y, which was what brought me to The House. I’ve toured the premises. I’ve been there during its busiest times. I kn

t food was the last thing on the women’s minds now. Their plate

at it was like for you an

n, but Joss didn’t miss it and she wondered what the hell was going on with her friend. She seemed . . . unhappy. And maybe

u aren’t telling us, C

the most wonderful thing in the world. I never regretted giving Tate my complete submission. He always took such wonde

very example had been

the case now?

ed to be, but that’s to be expected. Tate has been so busy making his business a success, and when the newness wears off

She shoved aside her sense of foreb

ioned for her to continue. “What kinds of things do you and Tate do? I mean are you into bondage?

ughts about bringing this up in front of her. But she hadn’t wanted Kylie not to know. She owed her sister-in-law that much. To let her know she was going to at least try to move

en together long enough that he well knows my boundaries. Perhaps better than I know myself. But it’s important in the beginning that you’re very honest with your partner and that you se

. “I want to try everything. At least once. I don’t kn

iment but that you reserve the right to pull the plug at any moment. And for God’s sake, Joss, don’t agree to go home with a guy unt

d loved. It would be the height of disrespect to practice what would have appalled her husband under his own roof. And neith

once. She’d questioned Damon Roche endlessly, and the man had exhibited a huge amount of pati

ths. And while moving forward with her new life on the three-year anniversary of her

could do as he wished. Joss wanted that. She craved it with a dark need she didn’t even fully understand. It

e things her husband had given her but . . . more. She wanted to cross that gray line. Wanted to shatter her boundaries. She

quietly. “I can see it in your eyes, Joss. I kn

ng a sense of reli

oss’s other hand and squeezed it until Jos

you luck,”

d several days earlier that she and Tate were spending the afternoon together. “Isn’t

in Chessy’s eyes before she dropped

“He had to cancel. An impor

o run. I need time to prepare for tonight. Though I’ve made up my mind about it, I’m sti

tomorrow, and if I don’t get it, I’m coming over.

d. “Of cou

ral bills on the table to c

you out,”

at Kylie. Joss sighed. She knew what was coming. With a wave

cars, Kylie put a h

leading tone. “I’m really worried about you. This isn’t like y

k. God, if I could, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I’d forget everythin

day. She’d been determined that this year would be different. That she wo

d soundlessly down her cheeks. “I miss him so much, Joss.

change things between us. I swear it. But Kylie, I have to pick up and move on with my life. This is killing me. My grief has been slowly killing me, and Cars

to be at the mercy of a monster. You can’t possibly want to put yourself in a position where you’re helpless under a man’s power. He could hurt you. Abuse you. Believe me,

ent through. I’d never allow that for myself. And look at Chessy and Tate. You know what kind of relationship they have. Do you honestly believe

n what I saw today. What we’ve seen for the last while. She’s not

her usual cheerful, sunny self. She’d sensed that something was off about her best frien

s abusing her. Chessy would never stand for it. She’s too strong and independent, despite the fact that she gave Tate her

“We hid it from the world. Our father appeared to others as a doting parent

. I know Tate. We all know Tate. We’ve all been friends for years. There is no way he is abusing Chessy. And sweetie,

ay from the path you seem so determined to take. But if this is really what you want, if it’s what you ne

y best friend. Carson was not my only tie to you and now that he’s gone it

t a report tomorrow just like Chessy. I won’t sleep tonight for worr

oss murmured

ary of Carson’s death, Dash would spend the day—and evening—with Joss. Not that he didn’t spend plenty of other days with her, but f

his own per

, though Dash had done his best never to allow his feelings to show. But his best friend was perceptive. He knew him better than anyone else ever had. T

family. Dash’s parents were still as solidly in love now as they were forty years ago when they’d married. Dash was one of fi

to react to a normal, well-adjusted family setting. But Dash’s family had embraced Carson—and Joss, when Carson