Into His Keeping (39 page)

“I have something for you. I want you to remember tonight,” he murmured into her bent head. “Every time you look in the mirror I want to you remember this night and know it’s yours any time. Who we are right now is always true. No matter what else we do outside the doors of our bedroom. Now sit up straight.”

Holdin picked her up and turned her to face him. Holding her above his lap, he instructed her to drape her legs over the arms of the chair.

When he’d finished, she was sitting on his knees facing him, her body spread in submissive exposure. It felt so much more decadent now that he’d shaved her. Jill shivered in shy excitement as he gazed at her. It was like feeling power burn over her body and her head dipped down to avoid the intensity of it.

“Hands behind your back. Look at me. See how perfect you are to me,” he said as his eyes moved down over her breasts and down her body. “Good girl,” he praised when her back straightened and arched for him.

Reaching beside him to the short table there, he picked up a case. Flipping it open, he pulled out a sparkling gold chain. The links were sturdy like one saw on men’s bracelets though not thick and masculine. It was a delicate chain of glowing gold with a small padlock at one end.

Jill gasped. Her eyes wide as she looked at the very obvious collar. Putting that around her neck would make this part of their relationship very public. Something he’d never hinted at doing before. A chain with a lock like that could not be mistaken for anything else.

Holdin smiled as he held it and watched her. She didn’t shrink back. “That’s my brave little whore. Stand up please,” he approved.

Deep within, his hardened warrior melted for her again. She was magnificent. He knew what she thought he’d do and she was facing him bravely. Submitting her entire self into his keeping and he thought he might explode with pride in her. There was nothing he’d love more than to proclaim to the world what an amazing woman she was. But the world wasn’t ready to see what he had. No. He’d never place his precious Jill in an uncomfortable situation. Her trust in him, even now, was unfathomable. Living up to it would take a lifetime.

Jill slid off his lap to stand in front of him.

“Give me your right foot and hold on to my shoulder,” he instructed.

Jill’s foot in his lap, Holdin snapped the anklet around her and clicked the pretty lock. On her ankle, it was a beautiful piece of jewelry. The only thing hinting at what it really signified was the lock securing it on her.

Jill stared at it in wonder. The rich gold glowed against her skin. The little lock looked lovely against the glow of her skin. Placing it on her ankle was so perfect. Looking up into his eyes, she smiled in shy amazement.

“Thank you.”

Holdin pulled her back into his arms, hugging her fiercely. “Baby, I know you thought that was a new collar. There’s no need for that between us. You are as free as your heart wants to be. The choice is always yours.” He breathed in deeply as he told her what she knew. “All I want is to remind you that those feet need to come to me, Jilly-girl. My heart is the only place you bring a problem. No matter what it is.”

About the Author

Hello everyone. If you’re reading this, I hope it means you’ve enjoyed reading one of my books. If you have some other opinion of them, feel free to lie to me anyway. I hereby absolve you from all possible guilt and consequences for flagrant, adjective, saturated lying to the author.

I’m a chronic fantasizer. Every good romance novel ended too soon. After a while, I started making up stories when I had a few minutes to while away. So now, instead of sitting around with a blank look on my face, I’ve taken to writing them down.

Because of my father’s job, we moved every three years in my early life. My first memories are of Bermuda, and then we were in several African countries. It was a wonderful childhood. I gained a rich cultural background in the world community, but never learned to spell. As an adult, I avoided writing at all costs, embarrassed over my limitations.

But the writer will not stay silent forever. She broke out, and insisted on learning the mystical world of grammar and spelling. Haven’t mastered all of it yet, but they let me write for you anyway. Bless every editor on the planet. They give dreamers a place to send fantasies and save us the embarrassment of owning our shortcomings.

Gail welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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Also by Gail Faulkner

Darius

Full Ride

Jamie’s Cherub

Romeo

Slip Knot

Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

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