18
Julian
I wakeup the next morning to the familiar feel of Nora sprawled on top of me.As usual, she’s sleeping with her head pillowed on my chest and one of her slim legs draped across my thighs.I can feel the soft, plump weight of her breasts against my side, hear her even breathing, and my cock stiffens as recollections of last night invade my mind in graphic detail.
I don’t know why I occasionally feel this urge to torment her, to hear her beg and plead.Why the sight of her bound to my bed gives me such satisfaction.When we were driving from her parents last night, I planned to take her gently and have her go to sleep, but when I saw her standing next to that four-poster bed, my good intentions went up in smoke.Something about the way she had been looking at me sharpened the dangerous hunger inside, bringing the darkness to the surface.What I wanted to do to her only began with ropes, and if I hadn’t made myself walk out of the room after tying her up, I would’ve broken the vow I made to myself the night I hurt her.
The vow to keep violence out of our bedroom for the next few months.
Thankfully, leaving her for a bit and taking a cold shower in one of the guest rooms seemed to do the trick, taking the edge off the craving.When I came back, I was more in control, able to settle for torturing her with pleasure instead of pain.
A change in Nora’s breathing brings my attention back to her.She shifts on top of me, making a soft noise, and rubs her cheek against my chest.“You didn’t get up yet,” she murmurs sleepily, and I smile, a peculiar sense of wellbeing spreading through me at the pleased note in her voice.
“No, not yet,” I confirm, stroking her smooth, naked back.“I will in a few moments, though.”
“Do you have to?”Her words are muffled.“You make a nice pillow.”
“I’m glad I can be of use.”
At my dry tone, she moves her head, looking up at me through her long, dark lashes.“Does it bother you?That I sleep on top of you like this?”
“No.”I grin at her question.“Do you think I’d let you if it did?”
She blinks.“No.Of course you wouldn’t.”Moving off me, she sits up, pulling the blanket up around her.“We should probably get up.I wanted to go for a run before breakfast.”
I sit up too.“A run?”
“Yes.It’s safe here, isn’t it?”
“Not as safe as at the compound.”The idea of her running out there makes me uneasy, even with all the security measures and no obvious threat in sight.If anything were to happen to her…
“Julian, please.”Nora begins to look upset.“I’m just going to run here, in Palos Park.I won’t go far, but I can’t stay cooped up in this house for two weeks—”
“I’ll go with you.”I get up and walk over to the closet to find a pair of running shorts.“Get dressed.We should hurry.I’m guessing Rosa is already preparing breakfast.”
We startthe run with an easy jog to warm up.It’s a brisk sixty degrees out, but moving keeps me from feeling the chill, even though I’m not wearing a shirt.I debate having Nora put on more layers, but she looks comfortable in her cropped leggings and a T-shirt, so I decide to let it slide.
As we exit our driveway and turn onto the street, I keep a careful eye on neighbors’ cars pulling out of their garages and people stepping out for their own morning run.Being around so many strangers makes me uneasy.My men are strategically positioned all around the community, so I know we’re safe, but I can’t help watching for signs of danger.
“You know nobody’s going to jump at us from the bushes, right?”Nora says, obviously noticing my preoccupation with our surroundings.“It’s not that kind of neighborhood.”
I glance at her.“I know.I vetted it.”
She smiles and picks up speed.“Of course you did.”
I match her pace, and we run at a fast clip for the next several blocks.A light sheen of perspiration appears on Nora’s face, making her golden skin glow, and I find myself increasingly distracted by the sight of her.She always looks sexy when she runs, her petite body athletic and feminine at the same time.The tight, round muscles of her ass bunch and flex with every step she takes, and I can’t help picturing my hands squeezing those globes as I slam my cock into her.
Fuck.At this rate, I’m going to need another cold shower.
“What are you doing after breakfast?”Nora asks breathlessly as we pass a jogging couple.“Do you have some work to do?”
“I have that meeting with my portfolio manager in the city,” I reply, trying to control the urge to turn and glare at the male jogger.The fucker eyed Nora a bit too appreciatively when we ran past him.“I’ll be back before dinner.”
“Oh, that’s good.”She’s beginning to pant as she speaks.“I want to get a haircut today, and maybe meet with Leah and Jennie.”
“What?”I turn my head to stare at her as we round the corner.“Where exactly are you planning to do these things?”
“At the Chicago Ridge Mall.I messaged Leah and Jennie last week, letting them know I’d be in town, and they said they were going to come in today and stay for the long Memorial Day weekend.”She says it all in one long breath, then gulps in more air and gives me an imploring look.“You don’t mind if I see them, right?I haven’t seen Jennie in two years, and Leah—” She abruptly falls silent, and I know it’s because she was going to say she saw Leah the last time she was in that cursed mall, when Peter let her act as bait for Al-Quadar.My pet doesn’t realize I already know about that meeting—and about Jake’s presence that day.
