He lowers his head and kisses the tender peaks as blood rushes back, and another wave of sensations makes me whimper.
"You're safe," he whispers, moving his mouth to my neck. "I've got you. Always."
I cling to him, digging my nails into his shoulders and grinding my lower body against his erection. "I love you. I'm sorry."
His voice is firm. "No apologies. This is us. We handle it together."
The afterglow settles, the earlier storm feeling more distant, even manageable. My family, the texts, the disappointment are all still there, but right now, in his arms, I can breathe. For the first time today, I believe he won't leave. Love like this doesn't break. It bends, adapts, and endures, proving everyone wrong.
"You need rest," he claims.
I tilt my head to lock my gaze with his and shift as close as possible. "No, Red. I need you inside me."
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Red
Her words, breathless-raw voice, and desperate hunger, which always unravel me, hit me like a freight train. She's still trembling in my arms, her ass cheeks flushed pink from the paddle, my teeth, and my hand. Her sharply pointed, red nipples continue to swell from the clamps I just released.
Fuck, she's beautiful like this, all broken open, trusting me to piece her back together, her eyes wild with need for more.
I'm sick for getting any enjoyment from this.
How can any man not look at her in this state and not feel aroused?
I ache for her. God, do I ache. My cock strains against my pants, throbbing with the desire to bury myself deep inside her tight heat, to claim her until she forgets every doubt, every whisper of shame planted in her head.
But I won't rush this. Not when she's teetering on the edge, her body still humming from the pain I granted her. It's pain she begged for and I delivered because I love her enough to give her what she needs.
It's a new world for me. I've never physically done anything to cause pain to a woman, whether they were dressed or naked. Yet somethingwithin Blue needs it. So I'd rather administer it than let her take matters into her own hands.
With me, she's safe. Somewhere along the way, I've come to accept there will be times she needs what I've just done to her. Hell, I told myself I didn't know if I'd ever use the toys I bought, but subconsciously, I knew I would.
I cup her face, my thumb tracing her tear-streaked cheek. I try to keep my voice level, even though arousal is building faster inside me. "You think you can handle me right now, Bluebird? After all that?"
Her pupils dilate. Her breath hitches into shorter bouts.
"Yes," she whispers, shifting closer, her naked body pressing against my clothed one. Her hips grind subtly against my thigh, seeking friction. "Please, Red. I need you to consume me. Make me hurt and high at the same time. Make me feel you everywhere."
Dirty little plea.
A jolt surges straight to my dick. I grip her chin, turn it, and force her to hold my gaze. "You want me to fuck you?"
"Yes. Hard." Her lips quiver.
"So hard you feel it for days?" I question.
She takes a choppy inhale of air and closes her eyes. "Please. I-I need it."
I lean into her ear. "Then I'll fuck you, sweetheart. I'll fuck you so hard you'll feel my dick in your chest. But you don't get to call the shots. You beg for it. You take what I give. Understand?"
She nods, her lips parting on a soft moan. "Yes, Dr. Mercer."
"Fuuuuck," I mumble.
"Own me, Dr. Mercer. Please. Declare that you own me and..." She turns to the side and blows out a slow breath of air.
Her words hang there, unfinished, trembling in the air like the last note of a song she's too wrecked to finish. And her little taunt—"Declare that you own me and,"—followed by the deliberate turn of her head with that slow exhale… It's pure Blue. She's begging without begging, daring me to fill in the blank she left wide open because saying the filthy parts out loud still make her cheeks burn even after everything we've done.
