“What’s that?”
I have to hand it to her, she somehow manages to appear confused and innocent even when I damn well know she’s one of the most cunning women on this planet.
“You think if you have sex with me, I’m going to tell you something that I haven’t already about what’s happening.”
It’s only there for a second, just a brief flicker of distress across her gaze, but it’s enough to know I’m right.
“Another very good reason not to do this right now, Bishop.”
I shift away, releasing her wrist and trying to put some space between us so I can get a clearer head, but her hand catches the towel and she tugs on it, pulling it free of my waist.
Her gaze zeros in on my very hard cock, the metal piercings glinting under the overhead lights. “It looks like you’re very on board with this idea.”
“Not when you’re hurt. And not when you have an ulterior motive.”
She pushes up onto her knees. “Just because I have an ulterior motive doesn’t mean I don’t desperately want you right now. Two things can be true at the same time.”
I crawl closer to her and pin her back against the headboard. Gently. Ensuring I’m not pressing her anywhere that would make her sore or aggravate any of the bruises on her body.
“You know how much I like playing games, Hellcat. Especially with you. But I’m not going to tell you anything, and I’m not going to risk hurting you.”
The plea in her eyes might as well be a dagger straight to my heart. “It’s going to hurt me if you don’t.”
She says the words so softly that I barely hear them, and I might think they’re just a ploy to get me to cave…
If I couldn’t see the truth in her gaze.
Bishop needs this.
It isn’t just about hoping I’ll slip and give her some information.
She’s feeling out of control again, like everything is happening around her and she’s locked away in some castle tower but still suffering the consequences from it.
Maybe she can’t admit it out loud.
But it’s true nonetheless.
She needs control tonight.
She needs me to give it to her.
And I don’t know that I can deny her anything that might make her feel better, that might give her something to cling to when she’s spiraling.
I take her face in my hand again, holding it firmly. “I’ll tell you what, Hellcat, I will gladly make you come to see if it makes you feel better, but if I think for a goddamn second that it’s hurting you, then we’re done. Agreed?”
She nods eagerly, and I drop my free hand down between her legs, sliding it up under the hem of my T-shirt and into her panties to find her core already starting to slicken.
“Is this from seeing me come out of the shower?”
Her gaze dips to all the ink on my chest. “I love looking at you. You’re a beautiful man.”
I can’t help but grin at her. “That might be the first time anyone’s ever said that to me.”
“Really?”
I nod. “Is that why you’re with me, Hellcat? Because I’m so beautiful?”
Her breath hitches, and I see fear flash across her gaze as she shakes her head. “No.”
