He stretched his neck and kept his lips away from her, dodging a second peck. He took her hand in his and planted kisses across her knuckles before leading her across the walkway to the small floating dock.
“Sit with me, Trixie,” he said, rolling up his jeans and kicking off his shoes.
“You aren’t going to answer me?”
He shot her a quick glance. Arching a brow, he firmly planted his palms against the dock.
“Have it your way.” She stripped away her pajama pants.
“Ah fuck,” he grumbled.
“What’s wrong, Brock? Is skinny-dipping too childish for you now?”
“We need to talk first.” He sat down and dipped his toes in the water. Looking out over the lake, he patted the vacant spot beside him.
“You need to loosen up.” She flopped down next to him. She fluttered her feet under the water’s surface, still captivated by the morning sunrise. “Just answer my question.”
“You wouldn’t like my answer.”
Trixie stopped wiggling her feet. “You don’t think the two of us would’ve made it alone?”
“No I don’t,” he replied honestly.
“Well that hurt like a slap in the face,” she admitted.
Brock lifted her hand and laced their fingers together. “Let me tell you why.”
“I know why,” she bit out. “You think it takes more than one man to make me happy.”
“I know it takes more than one man to keep you sexually satisfied, Trixie.”
“You make me sound like a whore.”
“No, I make you sound like a vibrant young woman with an overactive sex drive, but there’s more to it. I want you to listen to me.” He bent his knee and shifted his weight, turning to her at the same time. “I protect you. I watch over you. I would cut off my own limbs just to ensure your happiness always came first. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you because it’s my responsibility to make sure your happiness comes first.
“A long time ago, a very wise man told me, ‘A man worth his salt spoils his woman before he finds pleasure for himself’ and I’ve tried to follow his advice.”
“Daddy Kane told you that.”
“Yes, but his words have stuck with me for several reasons. Kane told me something my own father once mentioned as well. If your woman isn’t happy, healthy, and filled with love, then you haven’t done your job as a husband and as a man.”
“I’ve heard Dad say that before,” she said. “And Mom puts her own spin on things as well.”
“I’m sure she does, but your dads have made sure your mother has everything her heart desires.”
“That’s true, but…Brock, where are you going with all this?”
“I gave up something for you, Trixie. Something I’ve never mentioned before now, but with Mitch resurfacing, we need to discuss it.”
“What are you talking about? Did I ever ask you to make sacrifices for me?” Trixie searched his eyes. “You know I didn’t, Brock. Your happiness is very important to me.”
“I believe that.”
“Then why do I feel like the most selfish woman in the world right now?”
Brock narrowed his gaze. “You know what I don’t have, Trixie, and what I couldn’t ask of you because of what you’d suffered through with Pratchert. After you lost Mitch, there was no way I could ask you, let alone train you for the life.”
Trixie gulped. Brock studied her more intently.
“You realize where I’m going with this and what I’m about to say.”
A double shot of arousal licked at her pussy lips. Her nipples spiked at the deeply rooted and quite guttural sound of pure male longing strumming through his voice.
“You wanted a submissive woman.”
“I wanted a submissive woman,” he agreed.
“And it took how many years for you to tell me this?” Trixie slowly shook her head, but rapidly processed. “Don’t you put this on me if I haven’t given you everything you needed, Brock. You were man enough to ask. You’ve never had a problem voicing your expectations, or even your demands.”
“Honey, I’m not placing blame,” he said, squeezing her hand. “If the lifestyle had been important to me, I would’ve mentioned it before now.”
“And why are you just now bringing it up, Brock? Why—if this is who and what you are—have you decided to reveal yourself now?” She ran her fingers through her hair. “Talk about making your other half feel like a complete failure.”
“Trixie, don’t. I’m opening up and telling you what I need, what I’d like to have in my woman—you—and you’re trying to turn this around on me.”