AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A tear tracked down his cheek. It glistened as it rolled, dripping under his jaw to continue down his neck. “You should have let the other surgeon do it. You never should have gone to him.”
“The other surgeon wasn’t as qualified. I wasn’t taking a chance with your life.”
“You said you’d never let him beat you again.” Wes reminded.
It was something I said after our parents died. After I found myself an adult and a guardian. I underestimated myself, though. I underestimated the shit I would do for someone I love. “It was just that one time,” was all I said out loud.
“Who fucking beats their child as a payment for a favor? In exchange for medical care!”
My stomach twisted. “I show up at their work events, dinners, whatever when they call. Let them parade me around as their trophy in front of all their friends and colleagues.”
“That’s what this was about?” Anger sparked in his eyes as he pointed toward the front of the house. “He was expecting another payment on the debtmysurgery created.”
“You didn’t create anything. I did this. Me. I made the choice because I wanted to.”
Wes burst up, arms flying out at his sides as his chest heaved. “A choice you made because of me! Me! You shackled yourself to a leash those monsters held and subjected yourself to years of more abuse and degradation because of me.”
“It’s not that bad.” I reached out, wanting to comfort him, but he skittered back, not willing to accept any relief.
This was why I didn’t want him to know. He would put this all on himself. He would feel responsible. In reality, this was not his fault. If anyone, it was my sperm donor’s because he lorded his power and resources over me, over us, and used it to get what he wanted. But it didn’t matter because what he wanted was nothing in comparison to what I did.
“It was worth it,” I whispered.
“No. You sacrificing yourself for me isnotworth it.”
“It is to me.”
“This ends right now.” The firm finality in his voice had my head shooting up. My stomach bottomed out as fresh adrenaline coursed uncomfortably through my limbs.
“You…” I could barely force the words out. “You’re breaking up with me?”
He laughed, a humorless sound. “Never.” The swift denial of that created a wave of relief in me that rivaled the adrenaline. “But the willingness to put yourself over me stops now. I forbid it.”
I strangled sound echoed through the dining room. “You forbid it?”
Wes drew up, the muscles beneath his shirt bunching and shifting. His eyes were calm and serious, no brat in sight. This was pure Wes, and he was trying to lay down the law. “You’re damn right I do. No more putting yourself in harm’s way. Your safety and mental well-being arenotmore important than mine.”
My tongue scraped across my teeth. Why did it turn me on when he thought he could boss me? “Is that so?”
His eyes narrowed, recognizing the challenge in my tone. “Yes.”
“And who are you to tell me that?”
At his sides, Wes’s hands curled into his palms. “Your boyfriend.”
“That’s right,” I allowed, making him relax. The second I smirked, he realized he relaxed too soon. “Myboyfriend.Mine.” I stalked forward, watching him watch me as I advanced.
Adrenaline, anxiety, and unadulterated anger still coursed through me, creating a dangerous cocktail that was turning more dangerous by the moment as it mixed with unrelenting lust.
“You are mine, and that means you do what I say.”
His chin jutted out stubbornly. “Aren’t you mine?”
“Always.”
His palms spread out between us as if to say,I rest my case.
Our chests bumped. He stumbled back. I caught his hips, dragging him forward until our lower halves collided. “Are you my good boy?”
