He snatched the quilt off the bed and strode out after her. The snowy mountains of Alaska stood picturesque against the moonlight sky. The ski hill was lit up and he could hear laughter as guests enjoyed the cold winter’s night. His focus remained on finding Taryn. Each step he took into the deep snow froze his feet as the icy air made him shiver.
He passed a large snowdrift, and she appeared standing beside an evergreen tree. Her head was in her hands and she sobbed. He sighed in relief. Her first reaction might have been anger, but as always, she’d break down and let him in.
He stepped in behind her, placed the quilt over her shoulders, and turned her to face him. It tugged at his heart seeing the pain in the depths of her eyes—pain he’d put there. “Are you ready to talk now?”
“I wasn’t expecting this,” she said so softly he barely heard her. “Why wouldn’t you tell me it was you?”
“Because I wanted to remind you of how good we are together before you knew that I was with you. I didn’t want you to react exactly like you did.”
Her eyes narrowed but there was no heat in her gaze. “How else was I supposed to act? You blindsided me and violated the trust.”
“I did nothing you didn’t agree to. Madame Eve told you exactly what would take place here. You knew you’d be blindfolded, brought into a BDSM scene, and you agreed to know nothing about me before tonight. You, not me, set the limits. I merely followed them.” He cocked his head. “Did you not question why I never engaged you sexually?”
“You….” He saw the argument rise on her expression before she stopped herself. “You’re right. You made me pleasure myself and never touched me in that way.”
“Nor did I kiss you. I acted as your Dom and nothing more, which had all been things you agreed to. In fact, you wanted sex if I remember and didn’t I refuse you? I might have gone about this in a way you disprove of, but I would not have taken you without you knowing the truth.”
She studied him—the sadness, dismay, and even the anger dissipated from her face—she looked exhausted. “How did Madame Eve know about us? How did she arrange this?”
“I hired Madame Eve four months ago, filled out the questionnaire in search of a lifestyle submissive, and as you know she asked about previous relationships.”
“So you told her about me?”
He brushed his knuckles across her cheek and it pleased him when she leaned into his touch. “Of course I would.”
“But….” Her chin quivered. “But I don’t understand. You let me go.”
He deserved to see how much his actions hurt her, and she hid none of it in her expression. “What was I to do? You came to me and spoke of big dreams in Houston.”
“You could have come with me.”
A tear fell down her cheek and he caught it with his thumb. “I couldn’t and you know that. I had the contract to build the new library in Sackville. I would have lost the deal and that project made the company what it is today.”
“You lost me.”
His heart clenched. The truth hurt. “A bad decision on my part, but not one I’ll make again.” It took a good part of the last two weeks to organize his life and get his priorities straight. But he’d not live another day in a life he didn’t want and be away from the woman who fulfilled him. “I sold the business a week ago and moved to Houston last weekend.”
Her eyes went huge. “You sold the business…for me?”
“It’s always been you, Taryn, and will always be you. It hadn’t been until Madame Eve contacted me and told me you had signed up with her services, did I realize I couldn’t live another day without you. I saw that I had submerged myself in my work to try to forget you but that I failed miserably—all that remained was an empty man.”
“Blake,” she whispered.
He needed to explain himself and pressed on to share his soul with her. “Madame Eve felt regardless of what happened between us, that we were a perfect match and I happened to agree with her.” He leaned in and her warm breath tickled his lips as the crisp air nipped at his skin. “I’ve made enough money. Yes, I could make more, but without you I have nothing.”
She exhaled so deep the air fogged around them. “I have waited five years for you to say what you just said to me. There has not been a day where I haven’t thought of you, missed being in your arms, and craved to be your submissive. If I wasn’t as cold as I am now, I’d think I was dreaming, but I doubt I’d feel frostbitten in a dream.”
He chuckled. “Best we warm you up then.” He gathered her in his arms, trudging through the snow with one intent—spend the rest of the night reminding himself and her how right it was for them to be together.
***
Taryn welcomed the warm air from the suite as Blake shut the sliding door. He turned back to her, his eyes intent and her insides melted. She dropped the blanket to the floor as he latched onto her arms and yanked her toward him. He placed his lips over hers and set to make her forget her own name.
She swiped her tongue across his as he kissed her deeply. It’d been so long since she had his lips on hers, she’d forgotten how good the man could kiss. No one kissed her with the fevered pitch that he did, and no one but him could make her legs wobble.
He backed away, only a moment, and removed his shirt. She ran her hands over his chest, down his toned abs, and was delighted when they clenched beneath her touch. He’d always been muscular, but not like this. Her pussy ached for him at the feel of each groove beneath her fingers.
He left her mouth, to kiss along her jaw, to her shoulder where he bit. She gasped, but the throb along her clit only pulsed deeper. He touched her just how she liked it—rough and never hesitated. It made her burn. She raised her arms when he grabbed her shirt and lifted it over her head. He wasted no time removing her bra, pants, and panties then stepped back to examine her.