Dark Blue: Study in Seduction, Book 1 (30 page)

His eyes glistened. Not with tears, surely? What had she done to him? What had they done to each other? But he took her arm and said, “Yes, someone has told the warden, but we can’t talk properly out here. You must come up to my room.”

“What if anyone sees us?”

He touched her face, and she shivered. “It hardly matters now, my love.”

He carried the books back to his room as she followed with leaden steps. Alex was leaving. He was walking out of her life to who knew where. The States, most likely, or back to France. It was irrelevant, because she had lost him. She should have fought harder to keep him with her at her house, asked him to share the burden of telling her family about Rose, let him into her life. He’d given her the chance, but she’d been too hurt and wrapped up in her own problems. Now he’d decided he’d had enough.

Inside, he put down the box and pulled her against his hard body.

“Alex, no. Don’t do this. I can’t stand it.”

His kiss on her lips was so tender she wanted to melt. “You don’t have to stand it anymore. I’ve resigned.”

“Because of our relationship? Who told the warden?”

“I told him. I handed in my resignation this morning. Sit down.”

After he’d released her, she collapsed into the tub chair. Alex sat opposite but kept tight hold of her hands.

“Have you done this because of me?” she asked.

“I’ve done it for you, and for me. For us.”

“For
us
? You didn’t say anything about this at my house. You should have told me what you had planned so we could have talked about it.”

He smiled. “And you’d have tried to stop me?”

She thought for a heartbeat. “Yes! You’ve ruined your career for me.”

“I haven’t ruined it. I’ve just resigned from being your tutor and from being a tutor at St Cuthbert’s. I can’t have a relationship with a student—or have had a relationship with one—and continue in my pastoral role. It’s against the college rules, and it’s just about the most unprofessional thing a tutor could do.” Alex paused as if he couldn’t go on; then his voice continued, sure and steady. “What I’ve realised in the past few weeks is that you mean far more than my job here. Before you say another word, I can keep my professorship and carry on lecturing. I’ve got my TV work and my books, and I’ve got you, which I now know matters more to me than all those things ever will. The moment I decided to quit as your tutor, I felt that a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. My only regret is not doing this weeks ago, before term started.”

She held her head in her hands, unable to look at him. What had she done here, to Alex?

“Something had to give,
cherie
, and it’s a lot easier if I’m one the giving. And, far more importantly than that, you needed to believe that I
was
ready to give you everything. I’m not Stephen. I’m not going to let you down.”

Tears trickled down her cheeks, of surprise, shock, but not of happiness yet. She still couldn’t take in what Alex had done for her.

“What did the warden say? What will happen?”

“He wasn’t amused to lose his head of English, but once I’d told him and when he knew it was you and that we’re both adults and know what we want, he had no choice but to accept my resignation.”

“You love St Cuthbert’s. It’s your life.” And more, had he really done the right thing? Would she ever truly trust him? A voice answered her. In a perfect world, she would be perfectly sure, but the world had shown itself to be flawed, like she was and he was. What Alex had done for her by resigning had shown her how far he was willing to go to gain her trust.

“It
was
my life. Now I’m going to start a new life with you. One day I can be a college tutor again. First, we need to start our lives together properly, out in the open with no more secrets. We can move in together if you want to, get to know each other, and after we’ve loved and known each other and you finally believe that I want everything with you, then we can think about the next stage.”

He knelt on the floor in front of her and took her in his arms, kissing her deeply and tenderly.

“Alex, I can hardly believe this is happening.” Even as she said it, she knew it was real and true. The way she’d felt without his love—and how she felt now with it—gave her the answer. He loved her, and he really would do anything to prove it. “Is this truly what you want?”

“It is. I decided I had to take a leap of faith because you’d have tried to stop me resigning if you’d known what I planned. You’d have been thinking of me, as always, and not of you. You deserve to have everything, and I just hoped I’d be part of it. I love you. When I came to your house and heard about Rose, I truly realised what love is.”

Love rippled through Carla, almost too strong to bear. “And what is it?”

“It’s finding someone who shares your vision of the world. It’s caring about someone so much that you’d snatch the load from their back if you could and walk through hell, fire and water to make them safe and happy. It’s wanting to be their rock and support forever and knowing they’d do the same for you.”

She laughed even as she brushed away the tears from her cheeks. “Is that all?”

He looked at her solemnly. “No. Most importantly, it’s finding a gorgeous woman who shares your love of literature and motorbikes and hot, kinky sex and hopefully always will, even when she’s old and grey.”

She wanted to jump for joy. “I don’t like motorbikes, Alex.”

“Don’t worry, you’re going to have a long time to learn. First, I have one more tute to teach until I announce my resignation. Are you ready for a bit of scandal when people find out why I’m leaving?”

She nodded. “I’m ready for anything.”

Chapter Thirty-One

A few weeks later, Alex helped Carla load the final box of her stuff into his house. Crates and bags littered his tidy hall and lounge, and she had no idea where they were going to put it all. She locked her car and went inside to find him standing amidst the chaos with a bottle of champagne and a broad smile on his face.

“I think we deserve this,” he said.

She smiled. “I think we do.”

“I’ll fetch some glasses.”

While he was in the kitchen, Carla looked around her at their two lives mixing together as one. She heard the champagne cork pop and sank back against the sofa. She’d come home at last, not to her own house but a new one, strange and yet familiar, his place and also hers.

It had been a difficult few weeks. As they’d both predicted, their affair had caused intense gossip and not entirely charitable comments around the college and the faculty. She knew that some of Alex’s colleagues thought he was a fool for leaving his job for a student and had told him straight out. As for her, some of the other undergraduates had stared at her in the union and lectures. She was the talk of the college and the English faculty. She was the woman for whom Alex Lemaitre had given up his job.

Telling Emma had probably been the most difficult part. Her young friend’s jaw had dropped through the floor when Carla had taken her for a coffee after Alex’s final tutorial and broken the news. However, Emma had soon moved on to gleeful delight and decided the whole affair was
“possibly the most romantic thing in the history of the planet.”

Alex appeared with two glasses, and her heart did a little dance of joy.

“Right. Here we are,” he said, handing her a flute.

She clinked his glass with hers and sipped. “Yes, to us.”

After they’d drunk the champagne, his kisses tasted warm and sweet. Carla slipped her hand over the hard bulge in his jeans, but to her surprise, Alex backed away and levered himself off the sofa.

“Alex? What’s the matter?”

His face was sheepish, not an expression she’d ever seen before on him. “Before things go any further, I’ve got something for you. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”

Carla obeyed, completely at a loss to imagine what he had in mind, yet fizzing with anticipation. She felt a smooth box rest on her palms.

“You can look now.”

Balanced across her hands was a black-lidded box, about eight inches square, with a tiny, gold-embossed monogram in the middle of the lid.

“Open it, then.”

He seemed on edge, a rare moment of uncertainty in his eyes. Carla took off the lid and let out a tiny breath. “Wow! Thank you so much. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen! Is it really for me?”

“Who else? I had it made especially by a jeweller in London.”

Nestling in the circular space in the velvet interior was silver collar. It was plain, polished silver, as thick as her little finger, with a clasp at the back in the shape of a padlock. The padlock had a large diamond at the centre, and the whole necklet glittered in the sunlight from the window.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous. Can I try it on?”

“I hoped you would, but there is only one way into it. You’ll need this. Or rather, I will.” Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny gold key. He inserted it into the padlock, and the collar parted. “Turn around and lift up your hair, please.”

His hand brushed her skin as he placed the collar around her neck and shut the clasp. “Not too tight?” he asked.

The silver was cool against the top of her collarbone. “No. It’s perfect.”

“I was going to get you an engagement ring when and if you’re ready. For now, I hope you love this. You can only wear it private, of course, and remember only I have the key. It can’t be locked or removed by anyone but me, so think carefully about when you agree to wear it.”

She couldn’t quite believe what she’d just heard. “Alex, is this your way of proposing?”

The look of naked lust and love he gave her made her body liquefy. “Yes, it’s a proposal. The first of two, I hope. This particular ring signifies that you’re mine and only mine and that we have an unbreakable bond and that you’re committed to submitting utterly to my rules.” He hesitated, and his slight awkwardness only made her love him even more. “At least, in the bedroom. I fully expect you’ll do exactly the opposite at all other times.”

Carla flung her arms around him. “Alex, have I ever told you I love you?”

“Yes, and I’ve told you too, but I’m saying it again now. I love you, Carla, now and for always.” He touched her collar. “Let this be the first day of our lives that you start truly believing that I’m never going to let you go.”

“I don’t want to be let go.”

“
Bien
. Now, enough words. Go to our room, strip and kneel in front of the mirror. I will be up in five minutes, and I expect to find you wearing nothing except my gift.”

She cast her eyes down demurely. “Yes, Alex.”

“Do I detect a hint of sarcasm in that reply?”

“Yes, Alex.”

He slapped her bottom. “Go upstairs and get your knickers off. We’ve got a new life to start living, and I can’t wait a moment longer.”

About the Author

Natasha Bond is a best-selling and multi-award winning author of hot and erotic romance. A member of the Romantic Novelists Association, her debut novel was made into a US TV movie. She lives in an English village with Mr. Bond.
 

Blog:
natashabondauthor.wordpress.com

Twitter:
@NatashaAuthor

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/NatashaBondAuthor

For her sexy Dom, she’ll open up…but only love will take her all the way.

She’s All In

© 2013 Cathryn Cade

Club 3, Book 1

When Daisy joins Big Iron Fitness, it’s to get fit and more comfortable in her skin. But what really makes her sweat is gym owner Dack Humboldt. Watching him pump iron sets off an endorphin rush that has nothing to do with exercise.
 

Dack isn’t looking for love, and doesn’t usually waste time on vanilla even when it’s packaged in a bombshell blonde. Until he hears Daisy’s been asking questions about the goings-on at his private sex club. He’ll be happy to show her the ropes…on his terms.

Daisy gathers the moxie to ask Dack out on a date, and gets an offer she can’t refuse. The chance to explore some of her most private fantasies and move beyond her fears about her body.

As Dack leads Daisy by the thong into the Dom/sub world, she feels as if she’s finally in her element…until Dack issues a command that brings her up hard against her last emotional barrier. And Dack must decide how far he’ll go to bring his bombshell back into his arms.

Warning: Body builders showing off their physiques, blondes looking to have more fun, and members of a private club sharing more than conversation.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
She’s All In:

“Hey, Dack, what’re you doing chatting up my girl?” It was Mason, appearing at Dack’s elbow, a frosty salted margarita in each hand. He was scowling.

Daisy blinked. His girl? She’d agreed to have a drink with the guy, that was all.

Now Dack was scowling. At her. “Daisy?”