Page 222 of Reign

“Perfect pretty girl,” I murmur.

Her breathing changes.

Praise is one of my favorite ways to get inside her head.

I move around her slowly, letting her feel my attention before I touch her. She follows me with her eyes until I stop behind her.

“You marked curious beside degradation too.”

Her head turns slightly. “We’re doing both?”

“If you still want both.”

She considers it for a moment. “I do.”

I come around to face her again and take her chin between my fingers.

“Tell me what you don’t want to feel.”

She frowns. “What do you mean?”

“What would make degradation not feel good?”

She looks down, thinking.

“If you make me feel stupid,” she says finally. “Or ugly. Worthless.”

I wait.

Her fingers shift behind her back.

“Or unwanted,” she adds quietly.

That one lands differently.

I tip her face back toward mine.

“Then nothing I say in this room will make you feel unwanted.”

She searches my face. “How can you be sure?”

“Because anything I call you will still sound like I want you.” My thumb passes over her lower lip. “Because I do.”

Her breath catches.

“Besides, I prefer words that are true.”

Suspicion enters her eyes. “What words?”

“Greedy.”

Her lips part.

“You wanted me to kiss you,” I continue. “You wanted me in the bathtub. Now you want my bed.”

Her cheeks turn pink. “That isn’t greedy and you offered your bed.”

“You spent half the morning angry because I failed to give you everything you wanted from me.”