They go to a sex club.
She tries bondage for the first time and realizes being restrained is liberating.
He punishes her for the first time…
Feelings start to get involved.
43
GRACE
Dove resigns from her position at Sanctum, packs a suitcase, and leaves New York City. The society papers gossip and speculate about her for a week and, finally, the scandal of her wedding starts to fade.
I hear from her once after she leaves. She sends me a text, thanking me for being there for her, even though she didn't deserve it. I tell her she did deserve it, and I'm here if she needs anyone to talk to.
The more time I spend with Asher, the more I realize he and his siblings are just searching for the unconditional love I get the feeling they lacked in childhood.
In July, we attend Gabe's first gala as the President of Sanctum Cares. My brother-in-law looks sleek in his fancy black suit, his hair slicked back, and his beard neatly trimmed.
With the exception of Dove, the entire Caine family is here. Asher has been pulled away from me several times since we've arrived. One thing after another. Even after seven months together, I still haven't gotten used to these kinds of events.
"Grace, my favorite sister-in-law." Wren has his signature grin on his face when he approaches me, a man with graying hair and tortoiseshell frames next to him.
"I'm pretty sure I'm your only sister-in-law," I retort with a quirked eyebrow as he leans in to side-hug me, his lips coming near my ear.
"Save me," he whispers. "This man is so boring." When he pulls back, I have to pretend he didn't just say that to me when the man is standing right here. "This is James Rock," he says pleasantly, as if he didn't just call him boring. "He works at some kind of publishing something or other. Grace is a writer; you two should get to know each other." And then leaves us, just as quick as he came.
James and I look at each other before we both burst into laughter, Wren's motives very clear.
"I'm sorry about my brother-in-law." I smile, trying to break the ice.
"No apology needed. I've heard stories of the infamous Wren Caine." He chuckles. "So, you're a writer?"
"Aspiring," I correct.
"Are you currently working on anything?"
I chew on my lip, unsure if I should tell him what I'm actually working on.A steamy story about a girl exploring the tantalizing world of BDSM.
I'm not sure if James Rock is ready for that kind of intro, so I shrug. "Drafting a romance. Still in the early phases." It's not a complete lie.
