Rem nodded solemnly. "Kind of spooky. Better be careful who you give your referral to."
He thought of the card at home on his desk. Hmm. He'd have to save it for something big. But for now, there was just one thing on his mind.
Talk to Scarlett.
Chapter Eleven
"SCARLETT! OPEN THE DOOR, I know you're in there. We need to talk."
Scarlett pondered the closed door with a fierce frown. Oh, she was pissed. And hurt, and betrayed, and...pissed. After waking up from the most wonderful night of her life, she'd rolled over to find a note pinned to her pillow, and an empty bed.
"I don't want to talk to you!" she yelled through the door. "You made your feelings perfectly clear in writing."
An irritated, masculine sigh came from the other side. "I fucked up. I'm sorry. I need to talk to you, Scarlett, please open the door."
She shifted on her feet at the softening of his tone. Cursing herself for being an idiot, she couldn't help twisting the knob and letting him in. It had only been twenty-four hours and already she ached for him.
She was such a goner.
He stepped inside. Dressed in jeans and white t-shirt, his dark hair was tousled, and stubble hugged the chiseled line of his jaw. He smelled of cotton and coffee and sunshine. Scarlett curled her fingers into fists to keep from touching him, her body already melting inside her clothes.
Instead, she crossed her arms in front of her chest and gave him a challenging stare. "You left."
He winced and kept his distance. "I know. I thought my note explained things."
"For a man who believes in honesty and communication, that was a low move." She shifted her weight, hating to admit her next words. "You hurt me."
He groaned. Misery etched his features. "I'm sorry, little one. I truly am. I never meant to hurt you--I'm trying to look out for you. Protect you from making a mistake."
She studied him for a while, then shook her head. "No. You're trying to protect yourself because you don't trust my feelings for you."
He jerked back. Those dark eyes filled with anguish, and though she ached to go to him, she didn't move. They needed to follow the conversation through.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe what's happening between us is too fast."
She tried to mask the pain and touch of panic at the thought of losing him so soon after finding him. Such crazy irony. First, she left him. Then, he left her. They kept circling each other, unable to meet. Scarlett just had to find a way to forge both paths into one. "I'm ready to explore with you," she said softly. "But you have to trust me to know what I need. To trust who I need."
He closed the distance between them, sliding his hands around her back to tangle in her hair. His breath rushed warm over her lips, and she greedily drank in the sight and scent of him. "I want you to be mine, Scarlett," he growled against her lips. "But I don't want to scare you. I'm a possessive, greedy, demanding man, and it won't be easy to walk away from me." His warning rang with all the masculine power that made her belly drop to her toes. "I understand why you left me the night of the masquerade. You were finally free--and not ready to commit so soon. And I can take this slow between us, but I need you to be sure of what you want."
"How do I prove that to you?" She shook with frustration. "What do you want me to do?"
Determination gleamed in his eyes. "I've had years to explore this world, but you haven't. You should have all your options available. Go to Chains. Take some time and play with another Dom."
She stilled. "You want me to scene with another man?"
"I want you to explore more of the BDSM world with an experienced dominant I trust. My cousin Rem is a master there, and can help take care of the whole thing. I want you to take the time to really see if our night was real--or if you bonded to me because I was the one to take you into your first real scenes."
She wanted to shake him. Cry. Stomp her foot and throw an old-fashioned female tantrum. Rip off her clothes and kneel at his feet. But Scarlett knew in that moment there was only one way to prove to him her feelings were real. Even if it meant submitting to someone else. "You really need me to do this?" she asked softly.
Stubbornness threaded through his words. "Yes. For the both of us."
She closed her eyes. Dragged in a breath. And gave him her answer. "Then I will. I'll remove my clothes and give myself over to another Dom. I'll keep an open mind to the experience."
He nodded. "I'll set everything up for next Saturday."
"Will you stay with me for a while?"
He didn't respond. He kissed her, with an agonizing sweetness that stole her breath and her heart. When he lifted his head, torment gleamed from his eyes. "I can't, little one. I have to stay away from you so you can have an open mind. We both need the time apart."
"And what if I like it? Being with someone else?" she challenged.
His gaze was steady on hers. "I'll accept it. And I won't walk away because there's nothing wrong with having another Dominant helping you enjoy pleasure. But you'll also be sure if you want just me, or if it's too soon. You may need others for a while. And I'll know I wasn't the one to trap you by using the very thing that was able to free you."
With his taste lingering on her lips, he turned and walked out.
Scarlett stared at the door for a long time. God, how was she going to do this? She didn't want to play with another man. She only wanted Leo, but he didn't believe her.
She needed to talk to someone.
Scarlett grabbed her phone and dialed Hartley. Her cheery voice poured over the line. "Hey, I've been waiting to hear from you. How are you doing?"
And then it happened.
She burst into tears.
"Oh, my God! Scarlett, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"No! I'm just being emotional, I'm sorry. I just miss you."
"I miss you too! Listen, I can get in my car right now and drive over."
Scarlett swiped at her eyes and laughed. "Sure. It's only a forty-hour drive."
"So, I'll get on a plane. I need a vacation anyway."
Her heart filled. Hartley was such a good friend; the miles didn't matter. "Thanks, Hart. I appreciate it. I think I need some advice."
"Tell me everything."
She did. She told her about meeting Leo again and her feelings and how she left him the night of the masquerade party even though she'd already been developing a connection with him. Once she spilled out the whole story, she felt a bit lighter. There was nothing like a girlfriend who had your back.
Finally, she stopped talking and took a deep breath. Hartley stayed silent for a while, probably trying to sift through the complicated tale.
"Here's my first question," Hartley said. "Do you want me to get Jonathan and Cruz to beat some sense into him?"
Scarlett laughed. "No. I'd like Leo to realize we're meant to be together on his own."
"Then you need to do what he asks. And not for Leo, sweetie. For yourself."
She froze with dread. "You don't believe me either?"
"No, silly! I know you're crazy about him and playing with another dominant won't change anything. But Leo sounds like the protective type. Even though it's screwed up, he's trying to do this grand gesture of letting you go to make sure you're happy. You went through hell with your ex, Scarlett. And now you finally have this brand-new life in Vegas, and Leo's probably terrified of scaring you off. He wants to love you, not trap you."
"I can see how he'd think like that," she said slowly. "You're saying I should go along with his suggestion?"
"I do. This will prove to both of you it's more than just sex. It's the connection you feel with him. The emotions. The...need."
"Hmm, sounds like you're experiencing those same things. How's it going with Jonathan and Cruz?"
Her friend's sigh was filled with content. "Really, really good."
Her heart swelled. "I'm so happy, Hart. You deserve everything, and those men are the ones to give it to you."
"Of course, it's n
ot always easy. It can get complicated."
"They're men, Hart. Men are always complicated."
They laughed, staying on the phone for a while to catch up. When she finally said good-bye, Scarlett knew what she had to do.
For both of them.
Chapter Twelve
LEO STARED THROUGH THE two-way pane of glass and hoped he wouldn't crash through it.
A primal, possessive roar pumped through his blood and hovered on explosion. Watching Scarlett in her band aid skirt and a simple black lace bra that emphasized those lush curves was pure torture. The moment she stepped into the club to meet Master Evan, he'd been ready to call the whole thing off. But she had a right to have choices. Leo couldn't live with himself if he trapped her into a relationship with him because she didn't know her other options.
"You doing okay?"
He turned toward Rem with a growl. "No."
His cousin clapped him on the shoulder in guy comfort. "Sorry, I know it's hard. But I made sure she met with Master Evan so he got an idea of what she's looking for."
"He's single, huh?"
A gleam of sympathy shone from Rem's blue eyes. "Yeah. That's the only way this can work. If there's a connection, better you know now rather than later."
"And he's the best?"