“And…” She twists her lips. “Whatever happened that night had to do with what the two of you had been up to.”
“Getting closer.” Sneaking an arm around her back, I press my palm between her shoulder blades as I guide her down. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
Her elbows bend as she lets me lower her back onto the pedestal. At that quiet show of trust, unexpected warmth curls around my heart, tugging tight.
Slowly, inch by inch, the surface meets her back, until she’s fully supported beneath my palm.
Once she’s settled, I slide my hand out from under her. I hold her hands, reveling in the tremors raking through her body.
You’re stalling again.
“Something did happen that night.” I catch both her wrists in one grip. The bangles are cool and solid against my fingers. “I’m going to tell you what.”
“Please.” It’s impossible to miss the hunger flashing in her eyes, despite the difficult conversation. My touch makes her nipples pull into little tempting peeks. Her pupils are blown. “But first, you need to forgive me.”
“No, Elowyn.” I hover over her, leaving my girl nowhere to look but up at me. “I’ll be the one begging for your forgiveness first.”
Both of us are breathing hard as I guide her hands up and over her head.
She gulps, her throat working. “I already forgave you.”
“You can’t forgive me for something you don’t fully know. And that’s on me. I’m the reason you don’t have the whole picture. You were right to demand a conversation.” A quiet, humorless laugh slips out. “We can’t just move on without it, no matter how much it’s going to hurt to dig up the past.”
“What did you do?”
I would answer, but the way she licks her lips. She has no idea what she does to me, how she turns me into a beast.
Bending down, I suck her bottom lip into my mouth. Biting her until her sweet cry bounces off the walls of the gallery.
I’m taking what’s mine, kissing, grinding, moaning at the feel of her. She’s so soft and responsive, her pussy wetting the front of my jeans. My cock jerks, fucking hurts, as it tries to get to her.
“Tell me,” she mumbles as my tongue swipes at her blood, my hips ramming her into the pedestal. Notstop. Notyou’re being too rough.“You have to. Please.”
“I will, but you need to know this.” Though it’s torture, I manage to slow down so I don’t snap before we’re done talking. “After today, you won’t look at me the same way. You might hate me.”
“The only reason I’m going to hate you is if you keep treating me likethat.” She sucks in a breath. “Like I’m looking for a reason to leave. I’m not.”
“You don’t understand.” When she opens her mouth, I slam a hand over her parted lips. “This isn’t some misunderstanding. This isn’t your brother being a manipulative dick. It goes way deeper than that.”
Her eyebrows lower as she listens.
“I’ll explain, but first, wait for me. Right here, okay?”
Confusion flashes in her eyes, there and gone.
She blinks once, mumbling what sounds likeyes.
“Good girl,” I praise, letting go of her mouth.
When I release her wrists, the bangles clink, but not because she moves her arms.
What I see when I look up is submission.
A mild tremor travels through her arms with the effort to press them even tighter together.
The discipline in that simple act is so hot that precum wets my boxers. A violent current simmers beneath every inch of my skin.
“That’s it, keep them there.” My tone is deceptively calm. It’s clear just how not-calm I am as soon as I pull the ribbon out ofmy pocket. The fabric crumples in my clenched fist, my knuckles turning white. “My little prisoner.”
