“Yes,” I answered shortly, too distracted by how fucking stunning she was beside me, her eyes both amused and sweet.
“Is this what turns you on?” she asked quietly, no doubt seeing my cock harden with every bite I fed her.
“It’s the control,” I murmured. “When a beautiful, powerful woman submits to me. When she lets me care for her, even for a moment, so she can recharge and then fight the next battle? Yeah, Eva, that fucking does it for me.”
“And the obedience.”
“Because you want to please me,” I rasped. “Because I’ve earned your respect. Because you’re smart and loyal andgood, and your submission is a fucking honor. That—” I clenched my fist on my thigh as the words stuck in my throat.
Eva swallowed and looked away. “You’re like an anchor,” she whispered softly, “holding your submissive steady in a storm.”
My heart leapt out of my chest and fell to her feet. I was hers forever.
“Yeah, baby girl. Exactly like that.”
She took a shuddering breath and nodded, and I wondered what she was thinking. Instead of answering, she opened her mouth and waited for me to feed her another piece of fried bar food.
As the movie continued, I scratched her scalp and played with her hair, never letting her go a moment without my attention, gentle soothing movements. I was rewarded with getting to watch the tension seep out of her body until she was dozing.
“Baby girl?”
“Yes, Sir?”
“I’m going to put you to bed, all right?”
She nodded against my leg. I bent down to lift her up, wincing at the twinge in my knee as I stood, but once I had her in my arms, I knew I’d never let her go. I padded down the hallway into the guest bedroom and gently set her down before stepping away.
“Alek?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t want to be alone.”
“You need to get some sleep.”
“Please?”
Fuck. How was I supposed to resist this siren? “We’resleeping.”
“Promise.”
I scooped her up again, and she snuggled right back into my arms. I settled her into my bed then bent down to kiss her on the forehead. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She murmured her agreement then snuggled more deeply into my blankets.
By the time I got back, she was fast asleep.
Tired of resisting her, I pulled her into my arms, arranging her body against mine, her cheek resting against my bicep. I didn’t care how uncomfortable it was going to be in an hour—I had Eva in my arms, and I didn’t intend to let her go.
I didn’t have enough time to get uncomfortable. A few minutes later, my phone rang, startling us both awake.
Cole.
35
COLE
Five minutes later,or maybe hours, I’d lost track, the door opened.
