I’m surprised you didn’t cuff me to the bed to keep me from escaping you
This time, hedoeslaugh a little out loud. “I know, right? Gotta say, the thought did cross my mind more than once. But I never wanted to frighten you, Haven. Don’t you get that. If I did… it was never my intention. I always wanted you to be able to trust me.” He shakes his hand, jiggling the cuff. “And that’s why I’m like this.”
With a skeptical look at him—his face, not his body, no, Haven,don’t look lower—I write one more word:
Naked?
“Yup.”
I wait for a further explanation.
His deep blue eyes turn almost black, that’s how heavy-lidded his gaze becomes as he stares over at me. “You saw me, Haven. Youwatchedme. And you liked it. I never meant… shit. I know you liked it. And it hit me. I always thought you were attracted to me. In spite of yourself, I’m sure,” he adds after I start to sputter, “but if there were even a hint of something there… fuck me if I’m not above fanning it into flames.
“But I promised I would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to. I stand by that, sweetheart. So this… I know what you want.”
Hiding how close he’s come to the truth, I point at his erection, then snort.
He chuckles. “Okay. Maybe I was a little hopeful… but that’s not what I meant. What you want more than anything? It’s control.”
I blink.
“Yeah. I know. But that’s it. You’ve had so much taken from you that you need to be the one to take next. I can do that for you. You crave control, sweetheart? Well, I fucking craveyou, so go ahead and do your best.”
It’s a dare. I hear it in his tone, see it written on his face. He’s daring me to… what?
I cock my head, curious even though I shouldn’t be.
Even though he’s cuffed to the headboard, he can still crook his finger at me. “Come here, darling Haven. Touch me. Use me. I’m yours. I’ve always been yours. Get comfortable with me. Do whatever you want and me… I’ll just sit here and let you. You have my complete permission to make me yours however you want to. You want to kiss me?Please. You want to touch my dick? I’m fuckingbeggingbaby. And if you just want to have me at your mercy… God, I love that, too. Whatever you want? Do it.”
Do it.
It’s a command and a plea at the same time. And yet, with Connor giving me complete control… how can I refuse?
I can’t.
Before I can think better of what I’m doing, I slowly climb next to him onto the bed. He stops breathing for a second, as though afraid to frighten me off. He sucks in a breath, and I lay my hand on his side in time for him to exhale roughly.
The warmth of skin is almost scalding, but that’s not the worst part.
Oh, no.
The worst part? Is how I instantly know that one touch… it won’t be enough.
It’ll never be enough until I have complete control over this man—and as my fingers trail a path up to his chest, fingers scratching lightly at his nipple all while his body goes tight just to have me touching him… I can’t imagine it’s going to take much until Ido.
TWENTY-THREE
CLAIM
CONNOR
Explaining to my wife that I’m basically hers to do whatever she wants with whenever she wants? I’m fuckingbrilliant.
What’s not so brilliant? Comparing every touch she gives me, every heated look, every careful caress to what she might’ve done with another man.
I don’t mean those fuckers who hurt her. I told her that didn’t count, and I stand by that. However, if there’s one bogeyman I’ve never been able to get over, it’s Jason Michaels.
The summer before senior year, Haven had a fling with an out-of-towner. It didn’t get far. Jack wouldn’t let it, and I sure as hell didn’t. I got rid of him before he could potentially ruin Haven. Not that it would’ve mattered to me if she lost her Offering status. Unlike Adrian, I’d throw the entire fucking Order away if only I could have Haven. But I wanted to be the only man she was with, and while I scared the shit out of Michaels to get him to dump her and go, my only regret is that I didn’t know easy it was to slit a throat back then.
