“There’s no need to be sorry.” I stroke his cheek. “The sex was veryrigorous, but…” I shake my head. “I feel great pleasure, when you thrust with so much force inside me.”
“I know.” A satisfied grin paints his face. “The sex was very good for me too.” He slides his thumb between my lips, and I suck on it lightly.
His grin washes away. “My apology wasn’t about that,” he says. “It was for fucking you in front of your lovers. And for doing it in such a crude manner, like you were nothing more than a sheath for my cock.” His thumb slips out of my mouth.
My heart pounds, and I nod, accepting his apology. To be honest, I wouldn’t object to him taking me that way again—even with Saxon and Tynan watching. I quite enjoyed being impaled on his rod while facing away from him—on display for my two lovers, as he held me before him.
“Thank you for apologizing.” I stroke his face. “And I understand why you did it.”
He glances down, then back into my eyes. “Even I don’t understand my actions.” He shakes his head. “Icertainlydid not at the time.” His palm slides over my cheek. “I became a different man. A man who needed to dominate, to show power.” He looks down. “I’m ashamed?—”
“Don’t be ashamed.” I kiss his forehead.
My entire life, I’ve fought for independence from the rule of men who sought to control me. And yet, part of me gets a thrill while being ruled by Zogar. Perhaps because I’m ruling him at the same time. He’s just admitted that his desire for me changes him, makes him lose control, and that makes me feel powerful.
His fingers trail up and down my spine as we look into each other’s eyes. “Thank you, my queen, but Iamashamed. The day we wed, I vowed to treat you as my equal.”
I caress the soft warmth behind one of his ears, loving the reaction I see in his eyes. “We can’t be equals inallthings,” I say softly, “and not always.”
He grins with what looks like admiration in his eyes. “My young queen once again shows her wisdom.”
“I only ask that yourespectme.” I trace a finger down the strong line of his neck. “I only ask that you never treat me as property. And that you’ll always allow me to express my thoughts.”
His hand slides between my thighs, gently stroking the damp and sensitive skin there. “And what are your thoughts right now, my queen?”
I have so many I don’t know where to start. But my rebuilding arousal reminds me of something. “I too felt shame today. Shame and confusion.”
“When?” His finger flicks close to my sex.
My breath shudders. “I felt shame about how I felt in that club.”
“Shame?” His head cocks to the side. “Why?”
“Those women…” I look into his eyes. “They were powerless. Some may have been there unwillingly.”
“There’s nothing you could have done to help them.” His large hand slides over my ribs. His fingers enclose my breast, and his thumb brushes softly back and forth over my nipple.
I struggle to remember what I was planning to say. “That’s not why I felt ashamed.”
“Then, what was it, my queen?” He lightly pinches my nipple.
I shudder and moan. “Their treatment went against everything I want for myself, everything I want for others.”
His fingers release my nipple, and he holds my breast softly, looking into my eyes and giving me a chance to continue.
“Some of the things we saw in there were repulsive, and yet…” I shake my head. “And yet, I became aroused.Veryaroused.”
“I could tell.” His voice is deep and gruff.
I look down.
He tips up my chin, lifting my gaze back to his. “Don’t ever feel ashamed by your feelings, my queen—whether those feelings be emotional or physical.”
My hips pulse against his gentle caresses. “But the way the vampires treated those women?—
His fingers flick over the soft skin at the side of my sex, teasing the short curly hair there.
“There’s no shame in feeling aroused, my young queen.” He stares deeply into my eyes. “Even when you witness sexual acts you might not want for yourself, there’s no shame in imagining how those acts might feel.”
