He just stared at her. “You remember me as the man you used to know. That boy who thought the world was his to conquer. I’m a different person now, Jenna. You sure you want this with me? Because there’s no going back. I’m possessive, what I have, stays mine. I’m pig-headed. I’ll probably piss you off several times a day with my demands and stubbornness. I’ll try to listen to you. I’ll try to give you what you need. And I’ll always protect you.”
“Well, at least you know most of your faults. Although you forgot a couple. You’re over-protective and you always think you’re right.”
He snorted. “Yeah, those too.”
“Curt, there are things about you I don’t know. Just like there’re parts of me you don’t know. We’ve both changed. But at your core is the man I’ve always admired. The man I’ve always wanted. And if you get too demanding or stubborn I’ll just have to learn ways to handle you.”
“Handle me, huh?” he drawled, pulling her against him. “We’ll just see about that.” He kissed her, hot and hard.
When he allowed her to pull back, she was breathing heavily. “I joined Saxon’s because I wanted to learn about BDSM. I wanted to experience it. Cady had explained some parts of it, and I was intrigued. But I never played with those other Doms because they weren’t you. It’s always been you.”
He cupped her face between his hands. “I’ll try to make certain you don’t regret it.” He kissed her lightly again. “First lesson as my sub, don’t ever lie to me, understand?” There was a deep note of command in his voice, and she nodded.
“So, when I ask you how you feel about something, you answer me honestly. You don’t brush me off by telling me you’re fine.”
She knew what he was talking about and she glanced away, feeling guilty.
“Look at me.”
She stared up into his eyes. “I don’t want to go. I don’t want to see my parents. I know that makes me a terrible daughter—”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t. It just makes you human.”
“But I know I have to return. My mother needs me, and I need to talk to my dad if I can. I need to understand.”
“Then we’ll go back. And know that I’m here for you. Whatever you need, understand? You’ve gifted me your submission, and I’m going to take care of that gift and you.”
Those were just about the sweetest words she’d ever heard.
***
Paul Hendricks slammed his fist down on the steering wheel as he drove out of the hellhole town Jenna Jasons had decided to hide in. “She has to know something.”
“I don’t think she does,” Marshall said mildly. “There’s no reason to assume she does.”
“What about that incident in Sudan? That had to have something to do with The Brit.” He knew capturing The Brit would sky-rocket his career. He was determined to get to the top and since he was now past forty, he had to work quickly to get there. Arresting David Jasons had been his first big break. Only the bastard wasn’t talking. But, what if The Brit thought he was? He smiled.
“What are you thinking?” Marshall asked suspiciously.
“What do you think The Brit would do if he thought Jasons was spilling his guts?”
“Have him killed.”
“Not if he couldn’t get to him. What would stop Jasons from talking? What could he threaten Jasons with to keep him quiet?”
“I don’t like where this is going.”
Marshall was a wimp. But he knew how to keep his mouth shut.
“He’d come after Jasons’s family. We let it be known that Jasons is talking, and my guess is The Brit will come after the wife or daughter. Probably the daughter since the wife is holed up in her sister’s house.”
“You’re talking about putting an innocent woman in danger in an attempt to catch this guy?” Marshall stared at him in disbelief.
Hendricks waved his hand in the air. “And how many innocent people has this guy killed? How many more will he murder?” Not that Hendricks really cared. All he wanted was what this capture would do for him. “Besides, I’ll have eyes on the daughter. She’ll be perfectly safe. She’s going to lead us straight to him.”
“Yeah? You going to tell the ATF agents about this?”
“Oh, I think we’ll keep this our little secret. This is going to put us on the map, Marshall. Stick with me, I’m going places.”