He laughed. ‘Training reduces the risk of injury. Working with people you trust and will have your back also helps.’
Reminded of his question earlier, I asked, ‘So you have your own group of friends you work with?’
His smile dimmed a little. ‘I wouldn’t call them friends exactly. They’re just a team I’ve worked with over the years. When we’re done, we go our separate ways until the next assignment brings us together.’
‘So who is your one true friend?’ I pressed, tossing his question back at him. His gaze swept down, and he feigned interest in the contents of his plate. After a moment he shrugged. ‘No one fits the label. Not any more.’
The finality of his statement tugged something inside me. ‘Stephanie?’
His eyes narrowed, displeasure bristling from him as he stared at me across the island. He opened his mouth, but I pre-empted his reply.
‘You can tell me to mind my own business if you want to. I’m just as curious as you were about me.’
His lips pursed, the last bite forgotten as he set down his fork. When he shrugged, his shoulders were stiff. ‘We were lovers. But I thought we were friends too. I was wrong.’
‘Was she a Domme?’ I asked boldly.
He gave a bitter laugh. ‘She went all out to fool me into thinking so, that’s for sure.’
I gasped, unable to help my shock. ‘Why...how?’
‘Same way con artists fool people. She studied her craft, learned to imitate until she’d convinced herself she was an expert on the lifestyle. We met shortly before I went away on a three-month-long shoot. She made all the right moves, made me think she was what I wanted.’ His eyes captured mine, boldly spearing me. ‘But the truth always comes out, doesn’t it?’
I wanted to snap back, punish him for daring to question me. But didn’t his experience reflect mine? How many times had I fooled myself into thinking I was in a committed relationship only to discover differently? ‘Yes, it does,’ I found myself replying, my voice nowhere near sharp or scolding.
Understanding passed between us. Then memory etched harsh lines into his face. ‘Unfortunately, Stephanie’s little performance went beyond trying to fake her way into my bed.’
I looked around the cabin. ‘So you came here to lick your wounds?’
I was poking the bear. Regardless of his submissiveness, he wouldn’t appreciate his emotions being dissected, especially if the wounds were raw.
‘Once I accepted your assignment, this was the logical base to work from.’
It was a half-truth. We both knew it. But when he stood and collected the plates, I let it go. In the space of twenty minutes we’d navigated landmine subjects with the power to blow us apart. I was all for taking a breather. Rising, I gathered the remaining dishes and joined him at the sink.
We cleaned up in companionable silence, and in ten minutes we were done.
I dried my hands as he headed for the freezer compartment of the fridge, pulled it open and peered inside. ‘What would you like for dessert? We have...ice cream, ice cream and...ice cream. But in different flavours, I’m pleased to report.’
I grabbed the hem of my sweater and yanked it over my head. ‘I’m in the mood for something hot,’ I said, adding sultry notes to my voice.
Slowly, he straightened. My gaze moved hungrily over his body, lingering longest at the cock rising to attention beneath my gaze.
He slammed the freezer door shut, prowled towards me with a mouth-wateringly virile swagger that made me suck in a breath. ‘Your wish is my bidding, min elskerinde. You need only ask.’
‘Return to the fireplace and lie back down. I’m in the mood to sit on your face.’
CHAPTER SEVEN
WE SAT ON the sofa, Graciela’s feet in my lap, my thumbs digging into the soft arch of her foot as she sipped a half-decent glass of Merlot.
Turned out she wasn’t as snobbish about her wine as I’d insinuated.
Outside the snowstorm powered on, showing no signs of abating. We’d been snowed in for two full days. The only time I’d ventured out was to feed and water the dogs, make sure they were warm. They weren’t exactly thrilled about being cooped up inside, but it couldn’t be helped.
Despite it being well into the night, the wall-to-wall white-out cast a brightness over the landscape.
Winter had well and truly arrived in Alaska and I couldn’t be happier.
I watched her watch the fire, enjoyed the dancing flames reflected in her hazel eyes. I’d almost fucked this up with that conversation in the kitchen on the first afternoon.
Since then we’d both avoided deep, personal issues, mutually choosing other forms of entertainment. Surprisingly, we’d found a few. Graciela loved hearing tales of my adventures. Her eyes lit up with almost childlike anticipation with each recounting. As much as I wanted to downplay it, having her hang on to my every word was a thrill I could get used to.
Turned out my mistress had a not-so-secret hankering for danger. As for the sex, it was beyond fucking sublime. Graciela was unapologetically demanding while generous in return. She was extremely sensual, breathtakingly intuitive, knowing exactly what I needed when I needed it. Her demands were equally challenging, a spine-melting edge to her dominance that led to the most intense climaxes I’d ever experienced in my life.
Besides the sex, touching her was my second favourite thing. In those moments between conversation, when the only sound between us was the quiet warmth of the cabin, the crackle of the fire, and the storm raging outside, my soul felt...right. My heart as close to contentment as I could manage.
I hid a smile as she moaned—I’d hit a particularly tight muscle.
‘If I didn’t hate the idea of robbing the world of your unique talents, I’d seriously consider hiring you as my full-time masseur.’
‘I’m that good?’ I smiled.
‘You know you are,’ she murmured, a small smile
