“You may not love me, Charlotte,” he murmurs, thumb brushing my jaw, “butfuck, I love you. Being away from you? I never missed such a small, annoying thing so much. Seeing you in that prison? Goddamn killed me. Because I couldn’t touch you. Couldn’t have you. And then you spoke those filthy words. Couldn’t discipline you, either. Pure torture.”
My eyebrows pitch, lips parting in disbelief. He wasn’t unhappy to see me? He missed me!
But I’m so confused and simply plead with him. “This isn’t right. This isn’t you.”
A flicker of genuine curiosity crosses his face.
“You think I’ve gone too far, huh?”
I nod, my voice small. “Grayson... please. Don’t do this. How could any woman love a man who chains them to a wall?”
He smirks, eyes glinting. “I’m not asking for love anymore.”
He leans closer, the familiarity of him creating a hurricane of desireandfear. Slowly, he drags the remote down my chest.
“I don’t need your heart. I don’t even need your trust. I just need you. Here. In my bed. In my grasp. Always.”
He tips his head toward the corner. “Fridge. Bathroom. Bed. TV. Everything my dumb little pet needs.”
Then, his gaze dips to my thighs. I freeze, breath hitching the moment his fingertips graze the cotton of my shorts, just over my slit.
“And if there’s something else you want... beg. I’ll give it to you. Or take it for myself. Either way, I know you’ll be drenched for my cock.”
I shake my head, fast, small.
He grins wickedly, then stifles a laugh. Lightly, he pinches my sensitive bud of nerves through the fabric. “How long will it take before your panties are soaked? Your pussy fucking loves me. Don’t deny it.”
I shudder and look away, whimpering from my body’s betrayal.
Because I am aching for him. Despite my shorts as a barrier, the second his hand met my pussy, I clenched, wanting more. Wanting him.
Grayson just does it for me. Everything about him. That voice, his touch, and now that cocky, psychotic smile.
But he interrupts my shameful thoughts.
“And if you disobey?” He clicks the device. Pain flares at my neck, stealing my breath. “I’ll make you squeal for all the wrong reasons.”
I stare up at him, chin trembling, tears streaking down my face. This doesn’t make sense, though. Imprisoning me is crazy.
I shake my head, confused. Even though this situation changes everything, I try to reason with him, if nothing else but to escape.
“Grayson, we could go back to my house... live the way we were. Me as your girlfriend. Why chain me up?”
He laughs, dark and sinful. Then, he leans closer, his face just inches from mine, causing me to recoil instinctively.
“That’s cute, baby.Pretending you still want me. The sadist you flinch from. The man who’d do anything for you, but still, not enough for you to really love me.”
His thumb brushes my wet cheek, slow and tender. But his voice cuts like a blade.
“That’s fine. All women are disappointments, not just my mother.”
He leans closer still, lips grazing my ear, causing the heat of desire to race to my hips. Yet, the ping of terror swells in my chest, sending my heart into overdrive.
I sense his hunger, too. The way he’s looking at me. A predator restraining himself. Dying to pounce on his helpless prey.
But he only exhales, the closeness making him shudder. “But you? You dumb, precious girl. You’re my favorite disappointment. Mine to keep. To take care of. To train.”
I’m speechless and torn.
