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Where holidays mattered.
Where laughter filled the air.
And where children would be safe without fear of being kidnapped off the street.
A beautiful place called serenity.
If only a place like that existed other than nestled in the darkest regions of my mind.
For Sarah, I’d walk through fire to find her a home worthy of her presence.
Even if it meant passing through streets of blood.
“So you know. Mary wasn’t the love of my life.”
“Then who?” she asked, her breath skipping.
“You are.”
CHAPTER16
Sarah
Love.
The conviction in his voice kept me numb, aching inside. I couldn’t care less what he did to me at this point. Hearing the words had shattered the last of my resolve. There was no right or wrong about my feelings, just an actuality that would haunt me forever no matter what happened. He was angry and fearful someone was coming for me. He couldn’t care less about himself.
Crack!
I heard the whooshing sound first, the snapping of Gabriel’s wrist second. Then I felt the blast of pain coursing down my legs. I jerked up from his desk, gasping for air as tears formed in my eyes. He’d spanked me before, but this time the agony was blinding. I knew he was trying to make a point, to remind me just how much danger I was in.
I’d felt it all day even though I was surrounded by two burly men with guns. While their presence hadn’t affected either one of his sisters whatsoever, I’d continually stared at them, waiting for some attack coming from behind every bush. Only after a couple of hours had I finally started to relax.
I adored the two women, their verve and love of life undeniable. They’d made me feel welcome, as if I belonged. They’d insisted on purchasing lovely outfits, teasing me relentlessly until I’d tried them on. Then they’d given me hints about Gabriel, as only sisters could do. It had all been so very normal.
And completely weird.
But I’d enjoyed myself, right up until one of the bodyguards had received a terse phone call. We’d been ushered out of a store to the chagrin and loud voices of both Maria and Theodora. I’d thought they’d be demure given their upbringing. I hadn’t expected their raucous behavior and take no shit attitude.
When I shifted on the desk, he pressed his hand against the small of my back. “Stay in position.”
I knew the drill. Or he’d start over. I almost laughed, although nothing about this was funny.
I’d realized instantly that Gabriel would be angry but seeing the way he’d acted had floored me. It had also released thousands of butterflies into my stomach just like what had happened in the coffee shop. Maria had caught me thinking about him, or as she’d called it ‘swooning’ over him, and my instant red face had confirmed it. At least they hadn’t been able to read my mind. That would have been awkward.
As he delivered four strikes in rapid succession, I sucked in my breath, stars floating in front of my eyes. I could hear his rapid breathing. The man was under a lot of stress, but the way he’d looked at me a few moments ago had not only stolen my breath but had allowed me to see even deeper inside his psyche.
I understood the way family duty often placed a stranglehold on someone’s life, but he was suffering the consequences of acting out on his own. There was no doubt the man was dangerous, even if others had lost track of how brutal he could be. He could also be sweet and tender, caring and exciting, but surrendering to him completely would mean losing my soul and I wasn’t prepared to do that. I was unable to fathom the life he’d led, the choices he’d been forced to make over the years. He’d given all of himself to a lifestyle not of his choosing. What kind of family did that to their own children?
And was he truly capable of breaking the cycle?
I gripped the edge of the desk and closed my eyes as he cracked the belt down four more times. When he exhaled, the sound was exaggerated and husky, as if this was adding to his stress. As he slowly rolled his fingers down my spine, I shivered almost uncontrollably. He knew exactly how to keep my blood heated and my skin tingling from a light touch and nothing else.
When he rolled the same fingers in circles on one buttock then the other, I sucked in my breath, the anticipation almost killing me. The heat resonating off my skin was incredible, but as had happened before, I was wet from his rough actions, my pussy aching for what only he could provide.
As he continued the spanking, I lost myself in the sound as well as the rush of thoughts in my mind. And images.
His body naked.
