seep back in.
“I realize how senseless it was for me to send you away.”
“I told you I don’t see it that way. I needed to be on my own.”
Gracie could tell Cade didn’t agree, but he didn’t say anything. “Will you pour the wine while I get the packages I wanted to show you?” He walked over to the closet and pulled out four boxes and placed them on the bed.
“What are these?”
He sat down next to her. “I did some shopping.”
“What kind of shopping?”
“Open the boxes.” He took a glass from her and quickly drank the wine. He looked nervous. “I didn’t know what you would want.”
Gracie opened the first box and smiled. It was packed with scented oils, lubricants, a blindfold, and pink, furry handcuffs.
“That’s the fluffy box.” He shrugged. “They get increasingly kinkier.”
“You’ve made some nice choices.”
He opened the next one and pulled out a black leather riding crop. She was met with his intense gaze and she could see he was uncomfortable.
She placed her hand over his, wanting to reassure him. “You could use that for erotic spankings too. You could gently slap my inner thighs and nipples. You don’t have to hurt me.”
“I don’t think I want to hurt you,” he whispered. “I keep reading that contract, but hitting you to punish you doesn’t feel right to me.”
“You spanked me in your study.”
“That was for fun, and you liked it.” He stroked her cheek. “A crop or a strap isn’t the same as my hand. I’m not there yet. I don’t know if I ever will be.”
“It’s okay.” She leaned in and kissed him. “We can go as slowly as you need.” Gracie didn’t mind being punished when the situation called for it, but she would never push Cade’s limits.
“Here, open this one next.” He handed her another box.
She flipped the lid and looked inside. “Very nice.” She took out a small package. “Ben Wa Balls. I’ve never used these, but I hear they can be very satisfying.” She rummaged through the box and pulled out the nipple clamps.
“It looks like they might be painful.”
“In a good way.” She winked.
“Gracie, you know so much. Too much.”
“Does that bother you?” She hoped her experience didn’t deter him. She wasn’t that same innocent girl who left him. She’d grown into a woman who knew what she wanted in a partner. She really wanted that man to be him.
“I can’t deny that the past few weeks we’ve had incredible, mind-blowing sex. I never knew having an orgasm could be so intense. Before they were all the same, but now…shit, woman, I can’t wait for the next one. I don’t know how you haven’t dehydrated me.”
She giggled. “So, what’s the problem?”
“You’re so confident, and you know exactly what you want and how to get it.”
“And you’re used to being in control.”
“It’s who I am.”
“It’s who I want you to be. Just because I’m introducing you to a new way of life doesn’t mean you can’t be in control. You’re learning how to dominate me, and that’s going to take time. If you like where we’re headed, I don’t see what the problem is.”
“You amaze me.” He cupped her chin in his hand. “I can’t believe you’re the same woman who left here two years ago.”
She shook her head. “I’m not the same. I hope you can accept that.”
“I like who you’ve become. I just hope I’m enough for you.” He kissed her. “I don’t want to screw this up again.”
“I won’t let you.” She straddled his lap. “Why don’t I show you how those clamps work?”
He nodded. “Green. Definitely green.”
Chapter 8
Gracie took Cade’s hand as they strolled down the beach on Martha’s Vineyard. She’d had to tend to the details of a wedding earlier in the day, but the rest of her weekend was free. Cade suggested they take the ferry to the island. They used to spend summer afternoons walking along the beach and dreaming about a future. Gracie didn’t think