He had been her first. Her only.
And he was damn well going to be her last.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Aria
She’d never meant to tell him that. After learning about how he’d first met Lottie, the thought of feeding into whatever fetish he might have for virgins had horrified her.
But now, knowing him the way she’d come to know him these past few weeks, it just didn’t make sense. Maybe she didn’t fully believe his intentions had been entirely altruistic, but she also didn’t believe he was some creep with a thing for virgins.
And if he could be honest and put his cards on the table, then didn’t she owe him the same courtesy in return?
Hopefully she wouldn’t come to regret it. But just then, swept up in his arms as he kissed the wits right out of her head, she couldn’t imagine a scenario where she’d ever regret this moment.
“I’m going to strip you,” he murmured against her lips as his fingers tugged the hem of her dress higher and higher up her thighs, over her hips. “And then I’m going to hurt you. Do you want Daddy to hurt you and then kiss it and make it all better, princess?”
Like that first time, her mind waged war with her body. Because her pussy very much wanted him to hurt her. To force her to submit and obey the way he had that night
Her brain needed a little more convincing.
“I want… I want to not have to choose,” she managed to whisper past the tightness in her throat.
“Ah.” A knowing smile curved his lips as his hands moved to her ass, cupping and kneading the soft flesh. “You want to be stripped in every sense of the word, then. That can certainly be arranged. What are your safewords, princess?”
“Yellow to pause or slow down, red to stop entirely.”
“Good girl. And you promise to use them if needed?”
“Yes…” Swallowing hard, she pushed the words she knew he wanted past her lips. Because he wanted them and despite her reservations when they’d first arrived, she wanted to give them to him. “Yes, Daddy.”
Hunger and approval flashed in his eyes. “Good girl. Stay right there, with your dress up over your bottom just like that. If you try to cover yourself, Daddy will have to punish you.”
The temptation to disobey gripped her the second he stepped away. If for no other reason than to see exactly what kind of punishments he might dream up for her.
But the desire to be his good girl, to hear him praise her as he showered her with pain and pleasure, was stronger. So she stayed exactly where she was, straining her ears to listen as he moved around the room. And for once, she didn’t question that desire. Didn’t berate herself for how badly she wanted to submit.
She simply… let herself be.
Her heart lurched in her chest when something soft and silky settled over her eyes and she felt as much as heard him chuckle behind her. “Relax, princess. It’s just me.”
“Right, nothing scary about being locked in a room with a mob boss with an assortment of instruments of torture at his disposal,” she muttered as he tied the blindfold in place, robbing her entirely of her sense of sight.
“You’ve been locked in here with me before,” he reminded her. “And the way I remember it, you thoroughly enjoyed yourself.”
Because it was true, she didn’t bother to argue as he stepped away again, leaving her blind and trembling in the middle of the room. There was something wildly disconcerting about not being able to see him as he moved around her that seemed to heighten all her other senses. She could hear every step he took, despite how softly he walked. Could smell the deep, smoky notes of his cologne when he passed by.
Could feel the air moving around her when he came to stand in front of her again. “My beautiful princess. Do you know what you do to me?”
“No.” Tilting her head back, she let her lips curve. “Why don’t you show me?”
“I will. But first we need to get the rest of these clothes off you.”
Again his hands were on her, slowly inching her dress up higher and higher, baring her body to him. Even blindfolded, she swore she could feel the heat of his gaze on her, taking in the black satin and lace of the matching set she’d chosen to wear beneath her dress. She hadn’t been sure then that they would end up in bed together tonight, but she’d wanted to be prepared.
The sharp intake of his breath told her those preparations had been well worth the effort.
“Fucking hell, Aria.” His voice was low, reverent, a disciple worshiping at the altar of her body. “You are… perfect.”
