to the dungeon, she wandered to the patio doors. She didn’t see much beyond her own reflection.

Her hair was mussed, and her sweatshirt was bunched around her waist. Her lips were slightly swollen. But her eyes… Wide, expectant, happy.

Happy.

When was the last time she’d felt that way?

Generally she was too busy with cases and running the business to think about much of anything beyond work.

And being with Gregorio had changed all that.

The atmospheric music continued, keeping her aroused. Or maybe it had more to do with the memory of what they’d shared and the anticipation of what was still to come. Regardless, she was in a deeply surrendered place.

A few minutes later, the music shut off, making the dark mountain silence press in around her.

He rejoined her.

Even though they’d just been together, he swept his gaze approvingly over her. “You’re even sexier than you were earlier.”

Maybe because of his openness, she was softer, less fearful of letting him see her vulnerability or the way she was falling for him.

“I want to get you home.”

At the door, he locked the house, reset the alarm, and turned off the lights.

Hand in hand, he guided her down the path, back to his cozy cabin.

Once they were secured inside, with the lights on a romantic setting, he turned up the heater, then he folded his arms as he stood over her. “You’ve had clothes on for far too long.”

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