He leans forward and pushes a glass of water towards me. “Drink.” The sheer amount of words he’snotusing has my nerves on high alert, but I do as he says and I drink the entire glass of water.
We sit in uncomfortable silence for what feels like forever, before I beg, “Please say something.”
“Tell me again how sorry you are, but do it from your knees.” His face is expressionless and I can’t help but worry that I’ve jeopardized everything.
I lift off the blanket and notice I’m still in my underwear, and I feel a chill across my skin, causing goosebumps to erupt all over. I stand and then lower myself to my knees between his legs. “I’m sorry, Sir,” I plead, trying to find the right words. “I got carried away. We were just messing around. I didn’t mean–. It won’t happen again.”
His eyes are laser focused on mine and the shame hits me like a tidal wave, causing me to drop my gaze and aim it at the floor instead.
His hand grasps my chin and he tips my face upward and orders, “You’ll look at me for this.”
Another agonizingly long pause before he continues.
“I want you to have fun and enjoy yourself, which you obviously were, but alcohol will no longer be involved. Do you understand me?”
I nod in acknowledgment and give him the words I know he’s looking for, “I understand, Sir.”
“You’ve been in more than one unsafe situation recently, and alcohol was involved both times. That ends now. I will not allow you to jeopardize what belongs to me and that includesyoufor the duration of our arrangement.” It’s not lost on me that he stipulated his claim on me, indicating an end date. A pain hits my belly at the reminder, but I shouldn’t be surprised. Nothing lasts forever.
“I’m disappointed Arabella,” he continues and that word sends a sharp pain right through my heart as he stands. “I should punish you, but I’m not in the habit of punishing someone who’s under the influence. So you will drink more water, you will eat something and you will get some sleep. If anything like this happens again, I won’t be pleased.”
His matter of fact tone brokers no room for argument, as he reaches out his hand to help me stand. And then he does something I could have never seen coming. He pulls me into his arms and embraces me tightly, like he never wants to let me go. Part of me doesn’t want him to, because I’ve never felt as safe in my life as I do in this man’s arms.
28
Ryker
Iwatched her crumple as the shame hit her. She could hardly look me in the eye, especially when I told her I was disappointed. My heart broke a little at the sight. Realistically, she wasn’t in any real danger at Wrinley’s, and I probably overreacted. Slightly. But something else took over, as soon as I realized she was drinking and I had to go to her. I didn’t think through it enough to stop and process the reality of the situation. I handled it poorly and I feel like shit for it.
I’ll make it up to her. Soon.
For now, I’ll make sure she drinks, eats and rests. And apparently I’ll also hold her. I couldn’t help but pull her into my arms, partially to comfort her and partially for the selfish reason of feeling her body pressed against mine. I know someday she’ll move on from thisthingwe have, but part of me wishes she’d stay. When I feel her tears hit my shirt, creating a wet spot where they land, I squeeze her a little tighter.
“Shhhh,” I soothe. “I’ve got you, sweet girl. Let’s get you some food and get you to bed.”
My sleep that night is restless at best and by very early morning, I can’t take it anymore. I slide out of bed, shower, get in a run and then shower again. My mind is consumed with her and I don’t know how to fix it. Every day it feels like we fall farther into a hole we can’t get out of, because I’m growing more and more attached by the minute.
I step out of the shower and hook the towel around my waist when I hear a light rap at my door.
“Come in.” I know who it is. She’s the only other person here.
“Oh!” she exclaims. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you weren’t dressed.”
I turn to face her from the closet and see she’salsoinjusta towel. My mouth gapes at the sight, because all my eyes can see right now is the deep cleavage between firm tits, pressed together under the towel. The towel that is barely covering her and makes me want to send a thank you letter to the designer for making it just a touch too small. I bet if I reached forward and plucked my finger right at the seam, it would fall to the ground and leave her bare to me. Fuck if my dick isn’t weeping at that thought.Fuck. Reign it in, Ryker. Pick up your dick.
“It’s okay. I’m covered and we’re both adults, aren’t we?” I catch her eyes scanning my body and landing on my cock, causing it to jump at the attention she’s giving it. It’s been far too long since I’ve been laid because, unlike Hayes, I don’t have casual sex. I don’t have casual anything.
“Yeah, you’re right.” She steps forward. “I was just going to shower and I’m already out of shampoo. I thought there was more in the bottle when I grabbed it. Can I borrow yours?”
I can tell she’s nervous. She's trying not to look at me. Now I’m curious and want to dig for a cause, but I won’t. Instead, I walk to my en suite bathroom and reach under the counter to grab what I’m looking for.
“Here, I ordered extras for you after we grabbed your stuff. I intended to put it in your bathroom but never got to it.” What I don’t tell her, is that I got it because it smells like her. Because apparently, I’m addicted to the smell of peonies. I’m still not sure I know what I peony is, but I know I’m a fucking junkie for it now.
Her cheeks stain red and her eyes well up with tears. Shit. She’s about to cry again. “Th–thanks, I appreciate it,” she manages to whisper. “I don’t know what it is, but I love the smell of peonies. They’ve become my favorite flower.” Yeah. Same.
“No problem. I want you to have things you’re used to here. If there’s anything else you want or need, or if you want something different, just get me a list and I’ll make sure you get it,” I insist.
“Thank you again. It means a lot.”
