Reaching around her, I set the comb down, then rest my palms on the counter, caging her between my body and the sink before us.
“What would you like your safe word to be, Ms. Dalca?” I ask against her ear while holding her gaze in the mirror.
Her heart rate escalates. “Why? Are you going to make me kneel again?”
“Absolutely, yes,” I inform her softly, then kiss her thundering pulse. “I enjoyed your mouth, Viviana.”
“I’m n-not ready,” she stammers, her body tensing against mine.
Which has me frowning once more. “Not ready to provide your safe word? Or not ready to kneel?”
“Both,” she whispers, and her scent changes. “I need some time to recover. Please. I don’t want to suck your cock right now.”
“Hmm.” I kiss her neck, then nuzzle her throat. “Does that mean you would likely use your safe word on me if I attempted to feed you my cock right now?”
“Yes.” There isn’t a hint of hesitation. In fact, it comes out a little defiant. Angry. And her mind helps me understand why.Not that I expect you to acknowledge it or accept it, she’s thinking.
Hmm. My intended mate fully expects me to disregard her desires and fulfill my own instead.
Because that’s what I’ve shown her through my actions.
She seems to be oblivious to the fact that I’ve also been taking care of her—stopping when I knew she couldn’t take any more, healing her with my blood, and helping to groom her just moments ago.
I nod and brush my lips against her temple. Rather than speak, I thread my fingers through hers and pull her with me as we leave the bathroom to head through my bedroom to the sitting area once more.
Her steps are tense, her body even tenser.
Nothing I say will help ease her from this mental torment, so I decide to demonstrate intent through action.
Without speaking, I turn and grab her hips, then lift her to sit in my favorite chair.
Leaving her, I go to the bar to pour two glasses of red wine. However, as I return, I realize I should have asked her for a preference. So I set them down on the end table, then look at her. “Do you like wine?”
She glances at me and then at the crimson liquid. “I… I would prefer not to drink alcohol right now.”
I crouch down so that we’re at eye level with one another. “Tell me what you would prefer, please.”
She studies me. “Is this where you instruct me to unzip your pants and drink from your cock?”
“Only if that’s what you desire to imbibe,” I say, striving for patience. “But you just told me you’re not interested in sucking my cock at the moment. So what would you like, Ms Dalca?”
Her gaze runs over me. “You’re confusing me.”
“It’s not intentional.”
“I’ve gathered that.” She tucks her knees up and wraps her arms around them. “Can I be honest?”
“I would prefer that, yes,” I tell her.
“Then I would really love a cup of coffee right now. Or a jug of it.”
My eyebrow lifts. “A jug of coffee?”
“A pot,” she corrects. “Or… or a really large cup. With hazelnut cream.”
I stare at her for a beat, then straighten and go to call Radu again. He hesitates a little on the hazelnut part but says he’ll make it happen. I trust him to handle it, grab a bottle of water from my bar fridge, and take it over to Viviana.
Her eyes are wide when I take over the chair beside her. “I’ve shocked you.” It’s not a question but a statement; I can hear the startled alarm in her mind. “I’m not cruel, Ms. Dalca. If you need something, voice it, and I will do what I can to appease you.”
