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Chapter 24
After Callie’s near meltdown, Ian had only stepped back a few inches. He’d been determined to monitor her every breath, so he’d been close enough to hear her words. Even though he’d been sure those were the words she had held back just a few minutes before, he was still stunned at her admission. And he was even more stunned by how pleased those few words made him. Christ, he hadn’t even realized how much he loved her until he’d seen the absolute trust in her eyes as he’d talked her through the fear earlier. He knew the damage her mother had done would surface again from time to time, but under his hand she’d begin to heal. Jace was already more protective of her than a pissed-off mama grizzly bear. What he wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall when Jace got to confront Chrissy Reece in a few days.
His friends had given him shit-eating grins when they’d heard Callie’s words, and when they’d removed all three clamps at the same time and commanded her to come, her ear-piercing scream had covered Kalen’s words behind him. “Don’t fuck this up, boss. She’s a keeper, and there’s a long line of men, including me, who would be happy to take your place.” The harshness of his words was tempered by the slap on back he gave Ian as he walked from the room.
He and Jace watched as Logan and Gage unstrapped Callie from the table and treated her nipples and tender clit with a cooling gel before they wrapped her in a soft subbie blanket and cuddled her for several minutes. Their soft words of praise were met with her sweet smile. Jace spoke up quietly, “She’s amazing, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this. Capturing Callie that night on the dock was just about the luckiest we’ve been in…fuck, forever. You don’t plan on letting her go, do you?”
“Never.” Ian hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her. She was so amazing he couldn’t believe he’d actually found a woman who could break through the stone wall he’d built around his heart all those years ago. “Let’s take our little beauty upstairs and show her how proud we are of her. She deserves our very best tonight.” Moving forward, Ian scooped the tiny bundle off Logan’s and Gage’s laps.
“Be good to her, she’s earned every good thing you can give her, boss.” Logan’s affection for her was obvious. After Logan had returned home after his final mission, he’d been in a very dark place emotionally, so seeing him connect with Callie had pleased him. Ian was close to all the men he employed on the small island. They’d become a community and a family of sorts—looking out for one another and spending holidays together. Ian hoped that this was the beginning of Logan’s healing.
Jace had preceded them to the master suite and had the large tub filling already when Ian carried Callie in and set her on her feet. “Let’s get you unwrapped and into a nice warm tub, pet. Master Jace and I are going to get you all relaxed before we move on to your last reward.” His heart nearly caught in his throat at the look of complete trust he saw reflected in her eyes.
“Do you need anything, sweetness? I brought you a bottle of water, but if you’re hungry I can have Inez bring you up a snack.” Jace was watching her with a careful eye, and Ian knew his friend was almost as protective of her as he was.
“No, but thank you so much for offering…I’ll be fine, and it’s late, I don’t want to be a bother to Inez.” Callie’s words amazed Ian, he had always been disgusted at the way the women he’d dated before had treated his sweet housekeeper. The few who had even acknowledged her had been disrespectful at best. Ian remembered his father always reminding him that you could know the true measure of someone’s character by watching the way they treated their employees and the waitstaff in restaurants.
Ian reached up and stroked her cheek. “You are very sweet to consider her feelings, pet. But she honestly won’t mind bringing you something if you are hungry. My guess is that she already has it prepared, because she knew some of our plans for tonight and she was concerned that you hadn’t eaten much at dinner.” He smiled as she automatically lowered her eyes as a pink blush washed over her sweet face.
“I was a bit nervous. And well…in that case, I would love to have a bit of a snack. Thank you.” Ian watched as Jace strode from the room, eating up the distance with his long stride. No doubt he’d be back in less than a minute. Ian smiled to himself. The man was huge, but deep down he was one of the biggest teddy bears Ian knew.
* * * *
After they bathed and pampered Callie, they moved her out onto the deck. The stars were shining brightly and the weather was unseasonably warm. They’d placed candles all around, and they were going to drink a glass or two of wine while their hungry sub ate her chocolate-covered strawberries. Ian leaned back and watched as she found such joy in the simple things around her. She swore the strawberries were the best she’d ever had and that the evening was beyond perfect. She’d noticed the soft whispers of the breeze through the flower-covered vines growing up the wall and the way the lights from the shore danced across the water. She’d told them the lights looked like tiny fairies dancing on a vast stage lit by moonlight. When Ian had looked over at Jace, it was obvious he was just as captivated by her observations.
“You know, pet, you would be very good at writing the advertising for Club Isola. I’m also hoping you are interested in accepting the position as project manager for the resort.” He saw her eyes go wide, and a moment later he was scrambling to refill her wine glass when she started choking. “Well, I have to say, that wasn’t exactly the reaction I was hoping for,Carlin.”
She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, and he wasn’t sure if it was from her coughing fit or from emotion. “Are you sure? You’d really want me to help you get the resort up and running? What would I do after? Oh, it doesn’t really matter I guess since I’m pretty sure I’m already unemployed. Wow, I was hoping to have enough stuff left in my apartment to sell when I get back so I’d be able to get a bus ticket to my aunt and uncle’s place in Kansas. But this would be better, oh so much better. Where would I work? Do you have plans drawn up already? Could I rent a room in your basement or something? I promise I’d pay you as soon as I get a check, and I could help out around here if Inez needs help. I mean, she won’t want me to cook, I can promise you that, but I’m good at cleaning and organizing things. Do you think that—” She stopped in midquestion when both men burst out laughing. “What?” She tried to sound indignant rather than defensive, but she wasn’t sure she’d succeeded.
Jace was the first to recover enough to respond. “Holy shit, sweetness, I don’t think I’ve ever met another person who can ask as many questions without coming up for air as you can, well maybe Kat Lamont, but she’s the only one. It’s amazing, really. Now, stop for just a bit and let your Master tell you exactly what he wants. Can you do that for us, sweetheart?”
Ian had to smile at her stunned expression. He hadn’t really wanted to go into all of it this evening, but her poetic observations had opened a door he just hadn’t been able to walk away from. Her voice was soft and filled with appreciation. “Yes, Sir. Thank you for saving me from myself…again. You and Master Logan have your work cut out for you keeping me out of trouble, you know.”No fucking doubt about it, sweet sub.
When Callie’s attention turned to him, he simply smiled at her for a few seconds, letting her settle a bit so she’d actuallyhearwhat he was telling her. “Callie, I do indeed want you to take the position of project manager for the resort. The plans are drawn up already, but I would be open to reviewing them with you to see if you see anything that you feel needs to be changed. I also want you to review the advertising literature for Club Isola. The picture you just painted with your words was inspired, and I’d like to see the club’s advertising image go in that direction.” He stopped and just let her digest what he’d said so far. When she finally smiled, he knew she’d processed and was ready for more.
“Now, as far as renting a room, absolutely not.” When he saw disappointed acceptance in her expressive eyes, he wanted to kick himself for the way he’d phrased his words. “Pet, I’m sorry, that was very poorly worded on my part. Please forgive me.” When she looked up in surprise, he added, “Don’t look so shocked, love. Doms are people and we make mistakes, too. And good Doms who love their subs admit them and ask for forgiveness just like any othernormalperson.” He smiled at her shy nod, and he knew the second she realized he’d just told her that he loved her because her eyes went as wide as saucers and she stopped breathing. “Pet, please take a breath before you pass out on me.” When she’d taken a couple of deep, gulping breaths, he heard Jace’s snort of laughter to their side.
“Very good, pet, now, back to the living arrangements—you won’t be sleeping anywhere but right next to me, my sweetCarlin. You belong to me just as I belong to you. Master Jace will be our third for as long as he wants to be. You will be much too busy working and pleasing me to have much time to help Inez, but I’m sure she will appreciate any help you are able to provide. Now, as to your belongings, everything that was in your apartment is in storage in the basement of my office complex in the city. Jace coordinated that effort the day after you arrived. We were concerned about you losing what we knew was important to you, and from the moment I set eyes on you, I knew you’d never return to that awful place.” He watched as tears swamped her eyes and slowly slipped over the lids to race toward her chin. “Don’t cry, my precious pet, you have brought joy back into my life and I honestly didn’t think I’d ever find it again. If you agree to belong to me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making you glad you did.”
He wasn’t sure what to expect when she stood up, and his heart nearly melted when she curled up on his lap like a soft, warm kitten wanting the physical contact and reassurance that she was loved. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her for long minutes, listening as she tried to hold in the tears that just wouldn’t stop falling. She finally spoke in a whisper-soft voice, “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for you. You were just a dream for so many years that I still can scarcely believe you are real. And to be held in your arms…well, I haven’t been hugged for years…and I’d longed for this comfort.” He was speechless. How had the people who were supposed to love this woman unconditionally let her down in so many ways? Looking at his friend, he could see he was also shaken by her confession.
Ian continued to hold her close for a few moments and then drew her back so that he could see her face. Using his thumbs to wipe away her tears, he said, “Pet, you are a gift straight from heaven. Tomorrow morning, we’re going into the city to get you a few things, clothing, your belongings and the like. But right now, Master Jace and I want to make sweet love to you—but in truth, watching this evening’s events has taken a toll and it may turn out that we fuck you into the mattress before the sweet lovemaking part.” He was relieved to hear her giggle, it sounded like his words had lightened her mood, just as he’d hoped they would. “Up you go, sweet subbie, let’s get you inside before you get chilled. Our plans are better served where you are warm and comfortable.” He gave her a small swat and heard her hiss as he reawakened the lingering sting from her earlier punishment. He knew from past experience, she’d likely have some heavy-duty bruises for several days, and he made a mental note to make sure he was in the dressing rooms with her tomorrow so that the snoopy sales ladies typically found in high-end boutiques would be forced to keep their distance. None of them needed that type of publicity.
Putting those thoughts aside, he whispered in her ear, “I am sure you have learned your lesson about not accepting your Master’s phone calls, haven’t you, pet? But just as a reminder.” He gave her another small pat and laughed at her yelp as she jumped right into Jace’s arms.Perfect!
