What He Wants (4 page)

“Bristol.” Holding my hips, he pulled me into his arms. He kissed to top of my head and encased me in a warm embrace. “I want to protect you, if you’ll let me.” He cupped his hand under my chin, lifting it. “What were you scared of? Me?”

“No, not you. I was scared of how you made me feel, how powerful my wanting for you is.”

He caressed my cheek, thumbing away a tear that had dribbled down the side. “Baby, my wanting for you has been driving me mad for four weeks. I haven’t eaten. I can’t sleep. I can’t think. I haven’t even started the renovations on the house yet because I can’t concentrate on anything but you. I’ve wondered where you were, what you were doing, why you wouldn’t call me. You see what you’ve done to me? You’ve tormented me, haunted me. And I’m thankful. You’ve given me a reason to live again, to think about tomorrow. To plan for next week, next month.”

I’d never heard such beautiful words before. I was speechless.

“Tell me you’re mine, Bristol. I need to hear you say it.”

I looped my arms around his neck and rose up on tiptoes. He dipped his head down, lower, lower until our mouths were a breath apart. Then, I whispered, “I’m yours, Shane. I’ve been yours from the start, after that first magical kiss.” And then, I sealed my promise with a kiss. It was as magical as the first one. Not because it was a possession. No, it was a surrender. It was an unspoken vow. He was my master, and I was his slave. For how long? I couldn’t say. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Maybe longer. Maybe not. But now I understood. I didn’t need to be afraid. Shane would never hurt me. I could trust him like I’d never trusted another man. In the dungeon, he would be my lover, my protector, my strength, my courage. But only if I turned myself over to him, mind and body.

When the kiss ended, he smiled. “Now, you deserve a reward.” His hand slid around to my back, cupping my bottom, and a shiver of desire quaked through me. I leaned into him, feeling his hard, hot need pressing against my stomach.

“Here? Again?” I asked, a secret thrill setting my heart racing.

“No, eat first. You’re going to need your strength. I have big plans for you tonight. Big plans.”

My body ignited as he angled past me, opened my car door and pulled my bag of vegetable lasagna out. “Yes, sir.” We walked hand in hand to his car. And minutes later, we were zooming through quiet streets toward his home, toward his dungeon.

My new playroom.

The End

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