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He dropped his hand and seriously considered her assertion. She wanted him to be her Dom. And if she’d gone to Serpent’s Kiss then she was probably looking for someone to play with. A part of him was screaming, “Yes!” But the more logical side of his brain wondered if that would be altogether smart. He was beginning to have feelings for her, and adding a power exchange relationship to the equation was only bound to enhance those feelings. He was opening himself up to heartache.
“Take a seat.” Seeing her kneeling before him wasn’t helping his brain function properly.
Grace stood and retook her seat next to him at the table.
The look on her face made him want to say fuck it and to hell with the consequences. He had to keep his wits about him, however. This wasn’t a time for being impulsive.
“Tell me what it is you want, Grace.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. “Not what Kurt wanted. What you want.”
She didn’t answer right away. “When I read that Kurt wanted me to find a new Dom, I didn’t think I could do it. I wasn’t in a place mentally where I felt I could give that much of myself to anyone. I know what it takes to be a sub. Letting go and trusting. Giving up control.”
Her voice shook slightly, but there was determination behind it as well. She was braver than she was giving herself credit for.
“Then you started coaxing me out of my shell... getting me out of the house and back into the world.” The edges of her mouth rose in a small smile. “You gave me the confidence to believe that maybe I could do it. Contacting Mistress Katrina and going to Serpent’s Kiss was a test.”
“And what did you find out?” he asked.
“It made me realize Kurt was right. Being submissive is part of who I am and I can’t pretend it’s not just because he’s not here anymore.”
Alexander had to ask. “When you saw me you couldn’t get out of there fast enough.”
“I hadn’t expected to see anyone there I knew. And when I did, I panicked.” She met his gaze. “I didn’t know what to do, so I ran.”
What she said swirled around in his head. If he said no to being her Dom, there was a good chance she’d go back to Serpent’s Kiss and find another Dom who’d be more than willing to take her on. Grace was beautiful and she was an experienced submissive. He had no doubt someone would be happy to step up and fill that role. The thought turned his stomach.
“Are you sure, Grace? There’s no rush. You have time.”
“You don’t want to be my Dom?” An air of sadness came over her.
He placed his hand over hers, unable to resist touching her. “I didn’t say that.”
She looked down at their hands then back up at him. “I trust you, Alexander. If I’m going to do this, I want it to be with you.”
That simple assertion was what broke him. How could he say no? “We’ll need to go over your limits and what your expectations are.”
A look of pure, unadulterated relief crossed her face. He still had no idea how he was going to deal with his developing feelings for her, but he’d cross that bridge when he came to it.
***
Chapter 9
Grace couldn’t articulate how grateful she felt that he’d agreed. “Thank you.”
One side of Alexander’s mouth quirked up in a half smile. “Maybe you should wait until we compare lists before you thank me.”
She chuckled.
“You never know. I might be a wicked sadist.” He wasn’t even trying to hide his grin.
This was the Alexander she’d gotten to know over the last month. The one that made her laugh and feel as if there was still life to be lived. “Maybe I’m a masochist.”
“Are you?” he asked, amusement lighting his eyes.
Grace considered fibbing for the sake of drawing out their back and forth, but thought better of it. Even if a spanking wouldn’t be an altogether bad thing. “Not really.”
He released her hand and sat back in his chair. “Had to think about that for a minute, did you?”
“No. But...”
