Page 37 of Kronos’ Consort

She shook her head in disbelief. Where there should have been excited glee at his admission, there was only skepticism. Surely, his words were only a half-truth. He loved the idea of her, the way he’d perhaps once felt about Shelley, but he couldn’t truly be falling in love with her.

A woman like her with all her flaws wasn’t worthy of someone like him.

“By why me, Master?” Her lips were only inches from his. “There’s nothing special about me.”

“Oh, little one.” His hand rose to fist her hair. “How can someone as intelligent as you be so short-sighted?”

The crease in her brow deepened at the accusation. “I’m truly grateful you feel that way, Master,” she started, hoping she could explain the scrambled emotions in her head. “But you can’t be in love with me.”

One of his dark eyebrows arched at her response. “Are you telling me how I am allowed to feel?”

“No.” Her pulse quickened at the warning in his tone. “I mean, not exactly, Master.” She blew out a breath, flustering as she tried to explain. “I just don’t see what someone like me can offer someone like you.”

He chuckled at her analysis. “That is because you do not yet possess the necessary self-worth to realize how wonderful you are.” Cradling the back of her head, his fingers massaged her scalp. “But with time, I will ensure you see just how worthy of my devotion you really are.”

Chapter Eighteen

Kronos

Her eyes fluttered closed as his digits worked at the tension at the back of her head. “But Master, I can’t live up to your standards.”

Kronos shook his head at her negative self-talk. Whether it had been her childhood, the society in which she’d grown up in, or the less-than-inspiring men she’d encountered before he’d found her, he didn’t know, but something had pounded her sense of worth into the ground. Likely, it had been the cumulative effect of all those influences that had conditioned the woman currently squirming on his lap.

Splaying his fingers in her soft tresses, he was more determined than ever to untangle the knots those pressures had formed in her. He endeavored to help every woman he claimed, but in Kristina, he’d found someone he valued for more than only sex and submission. He longed to see her thrive under his tutelage.

“You are delightful,” he told her as her lids flitted open. “The only woman out of all the hundreds I have seized who has captivated me.”

He sensed her alarm at his words, the racing organ in her chest skipping a beat in response.

“Captivated you, Master?” she parroted, her expression morphing from bewildered to alarmed. “But you were the one who captured me.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “But you have enthralled me.”

He intentionally slowed his words, needing her to know he meant every one of them. “And I will spend as much time as it takes to make you believe how incredible you are. Remember, unlike mortal men, I have no other distractions. There is no vocation that will take me from your side, and no other people to pull us apart. When I say I’ll dedicate myself to you, little one, I mean it.”

She swallowed, her eyes large as she spoke again. “I don’t know what to say, Master.”

“Yes, you do.” His hand slid to her jaw again, taking her chin gently between his thumb and finger. “What do you say when I compliment you?”

She met his gaze, and in hers he saw scores of unspoken emotions. He would know her feelings, would demand that she vocalize every one of them, but for the time being, he would accept her gratitude.

“Thank you?” It was more of a question than an expression of appreciation.

“Yes,” he cooed. “Thank me, and know that for you, Kristina, I will do anything.”

A tiny smile grew at her lips. “Thank you, Master.”

That was more like it, but he could hear the emotion laced in her voice.

“I’ll try to be worthy of you.” Tears brimmed in her eyes as she pulled in a shaky breath.

“All you have to do is what you’ve already offered,” he assured her, stroking the underside of her chin. “Stay with me, study me, and choose to submit to me.”

She lifted one hand and dabbed at her eyes. “I can do that, Master.”

“Yes, you can.”

He pressed what should have been a chaste kiss to her mouth, but as their lips collided, the caress took on a life of its own, goading his intent. She mewled at the contact, leaning closer and running her fingers over his forearms as she succumbed.