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I let her, despite the urge to throw her down on the bed and fuck her hard and fast. But this was too important.

“Tell me something…” I paused as I trailed a hand up her arm and wound it around the back of her neck. “Do you want to learn or not? It’s really a simple question.”

I massaged the tense muscles. She shivered, and her eyes met mine. I threaded my fingers through her hair.

“Answer me, please,” I commanded.

Need pulsed through me, loud as a heartbeat. My senses burned with awareness.

“Bella, you know the rules, always have.” I paused, choosing my words carefully. “You’re the most intelligent woman I know, so please don’t make it seem like how I operate is a surprise to you. We’ve put this off long enough.”

A profound silence followed, and by the way her face softened, I knew she was actually processing what I’d said. She was thinking, and this time it wasn’t about how to get out of the conversation. She was considering it. And that was all the opening I needed.

I reflected on our first night together. How she was cheeky, playful and downright naughty. Brats were typically mouthy, often misbehaved, and mine was all that and more.

“I know what you’re thinking and—”

“I doubt that very seriously,” she retorted.

I raised an eyebrow and adjusted my stance. Her body practically vibrated as she shifted her gaze down my chest, and further past to where my cock throbbed painfully.

“If it makes it easier, I’ll excuse the bratty behavior and let you start out on a clean slate.”

“Who says I want a clean slate? Maybe I like a dirty slate. Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do? Maybe I should find another lover.”

“That won’t work on me. I’m not the Reaper.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that, you can’t provoke me to anger to get your way like your bratty little friend Kinsley does. You could take some lessons from Tori though.”

“Ha. What makes you think I haven’t?”

“If you had, princess, you’d be kneeling for me. You want me to teach you. I’m trying.”

“Well…maybe…you need more work at it. Yeah, I’ll tell my brother—”

I erupted in laughter. “Really? Will you, now? I’d love to be a fly on the wall when that goes down. What proof are you going to give.”

“I’ll just tell him you…you—”

“I, what?”

“Suck at it.”

“Sucking, or the lack there of, is kind of what’s gotten us here isn’t it? Isabella, you do realize patience is one of my strongest suits, right along with communication.”

“Well, I still think you need a lot of work. And that,” she paused and looked lovingly at my cock, “looks awfully painful,” she murmured, a hint of longing slipping through.

I followed her gaze and flicked my eyes downward. I gripped my shaft, slowly stroking myself, and the relief was instantaneous. She let out a soft sound, a cross between her breath leaving her throat and a whine.

Then came my name and a desperate plea. It was a beautiful sound. The sound of her stepping into this of her own volition.

“What was that?”

“Please, Lev,” she repeated. “I won’t pretend.”

“Good girl. Please confirm it with me. Are we on the same page?”