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stirred in her mind. Something dark and sinister, and she pushed it back where it couldn’t frighten her.
    He turned back to the bench. “I’m making this for my brother, for his wedding present. He’d rather have this than a cheese platter. He runs an import/export business, and he already ships most of my stuff between here and the mainland. So there’s no reason I shouldn’t send it.”
    He looked at her as if she might object then sighed when she didn’t. “I should be over it by now. Maybe that’s why you ended up here, subby. To teach me about forgiveness, about letting go of all this damned ugly pride. Well, tell me. What’s the secret then?”
    Her gaze fell to the floor, demurring.
    “No.” He lifted her chin. “There’s been enough looking at the floor. Look at me.”
    She tried, but everything was a blur. He wiped a tear from her cheek.
    “None of that either. At least, not unless I’m trying to hurt you. Here, give me a few minutes to clean up here and then I want to show you something. You’ve been a good girl. You deserve a reward.”
    * * *
    She jumped when she saw an iguana, only relaxing when she saw it was as still as the rock it sat on. He shook his head, but she could tell from the curve of his lips that he wasn’t really angry. His whole demeanor had relaxed since she had intruded on his work, and in her relief that she wasn’t in trouble, she relaxed too. The way they walked together was different too. She wasn’t following him, but walked beside. Wasn’t cowed by him, instead adoring. It felt wrong and delicious at the same time. If she suffered later, this would be worth it.
    They walked along a well-worn path that eventually turned into rocks. When she winced at a sharp one under her bare foot, he paused. “Damn, I didn’t think of that. Do we need to go back?”
    She was out of breath, exhilarated. No. Please.
    He grinned, at least that’s what the small curve of his lips seemed like. Even that much seemed blinding. “What are we going to do then?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just pulled off his own boots and socks.
    “Come on.” He grabbed her hand and they ran across the beach, throwing up white rocks in their wake. She felt herself smiling, and when he looked at her, she could have sworn she saw awe in his eyes.
    They entered a cave of some sort, with a pool of water below and rock surrounding them on three sides. Emerald light streamed inside through an opening in the top and, filtered through the thick mist in the air, cast colors all around. She lifted a hand to touch the green-purple and caught only air. Below, the water sparkled, a melting pot of color, all above a deep black void.
    It took her breath away.
    “Like it?” he asked, sounding just like he had in his workshop.
    What do you want, girl?
    She kissed him. His lips were unexpectedly soft. They parted—in surprise, she thought—and then she slipped her tongue inside. It had been forever since she’d done this, never had she done this, but it came to her like breathing. She needed it, and if he took it away, if he stopped her…
    He did stop her, but only to reverse everything, changing it but leaving it the same, with only the flick of his tongue and the tightening of his hand on her hip. Then it was him kissing her; it was her sighing. Please, oh please. And he answered her with his heat, his taste, with the pleasure he found from showing her this place of beauty and magic.
    No, she’d been wrong. Any price would be too high if she were to lose this after all. Even precious courtesy wouldn’t be enough, compared to this. The world upended around her, from pain to pleasure, from survival to passion. The pebbled beach smoothed to velvet under her feet, the moisture in the air slicked their skin.
    An ache started in her sex, and her hips rocked against him. She would have restrained herself once she noticed, but he moaned, and she knew without words that it was good. She was good, and he wanted her