Page 308 of Coal Hearts

I’d always liked talking to her.

But I couldn’t imagine other Masters spoke so freely or allowed their jewels to get so stroppy.

Running my thumb over the leash, I dabbled with the idea of telling her to bend over instead of finishing this conversation.

The longer she spoke, the harder I got.

The more she tried to break me, the hotter I became to break her.

Not raising my eyes, I studied the leather strip.

She wanted my greatest weakness?

Fine.

I had a sneaking suspicion what that was, and if she was half as intelligent as I thought, I was surprised she hadn’t figured it out by now. I all but confessed it in everything I told her.

“It’s not Ward any longer. And it’s not really Mercer. It’s just Henri...while we’re alone. But when we’re in company, I suggest you call me Master H...just to avoid any issues.”

“I hate you,” she hissed almost too low to hear.

I pretended her curse didn’t strike like a stinging arrow in my heart.

Keeping a smile on my lips, I murmured, “And you could just ask, you know. Ask me what my greatest weakness is. I’ll tell you.”

She laughed again. “As if.”

“I would.” I looked up, drinking in her magnificence. The sapphire glow of her blue-black hair, the way her skin gleamed just a little bit darker than mine, how a lone freckle stamped a beauty spot right beneath her right eye. If she one day told me she was a fairy and the inked wand on her back was real, I would probably fucking believe her.

She’d certainly cast a bastard of a spell on me.

For the first time, I wondered if I would’ve been able to resist temptation if I hadn’t been tasked to capture her. If I’d been given any other slave that wasn’t her.

I’d believed I’d stayed firm in my resolve because I’d felt something for her.

I’d tried to do the right thing to save her.

But now...with hindsight screwing me up, I feared the moment I caught the curse of true feelings was the moment I’d fallen.

Given in.

Broken.

Not because I couldn’t stomach the thought of hurting her but because I couldn’t fucking handle never seeing her again.

I stiffened.

Not only had I bought myself a lifetime stay at the greatest sadistic hotel ever built but I’d ensured she would stay right by my side.

Together.

Just like I wanted.

Raking both hands through my hair, I sat a little taller and looked down at her. For all intents, she wasn’t just my slave; she was my wife. Just like I told Q she might’ve become if I’d been normal. And, like any doting husband, I wanted to share every part of myself with her.

“Go on,” I urged. “Ask me.”

She studied me for an age before finally slouching as if I stole all her fire. “Fine. What’s your greatest weakness, oh great Master H?”