Page 92 of Bought

“I understand,” Fox said in the same cool tone.

I didn’t want Isabel to go, but she went anyway, and then there was only me and him. Me, sitting at the table on my own, every sense I had focused on the man standing behind my chair. There were tears in my eyes and I fought them. I wasn’t going to fucking cry over him again.

“Zara,” he said gently. “Zara, look at me.”

I didn’t want to. But I sensed him come closer, right up behind me, the warmth of his presence and the scent of his aftershave surrounding me.

“Please,” he murmured. “Please, little sub.”

“I’m not your sub,” I said. “Not anymore. That’s what you said. You let me go.”

“I know.” His hands came down on the arms of my chair, his body leaning over me, caging me. “But I was wrong. That was a mistake and I’m here to rectify it. You were right, Zara. I was a coward. Telling myself I couldn’t love you was an excuse, a defense mechanism. I didn’t want to see the truth, because love wasn’t something I wanted, not again. It’s painful and destructive, and it made me do such terrible, terrible things, and yet…” I felt the warmth of his breath against my ear as he lent in closer. “It’s not all destruction and it’s not all pain. There’s happiness too, and you made me see that. You showed me that happiness was still possible and…” The timbre of his voice changed, becoming warmer, fierce. “I want that, Zara. I thought I didn’t deserve it, but I don’t care. I want it and I want it with you.”

I was trembling now, and I’d lost the battle with my tears. “You do deserve it,” I said thickly. “You deserve it more than anyone I’ve ever known.”

“And so do you. I think we both do, don’t you? Please, little sub. I love you. I’ve probably loved you since the moment I first saw you, and I can’t think of anything I want more than to come to Santorini with you or anywhere else you might want to go.”

I could stay angry with him for letting me go. Furious that he’d broken my heart. I could hold out and question and fight. But I was tired of fighting, so tired. And he said he loved me.

No one had ever said that to me before. No one.

So, I didn’t fight, and I didn’t question. I shoved myself from the chair and whirled around, and his arms were around me. He bent his head, and his mouth was on mine, and the world ceased to exist.

“Come home with me,” he murmured against my lips. “I have something I want to give you.”

Little bubbles of joy were effervescing in my bloodstream, tears making my voice hoarse, but I managed to force the words out. “Yes, oh yes.”

He lifted his head and his mouth curved, a secret, private smile just for me, warm and full of tenderness. Then he let me go, took my hand, and led me to the long black car that waited at the curb.

He pulled me inside and I curled up in his lap, safe in his arms, and he kissed me carefully and for a long time as we drove back to his house.

I knew the rules. Once I was inside, I stripped off all the clothes I was wearing without being prompted and it felt as if I was shedding my skin. Taking off my old life and leaving it on the floor, stepping out naked and reborn. His sub. Strong and beautiful and passionate, everything he told me I was.

“Perfect,” he murmured and swept me into his arms, carrying me over to the couch. “You’re perfect, little sub. You’re everything I ever wanted. Everything I ever dreamed about.” He sat down and settled me in his lap, his deep blue gaze on mine, not cold. Not now. There was only flame there. Only heat. Only love.

“You are too, Sir.” I lifted a hand and touched his beautiful face, his cheek warm under my fingers. “I never thought I was a damsel in distress, but you’ve always been a white knight. My white knight.”

His mouth curved in that beautiful smile. “Only yours, little sub. No one else’s.”

“No,” I agreed smugly. “You’re my Sir. Only mine.”

“And don’t you forget it. Oh, by the way, I paid a little visit to your friend Donny. He kindly showed me where he put the money he stole from you and then insisted I take it back.” Fox’s smile became a little sharper. “I gave him some incentive of course. Also, he promised to never contact you again.”

A little thrill went through me. Was it wrong that I kind of wanted to have been there to see the expression on Donny’s face?

“Good,” I said. “And if he does, I’ll be sure to let you know so you can teach him a lesson.”

“Bloodthirsty little sub.” Fox took my hand and kissed my fingertips. “I’m not sure it’s possible for you to get any more perfect.” Still holding on to my hand, he shifted and drew something out of his pocket. “Speaking of. Here’s something for you.” And he handed me a small, black box.

My heart ached, yet more tears prickling in my eyes. No one had ever given me a gift that I could remember, especially not one that looked this special.

Slowly, I took it from him and opened it. Inside, nestled in black velvet, was a short, fine necklace of silver links. In the center were two linked rings set with what looked like tiny diamonds.

It was beautiful.

“Oh, Sir…” I breathed, trying to blink away the tears. “What is it?”

“It’s a collar, little one.” He picked it up out of the box carefully. “I had it made specially for you. It means you’re mine. It means I’ve claimed you, that I own you. And most important of all….” He laid it around my neck, the metal cool against my skin, and fastened it. “It means I love you.”