His.
This woman, with all her love and compassion and strength, was his to protect, to take care of and to play with.
And she was okay.
Yes, her arm was in a sling, but her shoulder would heal.
“We are going upstairs, and I’m going to remind you that you’re mine.Arm in a sling or not.”
Ella’s smile eased the tension in his shoulders.“Yes, Master!”
He pressed a palm on the small of her back and exhaled as they climbed the stairs.
It was going to be okay.
Nothing could ever come between them.
13 ELLA
Arushofreliefsweptthrough her, bubbling up inside her chest until she almost couldn’t contain it.
She pressed her lips together, fighting the urge to burst into laughter as they climbed the stairs, convincing herself that it was the effect of the pain medication but she knew it was exactly what she needed.
To drag him out of that dark, festering mood by demanding his attention, to feel him focus entirely on her.
Not that she expected him to stop worrying about her—he always did, in that protective, overbearing way—but something had shifted between them.
At the top of the stairs, he took her uninjured arm and guided her to their bedroom, slanting his mouth against hers in a kiss that made her pulse race.
“I didn’t even let you change, did I?”His warm, smooth hand cupped against her cheek.
“No, you didn’t.”Ella pressed her palm to his chest.“You were too busy trying to solve everything or fix me.”
“You’re not broken, dear heart.”He traced her ear, then worked his fingertips into her hair, sending hot shivers tingling down her spine.
“Not even my shoulder, Master.”
“Good.”His hands slid down to her waist, and he pressed her against his hard body, grinding his hips into hers, her heart pounding with anticipation.
“Open your mouth,” he grabbed her chin, holding it firmly.
She gasped as the heat of his touch skimmed along her bottom lip, and the moment she parted her mouth for him, he pressed his finger inside, stroking across her tongue.
The hard, deliberate drag of his thumb sent heat curling low in her belly, a helpless whimper slipping free as he traced lazy, teasing circles over the sensitive tip of her tongue.
“I asked you to do this because I can.Because you obey.Isn’t that right?”he whispered, his voice rough with desire.
She grabbed his forearm with her good hand, needing the contact to steady herself as heat crawled up her neck and spread across her chest, tightening her nipples and making her gasp.
A low moan escaped her as saliva touched her lips as his thumb scraped her tongue, slowly sending ripples of heat through her body as she whimpered under his intense gaze.
The sling made her clumsy, helpless—two things she hated being.
“How are you feeling right now?”He removed his thumb from her mouth, wiping along her jaw.
“I’m okay… the pain meds are kicking in,” the words came out thickly.
“You tell me to stop if it’s too achy.”Zee spun her around so her back was to his front.
