Page 128 of To Catch a Sub

“Tag me like I’m a wild animal then let a hunter capture me and take me away.” Finally, she turned to face him. “I’m going to leave. You understand that, yes?”

Landon shoulders were tight. “You mean you’re going to run. Don’t.”

“I can’t stay. If it’s not this plan, it will be something else. I gambled that what I had was enough that you would arrest him, but if it’s not, I’m not safe.

“Run where, Colette? And for how long?”

To South America, and for as long as it took, though she didn’t tell him that.

“You don’t need to leave,” Landon’s voice rumbled dangerously. “I won’t let him?—”

“Because you’re going to murder Damien?” She shook her head. “That’s not who you are.”

“It is when it comes to you.” He took a step, until only centimeters separated them. His dark eyes bore into hers. “I told you before, I’d burn the world if you asked.”

“I’m not worth the stain murder would leave on your soul.” She blinked, and felt a tear slide down her cheek.

Landon cupped her face with one hand. The expression on his face…she didn’t have a word for that emotion. “Yes. You are.”

His gaze slid down to her lips and she held her breath. Hoping. But he waited, only touching her cheek.

She’d told him not to touch her, and hadn’t rescinded the order. Technically he’d touched her several times, but a hand on her cheek or a hug weren’t what she’d meant by “touch” and she was sure he knew it.

He was—mostly—respecting her boundaries, but staying close to her, and offering her the comfort of his body against hers when she needed it.

But kissing her, when she’d told him not to touch her, was a bridge she knew Landon wouldn’t cross.

Like the first time, she would have to be the one to initiate the kiss.

Colette pushed up onto her toes, laced her fingers together behind his head, pulled him down, and kissed him softly.

He held still, until she parted her lips just a little, exhaling against him, the sound a tentative whimper of need.

Landon’s arms came around her, lifting even as he pressed her against his chest. He kissed her like she were a princess rather than a thief—a closed-mouthed press of lips that was both firm and tender. Her own lips trembled slightly, her entire body practically vibrating in reaction to the miasma of emotions she’d been through in the past hour.

He moved them back, pressing her against the window, the glass cold against her back. It felt delicious to have the weight and power of his big body against hers. He deepened the kiss, licking the inside of her lower lip. When she parted her teeth, his tongue delved deeper, stroking over hers.

This was what it felt like to be kissed by the man you loved, and who loved you in return.

Colette grabbed fistfuls of the back of his shirt, holding on as the kiss turned possessive, almost savage.

They were both panting when he straightened. She licked her lips, savoring his taste, as she leaned her head back against the window.

“I owe you an apology,” he said. “I’m sorry, Colette. I’m so fucking sorry. If another Dom in this club had used their partner’s submission to manipulate them, we’d kick their ass out so fucking fast.”

“I was so mad at you.”

“Was?” He studied her. “Don’t forgive me just because talking about the…things…that happened to you before made what I did seem only marginally fucked up.”

“I was mad, because I told myself I trusted you. But I realize I only trusted you with my body. I trusted you enough to submit to you. I trusted that as my Dom you’d respect my safeword. But I didn’t trust you with the truth. I was sure that if I told you everything, and you decided to use me as bait, nothing I said would change your mind.”

“You thought I’d force you to do something dangerous?”

“I did.”

“But now you don’t?”

“No. I don’t.”