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Chapter one

Ash McIntyre stood on the concrete ay of Bryant Park, hands stuffed into his slacks pockets as he breathed in the spring air There was still a nip in the wind, carrying with it hints of winter fading to spring Around him, people sat on benches and in chairs at the small tables where they drank coffee, worked on laptops or were listening to iPods

It was an absolutely gorgeous day, not that he usually indulged in things like a walk in the park or even being in a park, especially during business hours when he was usually entrenched in his office, on the phone or typing e plans to travel He wasn’t a “stop and sey, he had a lot on histhat he’d planned to end up in the park

Mia and Gabe’s wedding was a few short days away, and his business partner was up to his eyeballs in wedding preparations as he sought to ensure Mia had the wedding of her dreams And Jace? His other best friend and business partner was in a very permanent relationship with his fiancée, Bethany, which meant that his two friends were otherwise occupied

When they weren’t working, they ith their women, and it meant that Ash didn’t see theether outside of work They were still close, and Gabe and Jace ensured they’d stayed solid, including hi lives But it wasn’t the saood for his friends, Ash still hadn’t quite come to terms with how rapidly all their lives had altered over the last eight months

It eird and life-changing, even though it wasn’t his life being impacted It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy for his friends They were happy Thatof their friendship, he was on the outside looking in

His friends would vehemently dispute that They were his family Much more so than his own batshit crazy fa Gabe, Mia, Jace and Bethany, but especially Gabe and Jace, would deny that Ash was on the periphery now They were his brothers in all the ways that counted More than blood Their bond was unbreakable But it had changed So in fact he was on the periphery Still a part, but in a much different, smaller way

For years theirin a relationship changed a ot that He understood it He’d think less of Gabe and Jace if their women weren’t their priority But it left Ash out of the loop The third wheel And it wasn’t a comfortable place to be

It was especially hard because, until Bethany, Ash and Jace had shared most of their women More often than not, they fucked the same women It sounded asinine that Ash wouldn’t kno to function outside a threesome relationship, but there it was

He was restless and edgy, in search of so, he had no idea what It wasn’t that he wanted what Gabe and Jace had—or e it He just kneasn’t himself, and he didn’t like that fact

He was focused Knew exactly what he wanted at all times and had the wealth and power to e of woive Ash what he needed or wanted But as the point when he himself had no clue what it was he wanted or needed at present?

He scanned the park, taking in the baby strollers being pushed by mothers and nannies He tried to picture hiht He was thirty-eight, almost thirty-nine, a time whenBut he’d spent all of his twenties and a good chunk of his thirties busting his ass with his partners tohis family’s money, their connections, and especially without their help

Maybe that hy they hated him so much now Because he’d thumbed his nose at theest sin he’d co more of a success of himself without them He had randfather For that matter, what had the rest of his farandfather had sold his successful business when Ash was still a boy None of his family had worked a day in their lives

He shook his head Fucking leeches, the lot of them He didn’t need them Damn sure didn’t want therandfather—he sure as hell wasn’t going to allow the his star

He turned to go because he had shit to do that didn’t include standing around in a da like he was in need of a shrink He had to get his act together and start focusing on the one thing that hadn’t changed Business HCM Global Resorts had projects in various stages of work The Paris hotel was a done deal after their having to work fast to replace investors that had backed out Things werewell This wasn’t the time for hiive work the time they had in the past Ash was the only one not distracted by his personal life, so he had to step up Take so a life outside of work

As he started to stride back in the direction he’d co alone at one of the tables outside of the priaze settleblond hair that drifted just so with the breeze, revealing a startlingly beautiful face with striking eyes that he could see even from the distance at which he stood

She earing a funky long skirt that swirled with the wind, baring the long expanse of one leg Blingy flip-flops adorned her feet and he could see the bright pink polish on her toes and a toe ring that sparkled when she ht on a silvery ankle bracelet, drawing even

She was busy sketching, her brow furrowed in concentration as her pencil flew over the page, and beside her was a huge bag stuffed full, with rolled-up papers extending from the top

But what ht his attention was the choker she wore around her neck It didn’t fit her He ht around her neck, resting just at the hollow of her delicate throat But it didn’t fit her It didn’t reflect her at all

It was gaudy on her A diamond choker, obviously expensive and probably not fake, but it didn’t go with the rest of her It stood out, out of place His curiosity was piqued because when he saw a piece of jewelry like that on a wo far different than it did to most people and he was seized with interest to know if it was indeed a collar, or if it was just an ornament, chosen by her And if it was a collar, the man who’d chosen it for her had done a piss-poor job The man didn’t know her, or maybe he didn’t care to ensure that such an important adornment suited the woman he called his own

If Ash couldher, then how the hell could thelove to her not see the same? Maybe the collar was ant and idiotic A collar should represent his care of his submissive, how in touch with her he was, and it should fit the wo it

He wasa hell of a lot of assumptions It could just be a simple necklace the woman had chosen herself But to amore than just an accessory

How long he stood watching her, he didn’t know, but, as if sensing his gaze, hers lifted tolike panic entered her expression Then she hastily sla She half rose, still stuffing things into that huge bag, and he realized she was leaving

Before he was even aware of it, he hurried forward, intrigued Adrenaline rushed through his veins The hunt Discovery Challenge Interest He wanted to knoho this woman was, and what that collar she wore meant

And even as he strode toward her, he knew that if it didon another ive one fuck

Poaching another dominant’s submissive was one of those unwritten no-nos, but then Ash had never been one for rules At least the ones he hi And perhaps exactly what he was looking for Hoould he know unless he got to her before she bailed?

He was nearly to her when she whirled around, bag in hand, obviously preparing to walk away, and she nearly bu her space, and he’d be lucky if she didn’t scream the park down He probably looked like some stalker about to attack

He heard her quick intake of breath as she took a step back, banging the bag into the chair she’d vacated The bag tipped over, corip, and the contents spilled, pencils, brushes and papers flying everywhere