Blood Stained Collar BOOK 2 of The Collar Series #Wattys2017 ( BDSM )

CHAPTER 40

Reece picked up Chinese on his way home from his shift and was about to put his key in the door when it opened. "Hi, I brought a peace offering."

"Why, what have you done?" Melanie took the packets from him. "Mmm, Chinese. Smells delicious, so I might just forgive you. Depending of course on what you've done." She smiled. It was after all, not Reece's fault her head was in such a spin of jumbled thoughts since Cirrus arrived.

"I'm hoping you'll accept my apology for acting childish."

"Well it was silly of you to act up like that and go and sleep on the couch. I never kicked you out of bed."

"But then, you've never said no before either. I just wasn't prepared for rejection."

"Reece, I wouldn't call being too tired after the day we'd had, rejection. I can't always say yes. Or do you only think of sex when we are in bed together?"

"No! Geezz Mel. Where did that come from? I'm happy just to cuddle you, just sharing the same bed with you is enough for me. I love you, for you, not just sex. The sex is a bonus plus, but sharing your good and bad days with you and everything in between means so much more to me. You are my world Melanie McKinney."

Melanie was overwhelmed by his outpouring of love and felt as guilty as sin that she could not return those feelings, especially now that Cirrus was here. She would have to tell Reece about Cirrus and that she still had feelings for him, which would affect any further relationship her and Reece would have. But how did she tell him and when?

Reece studied her face. Something was going on in her mind and it scared him. It was as though she was looking at him but not really seeing him and he doubted she'd heard a word he had just said. "Mel, are you okay?"

She nodded and walked into the kitchen to put the packets down. Suddenly her appetite was gone. "Reece, come sit. I need to talk to you." She took the bottle of red wine she had been saving for a special occasion out from under the counter and set it down in front of Reece. "Please open this while I get the glasses."

"Ohh no... this is not a good sign." He winked at her, hoping to lift the mood. "If I need a glass of wine to hear what you've got to say." He uncorked the bottle and half-filled the two wine glasses she placed in front of him.

She took a mouthful of wine and swallowed slowly. When she looked up, she could feel his eyes boring holes into her. As she twirled the glass in her hand a heavy sigh crept through her body. "I never told you about my past and you never asked."

"I knew you would tell me if it was something I needed to know. After the court case and meeting your friends from England, I knew there was a lot I didn't know, but didn't feel it was my place to ask."

"Yes, I have a past that has unexpectedly dropped back into my life and left me confused."

"Hun, I am here for you. I will never judge you and I will be a shoulder for you to lean on or cry on if you need to."

"Reece, I really don't deserve you. I'm sure you would be better off with someone who can return your feelings... and doesn't have a hidden past."

He was speechless. What was so awful in her past that she wanted him to find someone else. When he lifted his glass to his lips he noticed how his hand was shaking. He gulped half the contents down and placed the glass carefully back on the coaster. "So, tell me what is so awful about you that I should walk away from the only woman I have ever loved so completely?"

She was about to take another sip of wine but decided against it. She needed a clear head. She stood up from the bar stool and poured her wine into the sink. Turning around she faced Reece and with her hands buried deep into her uniform pockets she clenched her fists so tight she could feel her nails digging into her skin. "I was in a very intense relationship in England with a man much older than me."

"I can't see anything wrong with that."

"Please don't interrupt, let me finish."

Reece nodded and took another gulp of his wine. He could help wondering what she was going to tell him. What secret lay hidden in her past? But he was not prepared for what she said next.

"He practiced BDSM." She waited, allowing him to digest what she'd just said.

He downed the last of his wine and topped up his glass. "Am I to understand ... that you participated?"

"He took me to his club and introduced me to his friends and I learned about his life style. Yes, I did take part in the softer version of BDSM. I wore his collar, but only when we went to the club."

"So... that means you were is Submissive? His property?"

"Well, yes and no. He didn't control my life and I never asked his permission to go anywhere or do anything."

"Were you in love with him? I mean ... really in love with him?"

"Yes, he was my first true love and he asked me to marry him."

"But you didn't marry him." Reece watched her fidget with her finger as if there should be a ring there.

Melanie leant against the kitchen counter. She was uncovering old wounds and it hurt. "No, I couldn't."

"May I ask why?"

"I discovered something about his past which affected me so much I ended it and left England to come here."

"Is there a reason you're telling me all this now? Are you still in love with him?"

Melanie hesitated before answering him. "I'm telling you now, because he's here."

Reece stood up. "What do you mean? He's here in Australia? Have you seen him? When did you see him? Did you know he was coming?" He turned away from her. Walked towards the bed and sat down. "Now it all makes sense. You can't fall in love with me because you still love him and the reason you rejected me last night was because he is back in your life again."

"Will you calm down and let me explain. You weren't supposed to interrupt me till I had finished telling you anyway."

"How do you expect me to react when you drop such a bomb shell on me?"

"Reece, just shut up for a minute please. Let me finish."

"You mean there is more?"

She wanted to scream at him and walk out, but she knew this was the best opportunity she had to tell him Cirrus was in the hospital now. "Yes." She said quietly, inhaling deep breaths to stay calm herself. The very thought of Cirrus being so close made her pulse race. "He is in the hospital now, one of the plane crash casualties."

Reece could not believe what he was hearing. Just when he felt his life was sailing along perfectly, his boat capsized. His heart felt as if it was in a vice like grip and every ounce of blood was being squeezed out of it. He buried his head in his hands. He couldn't look at her because he didn't want to see what was written in her eyes. He didn't want to know that she was still in love with someone she almost married.