Free Salvage Her Heart by Shelly Pratt Page B

lot to be said for personal discomfort, you know.’
    ‘As I said, money is the least of your concerns. I’ll get Larissa to wire an advance to your bank account and you can get straight to business. Make yourself as invisible as possible —but not too invisible. I want her to think the normal routine is still in place without her wigging on to the fact that you’re now on her arse twenty-four-seven.’
    ‘You got it. Anything else?’
    ‘Yeah, keep a journal of where she’s going, what she’s doing and who she’s seeing. I’ll want a report on my desk by eleven pm each day.’
    ‘Right.’
    He gets up and leaves without another word. I watch with steepled fingers, contemplating my next move. For the first time in our relationship, I feel insecure. Not about my power, or dominance, but rather, afraid that my hold on Evie might be unravelling just a little. Perhaps I’ve been too lenient? I’ll wait for Harry’s report before I make my next move. I don’t see it as unfeasible to restrict her outings even further, making her more isolated in our own home. In fact, there could be plenty of benefit in it for me. It could make her so starved for attention and love that she’ll do anything for me, and to me, just to get noticed.
    A more devoted, passive and obedient Evie?
    Sounds perfect to me.

Ten
    EVIE
     
    The first time I had sex was nothing like I expected it to be. I grew up reading Forever by Judy Blume and Beloved Soul by Shelly Pratt . I thought the act would be just as I imagined it—making love. Instead my ignorance was laid bare when I lost my virginity to my husband. Gentle and loving emotions played no part in the act. Instead, Alex was rough and dirty, basically screwing me like a dog.
    I will never forget the let down and disappointment I felt after reading all the lovely books I had in my teenage years. In reality, they were my only teacher. My mother was a little old fashioned about such things and preferred to school her only child in a very limited way. My wedding night with my husband seemed more like banishment into slavery rather than an equal partnership into a loving relationship with the man I was seduced by.
    Soon, I began to think that what we had was normal—that all the tales in the books were just that—tales, fantasy, fiction. Lies. I could have accepted our relationship as it was, but instead I became more desperate to have the fantasy. Every single time he pleasured himself with my body it made me crave intimacy even more. Truth be told, if I ever got real love from another man, I’m sure I wouldn’t know what to do with it.
    However, the kiss with Grayson has had my heart all aflutter with fanciful thoughts. I’ve always had a relationship with a man who has a hidden agenda while Grayson seems hell bent on offering me the kind of affection I just can’t have, but sorely want.
    Not only have I never had the kind of love I crave, I can’t even remember having one single friend to confide in since I finished high school. My life is filled with everything Alex wants it to be filled with, which includes everything from material possessions to the company I keep. For once, I can’t let him make decisions on my behalf. Not only do I want Grayson as a friend, but I need him.
    There is something so honest about that man that I can’t hide away from him. I’ve felt since the first moment I laid eyes on him that I can trust him. But with just how much, I’m not sure. The mention of the bruise on my face the last time I went to the coffee shop really had me rattled. It was unexpected that someone would so brazenly comment on the remnants of my beating. To his credit, there was no way in hell he would have known that my husband has a penchant for smacking me around. His comment was innocent and full of concern. The only thing that unnerves me is that I really wanted to tell him. It’s like I’m so starved for attention that I truly wanted to blurt every miserable detail about my