Committed (40 page)

Poppy sucked down a deep breath and blinked away the sudden tears. He got to her every time. She’d learned that just because she felt submissive toward Damien, it didn’t change who she was. She was still a switch, with switchy needs, but he was the kind of man who could bend for her. He loved her that much. Not that he didn’t enjoy when they switched, not when her only goal was to put a smile on his face and feel the pulse of connection between them.

He was everything she’d ever wanted, this dark angel. Her sir.

She pulled her gift out from behind her and held it cradled in her hands. The bracelet was braided leather with a single bead woven into it.

It was a bead from their bracelet.

Her hands and voice trembled. She could barely make out Damien’s outline through her tears. “One month ago I called myself your submissive for the first time, and I knew it was right. I may be a switch at heart, but I’ll always be your sub.”

Damien blew out a breath and she chuckled. They were a mess, but she loved what they had grown into. Together. He hadn’t changed her. Nikki had been right when she said Poppy was discovering a new side to herself. A side she only shared with one man.

The man she loved. The man who’d fought to save her, who’d held her through sleepless nights. The man who dried her tears and made her laugh.

“Princess, would you do me the honor of accepting my collar?” he asked, more as a formality than anything else.

“I would be honored to, sir.”

Poppy leaned forward as he buckled the leather around her neck. The chain was cool against her skin, while the leather remained rigid. In time it would shape to her body until it became part of her.

He stepped back, love shining through his gaze.

“Sir, would you accept this symbol of my submission?” She held up the bracelet.

Damien pushed his hand through the leather and she buckled it, breathing a sigh of relief when it fit just right. “I accept this token, and promise to cherish your submissive gift and love
your switchy little heart.” He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come here.”

His fingers dug into her short pixie cut, bending her over backward until he supported her weight, and kissed her. The crowd cheered, but none of that mattered. She had the man who would move heaven and hell for her, and he wanted her back.

There are so many people to thank and acknowledge for their help. First, to Sue Grimshaw and Stacey Kennedy, who made this book happen. To my local Citizen’s Police Academy, who introduced me to the special agent who was the inspiration for Damien. To A. S. Fenichel and her husband for allowing me to pick their brains. Lea Griffith and Shawn, you were my cheerleaders. Kitty, Shari, and Khriste, you guys stepped up to the plate when I needed help the most. Jodie Griffith and Gillian Archer—thank you. Eden Bradley, your patience is astounding and you encourage me so much. To Karen Book, thank you for the tampon and G.I. Joes. To Laura, some things always seem like a good idea in the moment, am I right? Lastly, to Kris and Jennifer, who were the real-life inspiration behind Kyle and Nikki. I could never write either of you true to who you really are, so I stole some of my favorite parts.

Rest in peace, Yoshi

Photo by
DallasPinUp.com

It can never be said that S
IDNEY
B
RISTOL
has had a “normal” life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. S
IDNEY
B
RISTOL
has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas, where she splits her time between a job she loves, and writing, reading, and belly dancing.

facebook.​com/​Sidney.​Bristol.​Romance.​Author
@sidney_bristol

Did you know August is Romance Awareness Month? It give us the perfect excuse (as if we needed one!) to immerse ourselves in some wonderfully romantic stories. And we have just the perfect ones. So wind down the dog days of summer with these great Loveswept reads.

We’re incredibly excited about
New York Times
bestselling author Ruthie Knox’s steamy new contemporary romance series set in New York City—if you haven’t yet experienced a Ruthie Knox book, you need to get
Truly
ASAP! You won’t regret it. Laura Drewry also returns this month with the witty and tender romance
Prima Donna
, which features a sexy love-shy doctor. Sidney Bristol proves that desire can be the most dangerous drug of all in her erotic tale of sensuality and suspense,
Committed
. And speaking of hot—have you seen the cover for Ashlyn Macnamara’s
What a Lady Craves
? It’s positively sizzling and the story is too—it’s a delicious tale of two souls torn apart by circumstances and reunited by fate. Then we have Vonnie Davis’s fantastic novel
A Highlander’s Obsession
, where two wandering souls discover that true love needs no words. And if you haven’t yet discovered Cecy Robson’s sensational Weird Girls series—or just want to return to where the magic first began—pick up a copy of
A Curse Awakened
, the prequel novella about four sisters coming to grips with their unique supernatural powers.

Lastly, don’t miss the newest Flirt title, Cassie Mae’s
The Real Thing
, which features best friends whose feelings suddenly become more than platonic.

Don’t keep these to yourself! In honor of Romance Awareness Month, spread the word and let your friends partake in some of the romance!

Sitting on the coral sand–colored seat cushion, Kyler leaned back against the wicker patio chair and sipped a crisp beer. The warm Lake Las Vegas air wasn’t nearly as stifling as it’d been earlier in the day. His gaze swept past the trickling fountains and sparkling fire pits to the dancing crowd, eventually resting on the bride, Cora Adams.

Cora was a submissive and a member of the exclusive BDSM organization Club Sin, a place that allowed people to live out their darkest sexual fantasies. As a Master at the club, indicated by the dragon tattoo on his forearm, Kyler had met her a few years ago. They had maintained a close friendship ever since.

The bride swirled her hips, dancing with her bridesmaids, who were also Club Sin submissives, Presley Flynn and Kenzie Hart. Kyler couldn’t help but notice how beautiful they looked in their strapless mauve dresses. So much different from the club, where they were either naked or dressed in sexy lingerie.

He took another swig of his cool beer, and he couldn’t have been happier for Cora. In fact, as his gaze traveled over her mermaid-style wedding gown and long, dark hair styled in big, soft curls, he was sure he’d never seen her so happy.

This wedding was long overdue.

He had thought Cora would’ve been married years ago to one of his closest friends and fellow Club Sin Masters, Aidan Knight. Kyler had always yearned for what they had: a loving Dominant/submissive relationship. Although he was surprised they hadn’t tied the knot earlier, he was glad to see his friends finally exchanged their vows.

Kyler himself was waiting to find
the one
. He needed a woman who would embrace his dominant ways in Club Sin and be a good partner in life, too. He loved that feeling of owning a woman’s body … 
and, yeah, his Dom wanted that
.

Only problem?

He’d never met her.

He’d met only the women of
right now
.

His gaze traveled over the crowd and landed on the pretty blonde he’d seen during the outdoor ceremony. She’d been sitting at the back in the white chairs, smiling in a way that brightened her face as she watched Cora walk down the aisle.

“Staring much?”

Kyler chuckled, turning to Dmitri Pratt, Club Sin’s owner. Kyler ignored the comment with a reply that placed Dmitri in the hot seat. “It’s your turn next to tie the knot, hmm?”

Dmitri smiled, placing his wineglass on the wicker table in front of them. He raked a hand through his blond hair. “Is that so?”

Kyler had no idea why Dmitri hadn’t asked Presley to marry him. They were perfect together. He pointed to Cora. “You’re telling me you don’t want to see Presley looking like that?”

Dmitri glanced to Cora, watching as she danced. When he looked back to Kyler, his expression softened. “It wasn’t that long ago that Presley was engaged.”

“So?”

“She comes from a close family and cares what they think,” Dmitri replied with a shrug. “I’m letting them get used to our relationship before we go down that road.”

Always the good man
, Kyler mused.

Perhaps Presley was worried that her parents would disapprove if she got engaged again too quickly. That probably made the most sense and was perceptive of Dmitri to recognize.

Presley had a strong submissive trait: always sacrificing what she wanted for others, a common sub trait that she’d never completely let go of. It was one of the reasons Dmitri loved her so. “You’re waiting for the benefit of her parents?”

Dmitri nodded, draping an arm over the back of the wicker chair. “We’ll give it a little more time.” He grinned, tapping the center of his neck. “Besides, I have that. For now, it’s enough.”

His collar
.

In terms many attending this wedding wouldn’t understand, Presley had been fully, irrevocably, claimed by Dmitri. To her closest friends and those who belonged to Club Sin, the promise in the symbol of a collar held as strong as a marriage vow.

Kyler wouldn’t be that patient.

Once he discovered the woman to share his life, he’d possess her body and mind. All would know that whoever she was, she belonged to him both in the dungeon and out of it.