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He’d asked for her total and complete submission and for the first time in her life, she’d given it. No hesitation, no holding back and no cautious baby steps marred by the past. She’d jumped off the ledge for him, not even questioning whether he’d catch her or not.
    Dex lifted onto his arms, removing some of the weight crushing down on her, although as far as her heart and mind were concerned, there was no less pressure. He swiped the hair from her face. Their bodies were still slick with cooling sweat and her breathing had yet to return to full normal.
    “We should get out of here and go home,” he said.
    She nodded. He was— Wait? What?
    The knot of nerves already settling in her stomach turned to cold, hard stone as the full realization of what he meant hit her mind. She’d let her guard down enough to entertain fancy thoughts of their relationship becoming more than a once a month stand. The one thing she swore she’d never do with him.
    He pulled from the clasp of her body and disappeared into the adjoining bathroom. Now he was extricating himself in more ways than one. That stone in her gut turned to nausea. Her promise to be less naive and savvier about future relationships had been an idiotic ideal crafted by a stupid girl. When exactly would she ever grow up?
    She sat up and wrapped the blanket around her chilled body. It would be so easy to break down and cry right now. He’d think it was the normal emotional response from a girl like her and he’d be right. But she didn’t want to be that girl anymore. If she’d learned nothing else from her time with Dex, she was confident she’d changed. What she had with Jim was over and she never wanted that kind of relationship again. It had been the right thing at the right time, but no longer.  
    Submission meant so many different things and her life was finally evolving. If Dex wasn’t the right man for her, it didn’t mean anything. There were many others.  
    The moment the water turned off, Bonnie made her decision. She stood and secured the blanket around her shoulders, stiffened her spine and walked out the door, leaving everything behind. She had plenty of clothes stashed in the employee lounge.
    She hurried down the corridor before Dex could come after her. He was a bit of a stickler on aftercare, so he’d be pissed to find her gone. Rather than force some weird and uncomfortable confrontation, she chose escape. And as quickly as possible.  
    “Bonnie?”  
    She squeezed her eyes at the sound of her boss’s voice. More than anything she didn’t want to talk to him, but if she tried to ignore him there’d be more at stake than her job. Coming to an abrupt halt, she compromised and kept her back to his too intuitive gaze.
    “Gabe. Sir.” Protocol required she address him formally when in this area of the club. He was technically not her boss here, but he was a Dom and she was a submissive. Insubordinate subs who knew better were dealt with harshly.
    “Are you all right?”
    His voice had softened with sympathy and her stomach twisted tighter. She needed no pity. “Yes, Sir. The scene with Dex just ended and I’m heading home now.” She tried valiantly to keep the quiver from her voice and only hoped he wouldn’t pry deeper. She couldn’t take the third-degree tonight.
    “There will be a car waiting out front for you. Take it.”
    Everything in her wanted to refuse. But she needed to get the hell out of here now and arguing with the head Dom wasn’t going to help her cause. Dex would be on her any second.
    “Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.” She offered a small curtsy and took off at a speed just shy of a run. She had to get out now before she changed her mind and ran back into the private room to throw herself at the mercy of a man who didn’t really want her.  
    She rushed into the ladies only employee room, threw on the first outfit she found and then headed out the side door where she had no doubt a driver waited to take her home.