He didn’t wait for her to change her mind. Her body was already open and wet for him, and he slid in far easier this time. He went slowly, however, conscious of her tenderness.
“You feel like fucking nirvana,” he growled, dropping his head to bite her shoulder.
“Oh my god.” She squirmed beneath him. “Wait. Fuck, I—Oh,fuck—Wait.”
He stopped, lifting his head and frowning in question. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, it’s just …” She pulled again at her bonds. “Can you make them let me go? I don’t like the idea of them watching.”
“Who? My souls?” He chuckled at the thought.
She scowled. “Can you blame me? They’re ghosts. I don’t want them to see us fuck.”
He laughed. “Suyin, I control them. Their screams are in my head because that’s the only place where their free will remains. I see through their eyes and feel through their hands, and they only have the senses that I allow them. They’re an extension of me.”
“They’re still ghosts,” she muttered. “And they’re restraining me.”
“I know.” He smiled wickedly. “I’m enjoying it very much. But if you insist.”
He released the tethers, and she used one of her freed arms to reach up and stroke her fingers through his hair. He tensed but allowed the contact.
“Why don’t you like to be touched?” she asked.
He flexed his hips to remind her he was still inside her. “Ancient memories that I allowed to rule me for long enough that they became a personality trait.”
She moaned as he continued his lazy thrusts, but she seemed determined to get her answers, as was her way. It was one of the things he liked most about her, frustrating as it was at the moment. “What … does that mean?”
He wasn’t in the mood to talk, however. He much preferred to focus on what their bodies were doing. “Does it matter?” he said against her ear, nipping lightly on the edge, moving his hips in a steady rhythm.
“I’ll—” She gasped as he surged a little deeper. “Oh god, that’s so good. I’ll let you use your souls to restrain me if you tell me.”
He lifted his head, stilling his movements, and searched her gaze. She was always negotiating with him, always quick to find a way to use his aims to achieve her own.
She smiled, sensing victory. “Tell me why, and you can go back to using your freaky ghosts instead of chains.”
“Or I could just find some chains,” he supplied.
“But you like the idea of the ghosts more,” she shot back. “It turns you on, doesn’t it?”
“You think you’re so clever,” he growled, thrusting deep, causing her to arch off the bed with a moan. “You think you can manipulate me.”
“I’m just … negotiating—Fuck, Murmur!”
“You’re a clever little witch, aren’t you?”
“Yes, yes … Oh, god—”
He stopped suddenly. “I’ll agree to a compromise.”
She blinked through the haze of pleasure.
“I’ll use my souls to restrain you now and then tell you what you want to know later. I’m not in the mood for talking at present.”
“Fine. But don’t think I’ll forget to ask, because I won’t.”
She looked smug at her victory, so he showed her who was really in charge by binding her wrists and ankles with shadowy tethers and spreading them apart on the mattress.
Her eyes widened and she pulled against the restraints, but she didn’t fight to break free.
