Page 47 of Blood and Trouble

“It does,” he said, brushing hair out of my face with his index finger. “Is that what you want?”

“My mind never stops,” I admitted.

“Don’t I know it.” He smiled and leaned in to kiss my forehead. “Such a brilliant brain, going a million miles an hour.”

“Turn it off for me,” I murmured. “Please.”

“A few more rules,” he said. “One, when I give you an order, you have two choices: obey me or call your safeword. The safeword is not a bad thing, and it doesn’t mean the scene ends. It means we talk.”

“Okay.” That all made sense.

“While we’re in the scene, you call me sir. I’ll call you pet. That will signal we’re in the right headspace for it to continue. Anything else, and I’ll stop to check in.” He narrowed his eyes, seeming to peer straight down into my soul. The connection between us blared to life, but I wasn’t sure exactly how far it went on his end. What all could he sense? What all could he hear?

“Our vows,” he continued, “we were drunk when we made them, but I stand by them. I respect you. I honor you. I cherish you. I don’t like secrets. You’re entitled to your privacy. I understand there will be things you don’t want to tell me, but if they involve our relationship, I deserve to know. If you want this to end, tell me. No lies.”

“The same goes for you,” I said.

“You got it, Trouble,” he said. “I have only two hard lines. Don’t tickle me, and⁠—”

I laughed before I could stop it. Tickling had been a yellow on my list, but it cracked me up to imagine doing it to him.

“What?” He raked his perplexed stare down my face. “Why are you laughing?”

“I just…I can’t imagine a big, dominant wolf like you being ticklish. Where are your ticklish spots?”

“Bold of you to assume I’d tell you.” His grin widened.

“How am I supposed to avoid them if I don’t know where they are?”

“Trust me, if you find them, I’ll let you know.”

I reined in my giggles and gestured for him to continue. “And the second?”

“You don’t degrade or harm yourself. Understood? That’s my job. If you need that release, you come to me.”

I silenced the inner critic that wanted to argue with him. “Okay.”

“Good.” He got out of bed and walked over to the upholstered armchair in the corner of the room, grabbing a book from the end table before sitting down with his thighs open in an inviting V. I stayed where I was until he waved two fingers at me. “Come here.”

I hopped off the mattress, heart hammering as I pranced closer. He grabbed a pillow from behind him and dropped it down to the spot between his feet before pointing to it with those same two fingers.

I furrowed my brow, unsure what he was asking. Was I meant to kneel? Sit?

“On your knees, pet,” he said.

I gulped and lowered myself down. When was the last time I’d given anyone a blow job? Years ago? Fuck, was it Scott? I didn’t remember, and if Lycan asked me to now, I’d have to be honest with him. I’d have to ask him to help me…instruct me. I’d have no freaking clue⁠—

“Shhh,” he said, grabbing my chin between his index finger and thumb. “Stop thinking. You don’t need to do that right now, understand? Listen to what I tell you. That’s it. I’ve got you.”

“Okay,” I said. “Yes, sir.”

He leaned back and patted his knee. “Rest your head here. Get comfortable.”

Clearing my throat, I did what he said. I put my head on his leg, sat back on my feet, and closed my eyes, telling myself this was the silliest thing I’d ever gotten myself into. I’d done my research. Kink wasn’t inherently sexual, though most of the time, it could be. But I didn’t see how sitting here with my head on his knee could possibly make my mind go silent.

He ran his fingers through my hair with one hand, brushing it back away from my face, while he held up his book with the other. I focused on the steady rhythm of his strokes, the rough pads of his fingers massaging my scalp. The touch grounded me…soothed me. The rest of the world faded away. There was no vampire monster possibly tracking me through Europe. No beautiful ex across the hotel suite. There was no big meeting tomorrow or royal charity reception in a few days.

Here, in the present, there was only what Lycan had told me to do. I cared for him. And judging by the way he ran his fingers through my hair, he cared for me, too.