CHAPTER FOUR-PART 3


    With a sigh, she subsided, doing her best to answer his questions honestly. The next several were


    inconsequential, followed by one that made her freeze.


    “Tell me a fantasy.”


    Sable bit her lip, unable to reply.


    “Sable, what’s one of your fantasies?” He punctuated the question with something stinging against her


    skin, along with a snapping sound. It didn’t hurt much, but it was startling. When she shook her head,


    he swatted her again with it, this time a little harder.


    “Answer me.”


    “I thought you said no pain.”


    The stinging tendrils hit her again. “This isn’t pain, Sable. This is motivation.”


    “It sure as hell feels like pain.” She winced at the petnt note in her words.


    Julianughed, a warm sound that made her stomach flutter. “You’re a lightweight. This is the smallest


    flogger in my collection.”


    Shuddering, she said, “I don’t want to meet the rest.”


    “Answer me then.” He sounded husky. “I won’t judge you. This isn’t for my titition. I’d just like a


    glimpse inside your desires.” The flogger touched her skin again, this time in a soft stroking motion that


    made her nerve ends tingle. “I’ve heard probably everything. More than likely, I’ve done it, whatever it


    is. Threesome, lesbian, or rape fantasy, perhaps?”


    She shook her head. “Nothing that kinky.”


    He chuckled. “None of those are all that kinky, Sable, but what do you want?”


    “I want someone to want me so badly that he’d do anything. I’d love a seduction scene, with all the


    romantic trappings and satin sheets.”


    “That’s it? Nothing a little less vani?” He caressed her with the flogger again, and the strands tickled


    her stomach. “What do you want this man to do for you?”


    Sable shrugged. “I don’t know.”


    “You must have thought about it? What specifics?”


    “Roses, champagne, and flowers. Purple satin sheets, and our naked bodies—” She broke off, unable


    to share more.


    “I asked you not to hold back. However, I understand your difort. You will write out your fantasy in


    detail and present it to me by tomorrow evening, before we go to dinner at Dave’s.”


    A rush of relief swept through her. It was still embarrassing to tell him, but it would be so much easier to


    write it out instead of saying it. She was eager to move on and answered the rest of his questions


    without stumbling. Herst reward was another piece of chocte, but she hesitated. “May I ask for


    something else?”


    His fingers brushed her mouth as he drew back from putting the chocte on her tongue. “What would


    you like?”


    “May I ask you some questions?” She held her breath, wondering if he would permit the request, or if it


    was supposed to be one-sided sharing.


    “Of course. You can have the chocte too.” He ced it on her tongue when she extended it. A


    secondter, the blindfold came off, making her grateful for the dimmer illumination provided by the


    electric candles as she blinked several times to re-limate to the light.


    Julian sat beside her, his skin pressing against her bare arm. When she reached for her shirt, he


    intercepted her hand, taking it in one of hisrger ones to hold. “Leave it off.”


    She wanted to ask why, but didn’t. Was she imagining the trace of desire in his expression? Trying to


    appear casual, she nced down and saw evidence of his arousal pressing insistently against his


    jeans. The sight made her mouth water and heat re between her thighs, though she wouldn’t have


    admitted to an attraction to him under threat of torture before that moment.


    “What would you like to know?”


    “Tell me about your family and childhood please.”


    Julian shrugged. “It’s pretty boring stuff. I have two brothers, and my parents are still alive and still


    together after forty-three years. As far as I know, they’re all vani, and I’m the sole freak of the family.”


    He smiled to indicate he was joking.


    “How did you be…like this?”


    He tilted his head, giving her a long look. “I admit I’ve always liked to be in control. I was the bossy one


    on the yground, but the other kids listened. In my teens, I got a little wild and stole a car with some


    friends. We were sent to different military schools.”


    She gasped, touching his ponytail without thought of the intimacy of the gesture until the silken strands


    were between her fingers. “I just can’t picture you as the military type.”


    Julian lifted a shoulder. “I wasn’t. At first. It took a no-nonsense drill instructor to get my attention. He


    earned my respect, and I straightened out. Sergeant Stark made me responsible for myself and others,


    teaching me ountability in the process. By the time I was out of the Air Force—”


    “You enlisted?”


    He nodded. “I spent six years in the USAF.” He pronounced it you-saf. “I discovered I was good with


    responsibility and being inmand. It wasn’t a far leap to explore dominance and BDSM.”


    Sable grinned. “So, Uncle Sam made you a Dom?”


    He chuckled. “Not exactly. I was born dominant, but the military helped me hone the trait.”


    “So, how did you go from a soldier to a Dom?”


    “The same way a lot of people do.” Julian stretched his neck, making her realize she still had her hand


    in his hair. She pulled back immediately. “The  wasn’t as big a thing back then, so I learned the old-


    fashioned way, by researching and meeting others in the lifestyle. I had a lot of help in bing a


    Dom. It’s usually a long training process for anyone new to the lifestyle, regardless of your position


    preference.” His gaze locked on hers when she stifled a yawn behind her hand. “Do you have any other


    questions before I send you to bed?”


    “What’s the history you have with Rafe Monahan?” His expression changed, and she could almost see


    a figurative door m in her face, so it surprised her when he spoke.


    “That’s a long,plicated story. He hurt someone I cared about.” Julian pursed his lips. “I will tell you


    the story, but I’m not in the right frame of mind tonight. I was enjoying our interlude and would like to


    end the evening on a good note.”


    Wanting to insist on an answer, she forced back thepulsion. “Of course. Whatever is between you,


    or your reason for helping me find Sabrina, I appreciate it. I know it must be difficult for you to put your


    life on hold for this.”


    He turned slightly toward her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m merely exploring a different


    facet, not putting a hold on my life.”


    “Well, it’s still really nice of you to help me.”


    His gaze never left hers. “I want to find Sabrina, and I’d be thrilled to stop Rafe if he’s still hurting


    people, but those weren’t my only reasons for helping you.”


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    She frowned. “What else—”