as he reached for the knot of her bathrobe. One yank, and the bathrobe was unknotted. His other hand let her wrist go so he could take off the robe from her body.
And she let him.
She found herself no longer caring that they were in a public place, that anytime someone might enter and see them together, see what they were doing—
None of it mattered – not when Derek, her Dom, her owner , was looking at her like that.
She bit her lip when her robe fell soundlessly to the floor.
“Could you say it now, baby? Say what you’re feeling here.” Derek placed his hand above her heart.
The words entranced her, terrified her, and above all, they humbled her for Derek should never have had to say them in the first place. Because of her mother, Jaike had known a lot of Doms in her life. And none of them – God, none of them had been like Derek.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for saying those things. I’m sorry for lying.” She covered the hand he held to her chest with her own. “You were right. Everything you said was right. I didn’t mean a word I said.”
Triumph that felt both tender and savage burst inside his chest. He wanted to haul Jaike into his arms, but he knew he couldn’t let it end there. For both their sakes, he had to demand more or she would forever be taking one step forward, two steps back with their relationship.
“And what?” he demanded roughly. “Say it all, Jaike. This time, say it all.” When he saw her lips quiver, he knew she understood him.
“ There’s no better man for me than you—”
The rest of her words were swallowed by his possessive kiss. Shock had her gasping against his lips but even so, she was already weaving her arms around his neck, her body molding pliantly against his. Passion and relief rocked inside her, making Jaike cry even as she returned his passionate kiss with equal fervor.
The first time she had met Derek Christopoulos, she had known right away that there was no man worse than him for her. Now, maybe it was time to acknowledge the other side of the coin. Now, maybe it was time for her to accept that there could be no better man for her other than Derek Christopoulos.
Without breaking their kiss, Derek swept her up in his arms and made his way to the pool. “Close your eyes.”
At the command, Jaike immediately closed her eyes, not even thinking of disobeying her Dom this time. After everything she had done to him, after everything he had done for her, she was ready to give him almost anything.
She felt herself being lowered. “Stay still.”
“Yes.”
Moments passed and then she was being swept up in his arms once more. Jaike gasped when her bare arms brushed against muscled arms that were just as bare. When he pressed her tightly against his body, her swimsuit-covered breasts were flattened against his naked chest.
Nervously, she asked, “May I open my eyes now?”
“Not yet.” He carried her into the pool, using the steps at the shallow end. Jaike’s gasp of surprise had him smiling. “You can open your eyes now.” She did so right away and when she gazed at him in bewilderment, he said with a wicked smile, “Did you really think I would not punish you for what you did?”
Jaike’s mouth opened and closed. That was a very good question, and she was such an idiot for not thinking about it.
Lowering her when the water reached their waists, he continued, “You had us waste days, baby. Precious days that we could have spent together. That deserves a punishment, don’t you think?”
Chapter Five
Derek expected her to say no, to try to bolt or even look at him in fear. But he should have known his Jaike would do something entirely courageous and unexpected.
Her eyes meeting his, she whispered, “Yes,” and then she bowed her head like a properly obedient Sub.
Just like that, and his cock was hard and throbbing, the lapping water around it having absolutely no effect on his erection.
“Look at me,” he