“I know you’re in there. I heard you tell Heather over thirty minutes ago that you were not leaving your apartment,” Elijah Booth said through her door. She shouldn’t be able to hear him.
She made a mental note to complain to her apartment manager about the thinness of the wall, if there was such a thing.
Opening the door, she peeked through the gap that the chain lock allowed. “What? What do you want?”
“Is that any way to speak to me?” he asked.
“I signed a contract, and I did everything by the book. You can’t be throwing titles at me or demands. I’m a free woman, and I left all that crap behind.” She had no choice but to leave that life behind when she left Club Kink. It was an exclusive club in the big city. She’d cancelled her registration and asked not to be contacted by any of the Doms or subs there. Tyler, the owner of the club, had made sure she didn’t have any trouble. Leaving the club had been her own decision, and there was no way she’d be going back.
None of her friends knew about her foray into domination and submission. She’d become addicted to it because of the man she was trying to avoid. Ever since he’d spanked her and f**ked her at Heather’s eighteenth birthday party she’d been smitten with him. She’d been eighteen for over three months before Heather and always had a crush on Elijah. Never in all of her life did she imagine he’d want her back.
He didn’t want me. All Elijah ever wanted to do was mold me and control me into what he wanted.
Closing her eyes she shut out the pain that he’d caused. Whenever he was around she went into her old ways of thinking he was her master. She still couldn’t believe she’d kept her submission and her relationship with Elijah a secret from her friends. Heather didn’t even know the truth. She’d kept it a secret for so long that lying to them had become so easy.
There was no way she’d ever be able to tell them the truth.
“I know you did everything you could to get away from it, Amber. I’m not here because of the club.”
She went to shut the door, but he pressed a hand to the wood, stopping her. Amber was always surprised by his strength when he used it against her. There were times he was one of the nicest men she’d ever seen.
“Then why are you here? The last time I saw you, you were trying out other subs, Elijah. I don’t want you here at my place.”
Amber wasn’t stupid. She should have known Elijah was going to move on once he grew bored of her. On the last day of her entering the club, she’d seen him caressing a skinny blonde woman. She didn’t know the woman’s name and didn’t really care. The desire in his eyes couldn’t be masked, and the way they’d dimmed when they saw her spoke volumes. She couldn’t be with a man who didn’t want her. Elijah was her first and the only man she’d been with. It was pathetic, and she wished she could change it. She’d tried to date other men, but no one could match Elijah. He was a force all on his own.
“I need to talk to you. Please, let me in.”
His fingers caressed her hand. She pulled away, not wanting his contact. All she wanted to do was let him in.
“No, you’re breaking the rules. You shouldn’t be here.”
“I’m not breaking any rules. I’m here for you, Amber.”
“What?” She couldn’t believe a word that came out of his mouth. It was too dangerous, and Amber knew she’d give herself too easily to him.
“I left Club Kink behind. I’m here for you, and I’m going to start a new life with you.”
His words would have meant so much to her over a year ago. Now, his words fell on deaf ears.
“What happened to my replacement?” she asked.
“I was stupid and scared, okay?”
“What could you possibly be afraid of?” She was getting angry. This was not the way she wanted to spend Friday afternoon. She was supposed to be meeting her friends at Wade’s club. Connie was supposed to be singing as her friend was trying to build her confidence.
“You’ve got no idea, do you?” he asked, staring at her.
“I’ve not got time for this. I need to get ready.”
“Five minutes of your time, Amber. Please, I need to see you without Heather or the others being around you.”
She nibbled her lip, hoping he’d just leave. He’d never been to her apartment before. All of their interactions had taken place at Club Kink or his old penthouse, which he’d sold, according to Heather.
“You really shouldn’t be here,” she said.
He took a step closer. “Please, pet.”
“Don’t. I’m not that thing anymore.”
Pushing the door closed, she unlatched the chain and opened the door. The only way to get rid of him was to let him have what he wanted. Rubbing her palms down the front of her jeans, Amber walked toward her kitchen and finished pouring herself a coffee. She made sure to pour Elijah a coffee.
She heard the door close and tried not to tense. Turning around she saw him stood at the far end of the counter. The silence stretched between them. Amber moved closer to him and handed him the cup she’d made.
“I don’t know how you take it.” She’d never been given that privilege of knowing more about him.
“Amber, why did you leave?” he asked, taking the cup she offered.
“It was time for me to move on. You should know that. I saw you with Blondie, and I knew it was time for me to move on. I’m not really for that scene, and I never should have been there in the first place.”
He moved quickly, trapping her against his hard body and the side of the kitchen counter. Elijah took the cup from her fingers.
“What are you doing?” she asked, nervous.
“You’re a submissive, Amber. I’ve known it for a long time. I never should have spanked or f**ked you when I did, but I couldn’t stop myself. You call to a part of me I try to keep buried.”
He cupped her cheek making it hard for her to turn away. His dark brown gaze had always fascinated her. She didn’t know why. His eyes were only brown. There was nothing fascinating about brown eyes.
“Stop this,” she said.
“No, I’m not stopping this.”
****
Elijah stared into her green eyes and knew he’d do everything in his power to make things right between them. He’d hurt her badly, and only he could fix what he’d broken. When he’d arrived at his sister’s door several months ago he’d lied. He loved his sister deeply, but the real reason he’d come around was because of Amber.