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“Probably. But it’s your yesses that are making you wet as fuck for me. Now, tell me another.”

“You tell me one first,” I say, sitting up and challenging him. Something hotter than desire burns in his eyes. My mouth parts. “Riven Thaelon, do you like being told what to do?”

His nostrils flare. “Occasionally.”

“Me too.” I lean forward and kiss him.

“You’d let me be in control?” he asks, breath warm against my skin. “You’d relinquish yourself to me? Allow me to make all the decisions when we’re alone and you’re bare beneath me?”

“Occasionally,” I say, repeating his reply.

I’m sure it sounds absurd after I’ve expressed how much I hated being controlled by my coven. But that… that was different. They were using me to hurt others, forcing me to do their bidding against my will.

Relinquishing control in the safety of the bedroom is completely different.

I’ve only ever wanted to be used as a vessel for good.

A vessel for pleasure, not pain.

And for once, that feels within reach.

“Fuck.” He leans backward and reaches into his trousers, adjusting his hardened cock. Stroking himself beneath his waistband, he looses a deep breath. “What if I want to wrap my hand around your throat as I pound into you?”

“So long as you don’t remove my ribbon, I’d gladly wear your hand as a secondary necklace.”

With blinding speed, he grabs me by the waist and flips me over so I’m on all fours. Pushing my head into the pillow, he lifts my hips and notches himself behind me, squeezing my rear with both hands.

“And if I want to smack this perfect little ass until it’s red and raw with my hand print?”

“I thought I already told you I like to be marked.”

He slaps my bottom once. I gasp at the blissful sting and rock backward for another. He doesn’t give it to me, though. One hand finds my shoulder as his other moves up and down my spine, tracing our matching bargain’s mark from leaf to root.

My skin is clammy, hair sticking to my cheek.

“Thoughts on bindings?” he asks, voice gruff.

“I’ve never had a lover do that before.”

“Are you willing to try?” His fingers dig into my hips. “I’ll ease you into it the first time.”

I swallow.

The first time.

He’s already planning the next time? He hasn’t even fucked me this time.

What if I can’t get him off?

What if he can’t get me off?

“Yes, I’m willing to try,” I say, pushing aside thoughts of whatever may happen in the future. I’m eager to see if this is yet another yes for me before I see if he’ll relinquish control to me. “Tell me what to do.”

“Eager to please, are you?” He releases me and leans over the edge of the bed, retrieving the silken tie he’d undone earlier. Holding it up, he says, “Lie on your back and give me your wrists.”

I do as he commands.

With a featherlight touch, he binds my wrists together, lifting them above my head and fastening them to the headboard.