**Chapter 15: Surrender**

As Joe carried Brooklyn up the stairs, she felt like she was floating on a cloud of desire and submission. Her mind was a jumble of emotions, but her body seemed to be responding to Joe's touch with a life of its own. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair as he climbed the stairs with ease. The room around them melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a world of their own creation. Brooklyn felt like she was surrendering to Joe, giving herself over to his desires and whims. It was a scary thought, but it also felt strangely liberating. As they reached the top of the stairs, Joe kicked open the door to his bedroom and strode inside, Brooklyn still wrapped in his arms. He laid her down on the bed, his eyes burning with desire as he looked down at her. "You're beautiful," he whispered, his voice husky with emotion. "I've wanted you from the moment I met you." Brooklyn felt a flush rise to her cheeks as Joe's eyes roamed over her body, taking in every curve and contour. She felt vulnerable, exposed, but also strangely empowered. Joe's hands began to move over her body, tracing patterns on her skin with his fingers. Brooklyn felt a shiver run down her spine as he touched her, his fingers dancing across her skin with a gentle, teasing touch. As he touched her, Brooklyn felt her mind begin to clear. She remembered the argument they'd had downstairs, the emergency contraceptives she'd been about to take. She remembered the sense of panic and fear that had driven her to try and escape. But as she looked up at Joe, she saw something in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat. It was a look of tenderness, of care, of deep and abiding love. Brooklyn felt her heart swell with emotion as she realized that Joe wasn't just taking her to bed, he was taking her into his heart. "Joe," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Shh," he replied, his lips brushing against her ear. "Don't talk. Just feel." Brooklyn closed her eyes, letting Joe's words wash over her. She felt his hands on her body, his lips on her skin, and his heart beating against hers. She felt like she was home, like she was exactly where she was meant to be. As Joe's fingers danced across her skin, Brooklyn felt herself surrendering to him, body and soul. She was his, and she knew it. And in that moment, she was okay with that.