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into her again?”
    “My
mother’s hotel. She’d come to talk to Mom about the security on her new gallery. I saw her
cross the room, and it suddenly hit me as I watched her walk so gracefully with
such purpose. It reminded me of our time together, and how with the mere flick
of my fingers her bravado was gone, and she was the needy woman she was born to
be.” Louis surged to his feet. “That’s when I realized I never should’ve let
her go. My wandering ways were going to have to stop, or I was going to have to
get better at not getting caught if I wanted her back.”
    “And
did you talk to her about the idea of reconciliation before the attack?”
    Louis
shook his head. “I should’ve, but I was arrogant and so sure of myself. I let
myself into her apartment and basically told her how it was going to be. But
instead of being grateful, she told me to get out. She never wanted to see me
again.” He raked his hand through his hair. “And I lost it. This was the woman
who’d given me everything and was now denying me. I…” Louis stopped, his voice cracking. “…I never meant to hurt her. It was like suddenly
everything went dark, and I was consumed by a rage I couldn’t control. She was
supposed to obey me without question. But she didn’t. She argued with me and…if
it hadn’t been for her boyfriend being there I probably would’ve done worse.
She was…I mean…is such a little thing. Only came up to my chest.”
    Ethan
quickly processed the information Louis was giving him. Sure the man sounded
contrite but something about his story didn’t jive. There had to be more than
what the man was saying. Some of these details just didn’t add up. He spoke
eloquently but it almost seemed rehearsed. As if he were telling Ethan what he
wanted to him to hear.
    “Well,
than perhaps it was a good thing that her boyfriend was there. Think of how
you’d have felt if you’d actually done worse.” Without even glancing at the
clock above the door, Ethan knew he had to wrap this session up, or he was
going to forget he was supposed to be the doctor helping Louis and instead wipe
the floor with his patient. Somewhere along the way, Louis Vayarti had gotten
his wires crossed when it came to his submissive. He’d forgotten the most basic
of rules. Safe, sane and consensual did not mean the woman was a doormat for
him to abuse. “All right our time is nearly up for today, Louis. I want you to
make me a list of what you hope to accomplish with this therapy — other than
fulfilling your obligations to the court, before our next appointment. Dolly
will let you know when it’ll be.” Ethan gathered up his folder. “Now if you’d
excuse me, I have another patient waiting.”
    Louis
stepped forward with his hand held out. “Thank you for taking me on such a
tight notice, Dr. Tremaine. I promise I won’t let you down.”
    Ethan
ignored the pro-offered hand. “No thanks are needed. I’m merely doing my job.
Once we get your goals in mind, I can set up an action plan.” He cupped his hand
over the other man’s shoulder. “Now, I really do need to scurry.” Ethan slipped
out of the room before Louis had a chance to protest.

 
Chapter Four
     
    “So
what did you do?” Mrs. Di’Angelo asked, gazing over the rim of her cup. In the
early morning sun, her midnight black hair shone with blue highlights. Just the
barest touch of silver at her temples gave away her true age. She hadn’t
changed much in the year Sabella had been gone, and for that she was thankful.
She was still the loving but strong-minded woman who’d wiped her nose as a
child. Perhaps that was why she was seated in her neighbor’s cozy kitchen,
discussing the idea of her being a model in a kinbaku demonstration. She could
give her some perspective on the issue.
    “I
told them I had to think about it, Mrs. D.” Twisting her hair around her
finger, Sabella leaned back against the chair, her own cup of coffee steaming
in front of her. “I just