It’s the second book in the Dream Dominant Collection, a series of stand-alone novels featuring sexy, Dominant men, and the strong, red-haired submissives who find them irresistible. It is a contemporary erotic romance novel with a light BDSM theme, and features a DD/lg relationship, and is intended for mature audiences.
Blake Walker is no stranger to tragedy. Immediately following a horrific event years earlier, he was lost for a while until he embraced his Dominant nature and found his true calling. But things change and now he’s back where he started, helping to run his family’s secluded lake lodge.
When pampered Hollywood starlet Shasta Pyke gets into trouble with the law, she’s sent to the wilderness of northern Ontario to cool her heels for a few weeks. There she meets sexy bush pilot Blake, who is tasked with seeing to her needs as the sole guest at the lodge.
Initially, Blake isn’t impressed with the spoiled actress, but he’s happy that her visit allows for his sister Jackie and her kids to go on a much-needed vacation. Try as he might, he can’t figure out what the hell Shasta Pyke is doing so far out of her element.
Shasta’s attracted to Blake’s obvious good looks, but there’s more to him than that. He sees through her armor to the vulnerable little girl she hides from the world. The Daddy Dominant in him craves to shelter her, to make her his own.
Is there any way Shasta will agree to submit to Blake’s Dominance?
By the time the kitchen timer went off, she’d finally stopped shaking. Shasta pulled the chain, dislodging the rubber plug and the water began to drain from the tub. She used the towel to dry herself and quickly slipped into the flannel shirt Blake had left for her. It was miles too big and deliciously soft as she wrapped it around her bare flesh. In the bathroom mirror, her eyes were haunted. She had no idea of the time, and she was tired. He’d told her to sit on the bed and wait for him.
Carefully, she picked up the oil lamp and carried it into the bedroom. The full-sized bed was neatly made with a steel-grey duvet. She’d half-expected a camouflage bedspread for the rugged mountain man.
The thought would have amused her if she hadn’t been so upset. Blake was angry with her, really angry. He’d called her Shasta, and that had broken her heart. She’d thought that they had a special understanding between them, a budding friendship that was possibly romantic. She loved that he called her Amy. But she’d ruined that, like she ruined everything, it seemed.
She put the lamp on the bedside table and sank onto the edge of the bed. Although she felt warm from the bath, her feet were cold, so she folded her legs under her to keep them warm. She wondered where Blake had gone.
Outside, the storm continued to rage. It was quieter here than in her cabin, but it made her uneasy nevertheless. She wanted him back with her. When he’d picked her up, held her against his chest, she’d felt the safety she’d sought. She wanted to be in his arms until the storm passed. It was the safest place she’d ever known.
The outside door opened and closed, and her heart jumped into her throat. She heard him speak to the dog but she couldn’t make out his words. Her eyes were glued to the closed bedroom door, and she watched as the knob turned.
Blake’s eyes went straight to her. “Good. Just like I asked. Come with me.”
Shasta followed him into the living room where he stood leaning his right hip on the breakfast bar separating that room from the kitchen. Not knowing what else to do, she simply stopped and anxiously twisted her hands in front of her.
When he didn’t say anything, she jumped in. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble, I was just so scared, and I don’t think I really even knew what I was doing, just…the next thing I knew, I was halfway across the lake. I know it was stupid. I’m so sorry, please don’t be mad at me.”
Blake sighed deeply, his mouth a hard line. “What you did was beyond dangerous and irresponsible. If anything had happened to you, Amy, I don’t know how I would be able to live with myself.”
Pleased that he’d returned to her real name, she took a step closer. “I know. And again, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
He stood straight and crossed his arms. “I can forgive you. The trouble is, you need discipline. You’re out of control, and you need someone to help you rein yourself in.”
Shasta frowned, uncertain of what he meant.
“Tonight, you need to make a decision. Option one, you can stay here. Or option two, I’ll take you back to the island.” At that moment, a deafening thunderclap rattled the cabin’s windows.
She furrowed her brow. “Why would I want to go back there?”
“Because if you stay here, you go by my rules. Without exception.” He arched an eyebrow menacingly.
Chills ran up her arms. His rules? She thought of the way he’d taken over, putting her in the tub, his explicit instructions.
“Remember, there’s your other choice. I grabbed a t-shirt and a pair of jeans from Jackie’s closet. You can get dressed, and I’ll take you back. I’ll see about fixing the window in the morning and we can go on our merry way.”
His expression was impassive, as if either option was fine by him. Shasta fidgeted with the buttons on the flannel shirt. “I want to stay.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“You should know that if you stay, you will be receiving a spanking.”
Shasta’s eyes bugged out. “What?”
“You’re out of control,” he repeated gently. “You need discipline to help you remember that your safety always comes first.”
She turned from him, crossing to the window where she looked out over the lake. A bolt of lightning illuminated the lake, revealing whitecaps as large as they’d been when she’d been out there, and the thunder crashed immediately afterward.
She knew the window over her bed was shattered, the wind and rain would be howling through the cabin. There was no telling when the storm would let up. Blake offered to take her back there, which would mean he’d have to risk himself, to the island and back. No, that wouldn’t do.
Turning back to him, she answered softly. “I’ll stay.” She met his eyes briefly before moving her gaze to the floor.
Thanks for understanding, friends. Occasionally, worlds collide. Such is the case tonight. I’m super excited to tell you about my new book, FOR SPARROW, coming out October 3.
Adventures in Date Night 
You must be logged in to post a comment.