Page 134 of Reign

“Green,” I say.

He nods once. “And?”

I breathe in. “My knees are comfortable. My hands feel exposed behind me. Your eyes make me nervous.”

“Do you want me to look away?”

The question catches me.

I could say yes and he would look away.

I know that now.

“No.”

“Why?”

I wet my lips. “Because I like that you’re looking.”

Warmth enters his gaze, unmistakable despite his restraint.

“Anything else?”

“I feel ridiculous.”

“Do you want to stop?”

“No.”

“Then ridiculous isn’t a limit,” he murmurs. “Though I do like the way it looks on you.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

Luciano notices. His smile deepens.

“You good, princesa?”

I hold his gaze. “I’m fine. This is fine.”

Chapter 23

Luciano

This is not fine.

Elena is on her knees in front of me, and I want to keep her.

The realization arrives with startling clarity.

Women have knelt for me before. Experienced submissives who understood the position, the expectations, and exactly what they were offering. I’ve looked down at all of them without once wondering what it would take to make the sight permanent.

Elena has been kneeling for less than five minutes, and I’m already reconsidering every name that could appear on her list.

Agreeing to make the fucking thing was the mistake.

She looks up at me with her chin lifted, her hands held behind her back, and nervous curiosity bright in her eyes. She’s still Elena—still stubborn, still prepared to argue the moment I give her an opening—but she gave me this position willingly.

She chose to kneel for me.