Page 296 of Sorrow & Strangers

“When you’re mine officially I’ll punish you for all the times you’ve disobeyed me.”

I dig my teeth harder into my lip.

“You will know who owns you. Who owns your pleasure. Who controls it,” he says, his voice dark. “Understand, princess?”

I shiver and nod slowly. He pulls me against him and lies back, turning us so we are facing each other.

“You’re not sleeping over,” I say, though my voice is filled with desire.

“You want me to go?” he asks, trailing his fingers up my waist.

“Maybe five more minutes,” I say, moaning softly.

He chuckles, and I can feel his smug energy. I huff and roll over onto my other side, giving him my back. “Bye. I’m leaving at five thirty tomorrow morning. I will leave without you if you’re not here.”

He slams his palm down onto my ass, making it sting deliciously. “Say goodbye to me. Properly.”

I glance at him over my shoulder, trying not to let on how the heat of that spank has gone straight to my pussy. “Goodnight, Stranger.”

He massages my ass. “Goodnight, princess,” he says before disappearing and leaving me in an empty bed with a stinging ass cheek and intensely sexually frustrated.

Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Two

The Stranger

At precisely fifteen minutes past five the next morning, I land in her bed and pull her sleeping form close. She stirs slightly before nuzzling against me, her fingers clutching at my waist. How easily we fall into this simple comfort between us.

Idly, I twirl a lock of her hair around my fingers, my heart slowly syncing with hers. Another thing I’ve only ever experienced with her, the heartbeat that once barely registered now hammers with her touch.

Her nose scrunches lightly, then relaxes. She infuriated me yesterday with her reckless disregard for her own life. I thought she knew that leaving the realm was not allowed after Hell, but clearly, she takes absurd delight in defying me.

Summer knew I was furious, and she knew exactly what to do to calm me down. She let me take care of her, allowing me to wash the black blood and ash from her hair and body. She didn’t speak the entire time, nor did she try to stop me.

Wise choice.

Then she expedited my forgiveness in her very unique Summer way. In a way that made me feel like we’ve been a couple for years, committed to each other for decades. Her alarm goes off, and I reach over to press the snooze. She nuzzles into me, slinging her thigh over mine.

“We have to get up, princess,” I murmur, kissing her head. She stretches against me like a cat, her eyes opening.

“Morning,” she whispers, sliding her face against me as if scenting me.

My heart stutters at the sign of possession. There are no words of reprimand for my being in her bed. Instead, she almost appears relieved. She moans and hitches her knee higher on my hip. I slide my fingers into her hair and tip her head back, pressing a chaste kiss to the corner of her lips.

“We need to go . . .” she murmurs sleepily, but holds on to me tighter. My free hand slides down her back to deliver a sharp spank to her ass. Her lashes lift, and she pouts up at me. “We still need to go.”

“All right,” I say with a sigh, enjoying this time with her too much and hating that I need to let it go. “Go get ready.”

She pushes against me until I roll onto my back, straddling and wiggling against me as she climbs out of bed. She tosses me a grin as she heads to her closet. Fuck. She can’t resist being a brat, but she is so fucking adorable all sleep-mussed.

I will just add it to the list of ways I’m going to discipline her when it’s time. It’s a long list of moments over the last two years that she’s going to pay for. I can practically hear her moans for me to let her come after hours of edging.

Now is not the time.

She emerges from her closet in a pair of dark trousers that tie just under her breasts, knee-high boots, and a blouse. I slip from the bed, changing my avatar to the glamour of a vampire I once killed. I weave the same spell over Summer, giving her the same treatment I gave her when we traveled to Hell. She moves to look at herself in the mirror, and I stand behind her, resting my hands on her shoulders.

“We’re making a habit of this.” I frown and lean down to brush my lips against her ear. “Where am I supposed to nip you now?”

“Here,” she says, tilting her head and tapping her neck.