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"You mean Rachel's baby's nursery."
He hesitated. "Well, maybe one day, but today it's all Rachel's."
Hannah didn't know how to respond. She glanced around the room, trying to understand what he meant. There was a baby crib, a changing table and a rocking horse; only they were all double the normal size. In the far corner was an adult-sized school desk, and shelves of toys and books.
It was when she got to the last corner of the room that her heart rate spiked. Hanging on the wall were an array of punishment devices, not unlike those she'd seen inside the Strictly Business warehouse.
Her fear must have shown on her face because Dylan was next to her in a heartbeat, taking her into his arm and holding her steady.
"I've got you."
She couldn't take her eyes off the piece of furniture pushed against the wall in the corner. She shuddered as she remembered being threatened with a bench almost exactly like it in Jake Davenport's home. It was a punishment bench. It even had leather straps to restrain its occupant, like Jake's had.
She looked up into his eyes, looking for answers. "What? I mean... why?"
"It's how they choose to live their marriage. Some call it age-play."
"But..." Hannah didn't even know how to form the questions racing through her brain.
"I never used to understand, but I think I'm beginning to, as of recently," Dylan said.
She choked out her response. "Then maybe you can explain it to me? Does your brother hurt Rachel?"
"Not like you're thinking. Not like Davenport. Never. Rachel is Derek's life."
"Then why..." She glanced at the spanking bench, hating that she felt butterflies in her girlie parts as she thought about being laid over the bench with Dylan watching her. That wasn't so bad. Then she saw the heavy wooden paddle, not unlike the one Jake had terrorized her with, and all sexual overtones vanished, leaving her with pure dread. "Oh God, you don't want to—"
He cut her off. "Oh hell, no. I may understand better, but it's not my thing."
"Then why do they do it?"
Dylan didn't answer right away. He waited so long, she wondered if he wasn't going to answer at all. "The best I can explain is that Derek loves taking care of Rachel in every way. He loves that she depends on him for even the basics. Rachel is a very submissive person, unable to make a lot of decisions on her own. She loves how Derek makes her feel loved and taken care of."
"But why let him punish her? What could she possibly do that could warrantthose?" Hannah nodded in the direction of the wall of painful implements.
"I'm not sure. I don't ask too many questions and it's not really my business. I've just seen them with my own eyes. They are a perfect couple. He'd give his life for her. He's at his happiest when he's taking care of her."
Hannah looked more closely at the adult-sized changing table. The shelf under the top was full of both disposable and cloth diapers. Jars of lotions, long thick thermometers, and an array of sex toys filled the remaining space on the shelf. The hooks and leather straps along the outside edge were out of place.
Dylan spoke. It took her several long seconds to internalize what he'd said.
"Excuse me. Could you repeat that please?" she managed to squeak out.
"I said I want to take care of you too, Hannah."
She was panicking. She knew it. "Take care of me how? Like this?" She motioned frantically around the room.
I knew he was too good to be true.
She tried to push out of his grasp, but Dylan held her tighter, unwilling to let her slip away.
"Shhh. Not exactly like this, no. But I do want to keep you safe. Make you happy." He stroked her long hair, comforting her until she settled down.
Doubts still swirled as her mind raced with all she'd just learned. "But why me? You could have anyone you want."
He scoffed. "Hardly, and I want you."
She braved a look up at him. He looked serious. "Why? My life is a mess.I'ma mess."
