Chapter 123
“Then take these off p>
“No p>
My heart pounds harder. I test the cuffs again, twisting my wrists slightly. The metal is smooth but unforgiving. There’s enough slack that my arms aren’t fully stretched, but not enough to sit up or slip from it.
“You can’t just decide to punish me like this,” I say, anger rising now that the initial panic has faded. “I’m not one of your men p>
“I know p>
“Then stop treating me like one!.” I practically shout
He steps even closer, now he’s right beside the bed.
I have to tilt my head back slightly to keep eye contact.
“You walked into danger,” he says quietly. “You think I’m going to let that slide p>
“I almost died yesterday p>
“Yes p>
“And your solution is to restrain me the next morning p>
“My solution,” he corrects, “is to make sure you understand that there are consequences p>
“For caring about my sister p>
“For ignoring my warnings p>
I glare at him.
“You think cuffing me to a bed is going to magically rewire my brain p>
“No p>
“Then what’s the point p>
“The point,” he says evenly, “is control p>
My stomach flips.
“Control over what p>
“Over the part of you that thinks you can outrun the consequences p>
I huff out a breath.
“You’re unbelievable p>
“And you’re reckless p>
I yank at the cuffs again out of pure frustration, the metal bites into my skin harder this time and I wjnce.
He notices and his jaw tightens slightly.
“Stop pulling,” he says.
“Then take them off p>
“No p>
I stare at him.
He holds my gaze without blinking.
“I hate this,” I mutter.
“I know p>
“That doesn’t bother you p>
“It bothers me that you were almost thrown off a bridge more p>
For a second, the anger wavers my throat tightening slightly.
“That was my mistake,” I say quietly.
“Yes it was p>
“I have admitted that p>
“And I’m making sure it doesn’t happen again p>
“You can’t wrap me in bubble wrap p>
“I don’t intend to p>
He reaches forward suddenly.
My breath catches but he doesn’t touch the cuffs. Bis fingers slide lightly down my forearm instead.
“You think I enjoyed getting a call that you almost died?” he asks softly.
I don’t answer
“You think that did nothing to me?
“I’m not a child I can take care of myself,” I say.
“I know p>
“Then stop trying to discipline me like one p>
He studies my face for a long second.
“This isn’t about humiliation,” he says finally. “It’s about you understanding that you did something wrong, some how you haven’t understood that yet p>
“That’s worse p>
He almost smiles at that.
“Good p>
I roll my eyes.
“You’re impossible p>
“And yet you’re wearing a d sleeping in my shirt p>
Heat creeps up my neck.
“That’s not the point p>
“No,” he agrees. “It’s not p>
Silence stretches between us.
The cuffs feel less shocking now, it’s still restrictive and irritating but no longer panic-inducing.
“How long?” I ask finally.
His gaze sharpens slightly.
“That depends p>
“On what p>
“On whether you fight me or work with me p>
I glare at him.
“You’re enjoying this p>
“I’m not p>
“Liar p>
A faint smirk flickers at the corner of his mouth
“You were admiring me a minute ago p>
I feel my face heat again.
“That was before I remembered I was restrained p>
His eyes darken slightly at that.
“And now p>
I swallow.
“Now I’m irritated p>
“Only irritated p>
I look away first.
Because the truth is more complicated and I’m not giving him that satisfaction.
“Take them off,” I say again, but it sounds less angry now.
He leans down slightly, bringing his face closer to mine, his hand slides up to my wrist, fingers brushing the metal cuff.
“You’re going to stay exactly where I put you,” he murmurs.
My heart skips.
“Why p>
“Because you need to sit still for once p>
I tug lightly again, just to prove a point.
He tightens his grip on my wrist immediately
His expression softens…barely.
“This is how I make sure I don’t lose you,” he adds.
I don’t know what to do it the feelings coursing through me so instead, I lift my chin slightly.
“You’re still insane p>
He huffs out a quiet breath that almost sounds like a laugh.
“Probably.” Then he adds atfter a while “you are going to be here for a while and I’m going to teach you a lesson.
“But I p>
I don’t finish before his mouth crashes into mine and steals the rest of the sentence straight out of me.
It isn’t rough at first, it’s slow and sensual. His lips move against mine like he has nowhere else to be, like time itself is bending to him. The hand at my wrist tightens just slightly, reminding me I’m still restrained and still at his mercy.
My breath stutters.
He kisses like he’s mapping me, like he knows exactly how long to linger before pulling back just enough to make me chase him.
Heat starts low in my stomach when his body presses fully against min in a way that makes my pulse trip over itself. I can feel the strength in him without him even trying… the controlled restraint of it.
One of his hands slides down my side. Finger tips tracing the curve of my waist, then lower, skimming over the thin fabric between us.
I suck in a breath as his mouth deepens, tongue sliding against mine in a way that turns the slow burn into something hungrier.
His hand moves again this time more deliberate. Across my hip then over my pussy, through the cotton separating us.
My back arches off the bed before I can stop it. He hums quietly against my mouth like he expected that reaction.
He starts applying pressure over my pussy through my panties, lightly rubbing his fingers over my clit. My body reacts before my pride can catch up, my legs spreading wide instinctively, trying to close around him, trying to draw him closer.
He lets me for a second then his hand slips beneath the waistband of my pants just on the edge of it and my breath catches hard.