Keeping Karly (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Online Free PDF

despite all the research I did on Doms, somehow I feel safe here.
     
    * * * *
     
    Grant was shaking with anger. She’d once accused Doms of brainwashing their subs into letting them abuse them. Did she not see the parallels between her unfounded accusations and her own relationship?
    Perhaps she had on a subconscious level. Judging by the way she was crying now, a lot of the truths she’d been trying desperately to hide from were becoming frightening realities in her mind. Grant nodded to Bryce as he lifted Karly into his embrace and carried her to the daybed they’d set up in the living area. She’d complained long and loud about not being an invalid, but more often than not she’d fallen asleep on the comfortable surface during the day.
    Today she didn’t argue, not even when Bryce lay down beside her and cradled her with his body. Karly, even when she’d been physically incapacitated, had such a large, confident personality that he had never really noticed how tiny she was in physical stature. Cuddled into his brother’s embrace, she suddenly seemed far smaller and infinitely more vulnerable. It angered him even more to realize that she’d been forced to curb her own natural behavior around a man who supposedly loved her.
    Eventually she quieted, and for a moment he thought she’d fallen asleep. It wasn’t until she tried to crawl out of Bryce’s embrace—a move Bryce discouraged with soft caresses—that he realized her embarrassment.
    “I’m sorry,” she said shakily as Grant handed her a soft cloth to dry her face. He’d been surprised how badly he’d wanted to touch her. That was partially why he’d handed her the cloth rather than dry her face the way he would have for a submissive, but he was also fairly certain she wouldn’t accept his help. He was surprised she was letting Bryce hold her, but it was something she definitely needed. Grant didn’t want to do anything that might make her refuse the solace his brother offered.
    “No need to be sorry, baby,” Bryce said quietly. He seemed surprised that he’d used such an intimate term of endearment, but he didn’t try to take it back. “We’ve told you before that we’re here to help you. Anything you need.”
    “I’m still sorry to have dragged you into my mess.” Bryce seemed ready to argue, but she cut him off. “And I’m really sorry for the newspaper articles. I thought I was protecting my sister.”
    Grant glanced at his brother before replying. He’d always prided himself on his honesty, but Karly seemed so fragile at the moment that he hesitated to admit how much she’d hurt him. Bryce shook his head slightly, but Grant wasn’t certain if his brother was suggesting he drop the subject or not change his instincts on how to deal with life. In the end he needed to be honest with himself, as well as with Karly.
    “I won’t deny you hurt us, Karly. You upset a lot of innocent people, yet I think we both understand your motivation. Trying to protect your sister is nothing to be ashamed of, but after everything that has happened you must realize where the accusations of brainwashing and controlling a woman with fear came from.”
    “But Robert—”
    “Was not a good Dom. He isn’t representative of what our lifestyle is about. You tarred us all with the same brush while ignoring what your husband was doing to you.”
    Her bottom lip quivered like she might cry again, but slowly she nodded her agreement.
    “I need to get a divorce.” She gasped a deep breath, almost as if she couldn’t believe she’d said that out loud.
    “Yes, you do,” Grant said as he knelt on the floor in front of her. He touched her face with a single finger, somehow reining in the impulse to press a kiss to her lips. “Anything you need, little one. We’re here to help.”
    The tears began to fall again as she whispered a thank-you.

Chapter Six
     
    My hands are shaking violently as I try to push the key into the lock on the front door of my