Page 99 of Under His Control

He rubs one hand over the back of the other in consideration until his expression turns sour. Then he leans back in his seat and makes a dismissive gesture.

“Her debt’s been paid. My business with her is done.”

* * *

“How did it go?”

Penelope gives me an anxious look as I pull the car door shut.

“It’s over.” I hand her the folded contract Cedric signed. “Proof he won’t harass you anymore.”

She unfolds the contract with shaking hands and stares at it for a moment. She covers her mouth, blinking rapidly, then turns and flings her arms around my neck.

It’s harder to breathe as she practically chokes me with her fierce hug. I don’t care. I wrap my arms around her, silently cursing the armrest between us.

“Thank you,” she murmurs against my neck, her warm breath tickling my skin. Below my hips react to it too.

“You’re—”

Penelope pulls back, cups my face, and cuts me off with a kiss. I hold her tighter and return it, pleasantly surprised when she’s the one who deepens the kiss.

She swirls her tongue with mine as she slips her hand up my neck and into my hair. I groan into her mouth, sliding my hands up and down her back, then lower still to squeeze her hip and ass.

We’re making out while I’m parked on a busy street and my cock is already hard. Fuck, I really want her. Can we get away with more than kissing in public?

A car horn startles us out of our lust-filled trance. We pull back, still holding on to each other. I grab one of her hands and kiss her fingers.

“I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Penny. For the shitty things I said. For humiliating you out of revenge. For holding on to a grudge for too fucking long. Will you forgive me?”

“Do you forgive me?”

“I do.”

She smiles. “Well, I’m sorry to say that my forgiveness comes with a price, Jake.”

“What’s the price?”

“Six kisses.”

I let out a short chuckle. “Oh, tit for tat, huh? Do you want them on your feet?”

“You can work your way up from there to the right location.”

“I’m more than happy to do that.”

As I stare into her eyes, my heart pounds faster at the hope shining in them. Realization is a sudden smack upside the head.

I’m a dumbass who almost made another regrettable mistake.

While I was convinced Penelope would rather return to her life, and that it would be better for her if she did, she’s been waiting for me to ask her to stay in mine.

“I want to take my time paying your price, but I have to head back to Wenora now.” I squeeze her and kiss her fingers again. “Do you want to come with me so I can give you those kisses, sweetheart?”

“Yes.” She kisses me on the lips and pulls back, her eyes sparkling, a light flush in her cheeks. “Yes, Daddy. I do.”

“I told you to leave and don’t come back when you first showed up. Forget what that asshole said.” I kiss her forehead then brush my lips over hers. “When I take you home, I want you to stay and don’t fucking leave.”

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