Page 54 of The Fixer
Lyndsey blinked, startled out of her thoughts. “What makes you say that?”
Jake smiled, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees. “Because I know that look. You’re overanalyzing, trying to figure out everything at once.”
She huffed a quiet laugh, closing the laptop and setting it aside. “Well, that’s what I do. Analyze. Break things down until they make sense.”
He nodded, his gaze unwavering. “I get that. But not everything fits neatly into a box, Lyndsey. Some things... some people... you just have to feel your way through.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the way he was looking at her, and she swallowed hard. “Are we still talking about Lang, or is this about us?”
Jake’s lips curved into a faint smile, and he sat back, crossing his arms. “Both, maybe. But right now? Definitely us.”
The directness of his words sent a shiver through her, and she forced herself to hold his gaze. “You’re not exactly an easy man to figure out, Jake.”
“Good,” he said simply, his voice tinged with amusement. “Keeps you on your toes.”
She rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched with the hint of a smile. “I’m serious. This... whatever this is between us—it’s not exactly straightforward.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” Jake said, his tone softening. “We don’t have to have it all figured out right now. But I know one thing for sure: a vanilla relationship isn’t something I can do.”
Lyndsey’s brows furrowed, and she tilted her head slightly. “Vanilla?”
Jake chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Traditional. Surface-level. A relationship where we pretend that who we are doesn’t matter as much as keeping things simple. That’s not me.”
She nodded slowly, absorbing his words. “You mean the whole dominant/submissive thing.”
He leaned forward again, his expression serious. “It’s not just a thing, Lyndsey. It’s who I am. It’s how I connect, how I love. And it’s not about control for control’s sake. It’s about trust, about creating something that’s bigger than the sum of its parts.”
Her breath caught at the raw honesty in his voice, and she shifted slightly, her hands twisting in her lap. “It’s a lot to wrap my head around. But... after talking to Reyna, and after watching what Samantha has with King, I think I’m starting to understand.”
Jake arched a brow, his gaze sharpening. “Oh?”
Lyndsey nodded, her voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in her chest. “Reyna said it’s about strength. About having the confidence to let go, to trust someone completely. And I see that in her. She’s not weak—far from it. She’s one of the strongest women I’ve ever met. And she finds peace in submitting. I... I want that. With you.”
Jake exhaled slowly, his eyes searching hers. “Do you understand what you’re saying, Lyndsey? This isn’t just about the bedroom. It’s about how we communicate, how we live, how we build a life.”
“I know,” she said softly. “And I know it’s not something I’ll learn overnight. But I want to try. Because the idea of a relationship where I can be both strong and vulnerable, where I don’t have to be in control all the time—it doesn’t scare me as much as it used to. It actually sounds... liberating.”
A slow, genuine smile spread across Jake’s face, and he reached for her hand, his touch firm and grounding. “You have no idea how much that means to me. And you’re right—it takes strength to let go. But it also takes strength to lead, to guide. And the most important thing you need to know is that the submissive always has the final say. Always.”
Lyndsey’s eyes widened slightly. “Always?”
Jake nodded. “Submission is a gift, Lyndsey. It’s never taken—it’s given. And if you ever decide you don’t want to give it, that’s the end of it. No questions, no pressure. But if you do submit... I’ll take care of you. I’ll make sure you get what you need.”
Her throat tightened, and she looked down at their joined hands. “And what about what you need?”
Jake’s grip on her hand tightened slightly, his voice dropping. “If we’re doing this—really doing this—what I need will come naturally. But it starts with trust. Without that, none of it works.”
She met his gaze again, her belief in him solidifying. “Then we’ll build it. I trust you, Jake. More than I’ve trusted anyone in a long time.”
Neither of them spoke, the conviction in her words settling between them. Then Jake leaned closer, his free hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. “We’ll take it one step at a time,” he said quietly. “And if you ever have doubts, you tell me. This only works if we’re honest with each other.”
“I can do that,” Lyndsey whispered, her voice barely audible. “But Jake... I’m scared. Not just of this, but of everything. Of losing you. Of not being enough.”
Jake’s hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over her skin. “You’re more than enough, Lyndsey. And as for losing me? Not gonna happen. I’m in this, all the way.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the intensity in his voice, and she nodded, her fear ebbing away under the strength of his reassurance. “Okay,” she said softly. “One step at a time.”
Jake smiled, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “That’s my girl.”