Charming Deception

by Jaine Diamond

Firelight from the hearth flickers across the walls and rain pummels the floor-to-ceiling windows, the waters of Coal Harbour churning beyond, black in the night. “Who died?” I make my way behind the bar. “It’s literally gothic in here.”

The man is an energy vampire and I’m drained. The only good part of having nothing left to give to someone because they’ve taken way more than their fair share from you is coming to the realization that your feelings for them have eroded to the point that they’re completely gone. It’s the only reason I was able to leave.

Holy fuck. This man has the bossy-alpha thing nailed.

She means it. I kind of like that; she’s negotiating. But fuck, there’s a part of me that wants to put her over my knee for talking to me like that, spank her until she gasps out a please.

“Let’s talk about something else.” “You’re playing games with me.” “I don’t play games with women. Every relationship has a balance of power, and we’ll find ours.” She’s still staring at me, floored, like she’s trying to decide if she wants to slap me or suck me off first. “Yes. I suppose we will.”

“Fear. You can’t lead with your heart when your first priority is to protect it at all costs.” Fuck. The brutal honesty of that, the truth in it, is breathtaking.

“No.” He wraps his hands around me, cupping my ass cheeks and squeezing my flesh. He inhales my scent as my grip tightens in his hair. “You’re a queen.” He looks up into my eyes. “You stand, and I worship you.”

She whimpers. “That’s it. Good girl.”

My wife.

“What if Frodo never left the Shire? What if Luke never left the farm?” The situation is getting dire.