Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Cate frowned slightly as she thought about that. She took a sip of apple juice. “But if this person is threatening to hurt her for being close to Rhodes, wouldn’t it be more logical for her to stay away from Rhodes?”
“That would be the logical thought. But emotions aren’t always logical.”
“Oh, I know.” That’s why she often ran into problems. While she was better than she used to be, people’s emotions could still be hard for her to distinguish.
“So she wants to stay close to Rhodes because of her feelings for him?” she asked.
“I expect that she feels safer with him than being on her own. She cares about him and he feels the same, so I would expect he makes her feel safe. Also, he has bodyguards.” He grinned at her. “I heard that they’re okay. Sort of good at their jobs.”
“That’s good to know,” she replied seriously even though she guessed he was joking by his grin. “I do hope that they’re able to deliver more than a mediocre performance when it comes to protecting my brother.”
The smile dropped off his face. “We’re here to protect you as well.”
“Again, I’m the least important person here. The stalker isn’t interested in me.”
He frowned. “You are not the least important person here. Keep saying that and see what happens.”
Cate gave him a startled look. She wanted to ask what would happen, however perhaps she didn’t want to know.
“And you were home alone when someone attempted to break in.”
She didn’t want to think about that. Or talk about it.
Her therapist was trying to work with her on getting her to talk about that night. But sometimes some things were best locked up tight and forgotten.
Well, that was her plan anyway.
“That was just unfortunate timing. Whoever it was, they weren’t here for me.”
“You still need protecting,” he told her firmly.
There was a strange fluttering in her chest. She hoped that she wasn’t having heart issues.
“Why doesn’t Samantha get her own bodyguards? I think that would make her feel safer. You can’t split yourself between three places.”
“You’re right. And it’s something that I need to talk to Seth and Rhodes about. I don’t think Ink will be able to spare anyone else to come out here.”
“It’s expensive having full-time bodyguards,” Cate said. “I really don’t think that someone has to be home with me. Not with the new security system. I’ll tell Rhodes that.”
“You will not,” he said.
Ethan sounded very vehement and she couldn’t figure out why.
“Why won’t I tell him?”
“Because it’s not safe for you to be home alone and I won’t have it. Also, I’m guessing she has money to pay for her own bodyguard.”
He won’t have it?
What was happening right now?
“Her net worth is somewhere around six million,” she said, focussing on that part. “Nothing close to what Rhodes is worth, though. Her movies haven’t really done that well. But she did that reality TV show and that paid well.”
Ethan nodded. “I don’t want you to worry about this, okay?”
She blinked, uncertain what he meant. “About the stalker making threats at Samantha? Or her moving in here?”
“Both, I guess.” He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck, looking uncharacteristically uncertain. “I just don’t want you to be upset.”
That was . . . strange.
Why would he say that? Of course she was going to be concerned. The stalker was making more threats.
Samantha might be moving in.
So, telling her not to get upset was kind of pointless. And why would he care?
Perhaps because something did happen last night.
Ask him.
She wasn’t certain she could. Did she want to know the answer? Maybe she should ask Rhodes instead.
“Why did you call Rhodes last night?” she blurted out. “Why did he come home?”
Ethan stared at her for a long moment. “I think this would be easier for you to hear if I told you something about myself.”
Um. She wasn’t sure how that would help.
“Something personal. So you know something about me.”
“All right,” she replied hesitantly.
“I’ve been a Dominant for years.”
Oh. Well. That made sense. He had a commanding presence. A way of getting you to do what he wanted.
“Do you know what a Dom is, Cate?”
“Well, yes. Dominance and submission is a subset of BDSM. If agreed, a Dominant may have control over a submissive partner either in the bedroom or out. They might make and enforce rules.”
Ethan blinked at her explanation. She wasn’t incorrect, was she? She thought she almost recalled word for word the description of a Dominant that she’d read online.
“Yes, that’s right. Have you had experience with a Dom before?”
“No. I’ve just read stories with BDSM in them.”
“Okay, that’s a start, I guess. The first time I went to a BDSM club, I was only twenty-five and thought I knew everything. I was wrong.”
Wow. He admitted to being wrong?
“I figured I’d jump right in, start bossing subs around, and have endless orgasms. I ended up getting kicked out for being a dick and was told I could come back after I’d taken some lessons on how to be a good Dominant.”