AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I wrinkled my nose at him. “So, does the Dog take you over? Just inside?”
Rogue shook his head, abruptly somber. “Not since it took flesh. I can sense its rise, but that internal-only possession only occurs until it gains enough power to take flesh. Once it can have that, it rarely settles for less.”
I shivered, queasy. “What gives it power?”
He raised his eyebrow, on the left side, making the thorns of black shift and realign. “Among other things, you do.”
“How?”
“If I knew that, my Gwynn, I would not be in the position I’m in.”
“What position is that?”
He stalked over to me and wrapped his hand around my throat. Gentle, but implacable. My pulse suddenly pounded, in fear or arousal, I wasn’t certain. “Enslaved to you, powerful Gwynn.”
“I thought you wanted me to be your slave.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
Was I? Once I had been. Once I’d thought the world fell into orderly patterns.
“Is that enough for you to think about for now?”
“Definitely,” I breathed.
“Thus endeth the lesson.”
In response to an invisible signal, Larch and his assistants trotted in, assembling the little dining table and feast for two. Rogue handed me into my chair with a courtly gesture and settled himself opposite me.
The food was again delicious—all of my favorites—and I ate voraciously, surprised at my hunger. Though, upon reflection, I hadn’t eaten much at Falcon’s awful luncheon, and my cat-induced workout had been more intense than I’d ever do alone. We ate in silence, aside from comments about the meal, each absorbed with our own thoughts. That companionable, domestic feel returned. I could become accustomed to this schedule, the intimate evening ritual Rogue was slowly creating.
And this, my friends, was how water wore down rock.
He’d even arranged for dessert—a confection that tasted amazingly close to chocolate. I gobbled it up, humming my approval and licking my fingers to enjoy the last bits of it. I felt Rogue’s gaze on me and glanced up to see his eyes hot, molten chromium. My breath caught in my throat as the longing throbbed between us.
I looked away first. Then stood, for once wishing I could fiddle with the dishes.
“Gwynn—”
“No.” I stopped him. “Don’t even ask again. Where’s this damn nightgown? Let’s get this over with.”
“On the bed.”
It hadn’t been before, but that meant nothing. Knowing what I’d see, feeling that sense of dreamlike haze settle over me, I moved over to it.
And there it was, draped over the black coverlet, streaming pale lace, nearly white, but with icy blue hints of highlights. I remembered it well from my dreams. Even though Rogue had watched me, in that dream I’d stripped naked and slipped on the confection of lace. The bodice had dropped low over my breasts, hugging the curves so that the lacy swirls just barely covered my nipples, the lace falling in streamers down my legs, tantalizing with what it revealed and hid.
“Will you put it on?” Rogue asked, from just behind me.
In the dream he’d ordered me to and I’d obeyed, trembling with desire for more. It was notable that this time he asked. Maybe. No sign of the green silk sash either—the one for tying my wrists to the headboard. I knew full well that he’d sent the dream to me, knew every detail. Perhaps he didn’t know I’d woken in such a state of arousal that I’d masturbated with his blazing visage in my mind, coming within moments.
“I really don’t think so.” But my voice trembled.
He stroked a hand down my arm. “It would greatly please me.”
