“Count on it, baby.”
The cool evening breeze ruffled her hair, swamping him in her perfume. He breathed in, enjoying her feminine aroma. In another lifetime, Ella would have been a woman he’d want for himself.
She had a rare beauty. An elegance that pervaded everything she did. Just the way she held her glass sent his pulse racing. The way her fingers wrapped delicately around the crystal stem.
With her back straight, and head held high, he imagined placing a slave collar around her slender neck. Would her eyes appear meek and passive, or would she be proud and defiant? The image branded itself in his mind, making his cock harden. Max tried to force the sexual domination of Ella from his head. In her present state of emotional turmoil, he would be a selfish prick if he took advantage of her. And yet his mind refused to play ball. He wanted to bury his prick deep inside her wet cunt. He wanted to own her. He wanted to make her submit to his will. He wanted her to shout out his name as she came. He wanted her to claw his back with those long, painted fingernails of hers as he spilled his seed inside her. To take his mind off the beautiful, sexy woman sitting next to him, he decided to stick to mundane conversation from now on.
“Did you say you and Kirk were gonna get divorced?” He’d been close friends with Kirk for years. Why hadn’t his best friend mentioned it? And more importantly, why hadn’t he spotted the signs that their marriage was on the rocks?
Ella breathed out. “You know how life sometimes is, Max. Things don’t always turn out for the best.” Max saw frustration etched across her beautiful face. “I thought we were okay, I really did. But after he came back from his first tour of duty in Afghanistan, I sensed that he’d changed. I couldn’t put my finger on it. But somehow Kirk was a different man.” She turned to Max, her sad eyes betraying the inner turmoil. “He wasn’t the same anymore.” Her brows drew together. “We went on as normal, but I knew he’d already left me, emotionally.” She tapped a finger to her temple. “In here he had. Physically, he was still there, but mentally, he’d moved on. Does that make sense to you, because I can’t explain it even to myself?”
Max took a sip of his bourbon. Kirk seemed the same to him as always. He was still the same guy, laughing and joking around as normal. Kirk had a wickedly funny sense of humor.
The tears began to flow in earnest down her cheeks. Ella had done well to keep them at bay for so long. Max reached out and stroked her head. “Shhh, Ella, everything will be all right.”
“No, nothing will ever be the same again.”
“It will, I promise.”
“How can it? Kirk’s dead, and it’s all my fault.” Her eyes opened wide, and she looked scared as she stared across the pool. “Oh, my God. Please, no.”
“Can you see him?” When she nodded, he continued, “Ella, look at me. It’s just your imagination playing tricks. He’s not there. I promise you.”
She sobbed. “He looks so real. Why does he keep tormenting me? It’s God’s way of making me suffer.”
Chapter Six
Max took the wineglass from her trembling hand and pulled her into his arms. Her head rested against his chest as he gently caressed her cheek with his long, masculine fingers. Ella closed her eyes, enjoying his warmth and strength, savoring his intoxicating, spicy scent. Max was all male, and he filled her with a calmness she’d been unable to achieve since Kirk’s gory death. His comforting, sensual touch made the image of her dead husband slowly recede, until she finally caught her breath.
“Look at me,” Max commanded. Unable to resist his deep, sexy voice, Ella stared mesmerized into his silver-gray gaze. His presence filled her thoughts. He overwhelmed her. He controlled her with just a look, a simple glance. It was breathtaking. This must be how his submissives felt when he dominated them. Her whole body buzzed when he brushed the hair from her tear-stained eyes. “He’s gone, and he won’t be coming back.” He said it with such authority. Surely she had to believe him? Only she doubted herself. She didn’t feel strong enough to cope on her own anymore.
“Max, I don’t want to be alone tonight,” she whispered breathlessly.
“Baby, you won’t be. I’m just across the courtyard. Only a few steps away. Trust me, I won’t allow you to come to any harm.”
“That’s just it. I feel safe when you’re around, but if I wake up and he’s there, I don’t know what I’ll do.” Panic flared once more within her, making her tremble uncontrollably.
He breathed in and rubbed a hand across his chin. She heard the rasp of bristles against his fingertips. “Ella, I can’t deny I’m attracted to you. If you stay in my room, things may happen that you later regret.”