Surrender 01 - Surrender

before.
    “I’m taking you home and stripping that dress —if you can call it that — from your body.”
    “I like this dress. I was mortified to wear it at first, but Amber insisted. And when she gets her mind stuck on something, there’s no talking her out of it. I think she secretly works for the government as a master torturer.” Ari giggled at the thought.
    “Amber? Is that one of the women who came to see you in the hospital?” The pieces of the puzzle were still hazy.
    “Yes. I came with Amber, Shelly and Miley. They insisted on making me as slutty as possible because they’re determined to get me laid. They said I’m too repressed and I need to let loose. Since sex was so incredibly hot with you, I figure, why not ?”
    Rafe didn’t know whether to thank his lucky stars her friends liked to meddle, or put a leash on Ari. He now knew who’d sent the pictures. Her friends must have gotten into her phone, seen his messages and decided to stoke the fires. He groped back through his mind to recall what he’d texted her. Surely it was nothing too bad. Hell, at that moment, he really didn’t care.
    “So, what you’re telling me is that you want to go out and have sex with strangers, but you won’t sign on as my mistress.”
    He knew it was the alcohol talking, but still there had to be some truth to her words. Had he read her wrong all along? Did she really not desire him more than she would anyone? It was unlike him to feel doubt, but he didn’t know what to think right then.
    “I didn’t know I liked sex until I had it with you, but it was good, really good, and I’ve decided I want to do that again and again. I can’t do it with you though, ’cause you’re a control freak who wants to rule my life.”
    “No, Ari, I want you to submit to me.”
    She looked at him with a furrowed brow for a minute as her booze-soaked brain tried to comprehend his words. He took the opportunity to caress her neck with his mouth and felt her low groan all the way to his toes. His manhood jumped painfully as she ground her hips against him.
    “Isn’t that the same thing?” she panted.
    “Not at all. Let’s go home and I’ll show you the difference.”
    She looked at him as if she were trying to solve a difficult math problem. His body throbbed while he waited for her response. If she said no , he’d stay at the club until her friends took her home — but he hoped she’d just say yes .
    “OK. I’d better tell my friends, though.”
    It took almost a full minute for her words to sink through to his brain. When it registered, he wasted no time in pulling her from the dance floor.
    “Where are they?”
    “Over there,” she said with a drunken gesture.
    He spotted the women he’d seen in her hospital room and made a beeline for their table. The three of them were staring at him as if he were their next meal. He had to admit they frightened him just a tad. He’d have to check for hex bags beneath his bed.
    “The mysterious Rafe arrives. I vaguely remember seeing you at the hospital,” one of the women said.
    “Yes, somehow I received a message from Ari’s phone with a picture and her location. I’m taking her home now.”
    “Is that OK with you, Ari?” one of the women asked.
    “Oh, yes. Rafe is going to show me the difference between control and submission.”
    Rafe nearly groaned as he watched the three women’s eyes pop out of their sockets at Ari’s words. He and Ari were going to have to have another talk about privacy. Her friends suddenly seemed unsure whether they should allow Ari to leave with him.
    He didn’t care. Let them just try to stop him.
    “Goodbye,” he said firmly as he wrapped his arm around Ari’s waist and grabbed her purse. Before the women could even think about standing up, he was hauling Ari through the club. He got her into his car and floored the gas pedal.
    Just as he reached home, he looked over at her, anticipation burning hot. A groan escaped him. Ari was completely unconscious in the passenger seat. He might like a submissive woman, but he certainly didn’t want a corpse.
    He wondered whether a man could die from sexual frustration. He was beginning to think so. After he carried Ari into his home and laid her on his bed, he decided it was time for a stiff drink and an ice bath.

Chapter Thirty-Four

    Ari turned over and felt a small ache in her temple — nothing too unbearable, but enough to make her realize she’d had one too many drinks the night