Page 174 of To Catch a Sub

Colette turned to face him. “I need your help.”

“Anything.” His answer was immediate and honest.

He would have killed Damien for her, and doing so would have killed some part of him.

She hesitated. She’d spent much of life alone, and relied only on herself. To not only need, but want another’s help, made her feel slightly stupid. She could deal with this on her own. Could find the right tool and be very careful. It would save her the shame and embarrassment of seeing the look in his eyes when he realized she was stuck like this, trapped in these chains and tagged like an animal.

Her breath hitched.

“Colette,” his voice was calm and gentle. “I’m right here. What do you need?” He held out a hand, offering his touch.

She squeezed his fingers once, her oncoming panic receding like a wave.

“I should handle it myself.”

“No. You should let me help you.” Landon raised her hand to his lips, kissing it almost reverently, his eyes closed. “I want to take care of you.”

“I’m…ashamed.”

He looked at her, even as he turned her hand, kissing her palm softly. “You have no reason to be ashamed. And there’s nothing you could tell me that will change the way I feel about you.”

She stopped breathing for a moment.

Their gazes met, and she knew what Landon would do next. He’d tell her he loved her. She could see it in his eyes, feel it in the way he touched her.

“Wait,” she pleaded. “Not when I’m…like this.”

His gaze sharpened, skating down her towel covered body. Still holding her hand, he peeled back the tape holding the gauze on her wrist, slowly unwinding it.

He touched the gold chain around her wrist, a question furrowing his brow when he looked at her face.

Colette couldn’t find the words to explain, and if she could, she wasn’t sure she could get them past the tightness in her throat.

But she could show him.

Colette dropped the towel.

Landon’s gaze skittered down her body, eyes widening. He looked at her breasts again and she nearly started crying in embarrassment and shame.

“I can’t get them off,” she whispered, voice breaking.

Landon turned his attention back to her wrist, running his fingers along the chain. “It’s okay, love, I’ll get them off. I knew they didn’t take them off you at the hospital. I should have helped you with this before your shoulder.”

He was looking and feeling for a clasp. Colette pulled her hand back, crossing her forearm over her breasts.

“Colette.”

“He welded them closed,” she said softly.

Landon’s gaze flew to hers. “What?”

“One of them was a jeweler.” She dropped her arm from her chest, turning one cuff until the large double ring was on top. “See the little bumps? Those are weld points.”

“He welded this fucking stuff on?” Landon bent, examining the seam in the large rings.

“He wanted them to be permanent.”

Landon jerked up, gaze catching hers. She tried to smile, but couldn’t. Landon gently cupped the back of her head, pressing a kiss to her forehead and each cheek. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t faster,” he breathed against her.