A Debt Repaid (The Debt Duet 2)

I’m not the one who holds all the strings. She’s the puppeteer who’s played with my heart and got me to fall head over heels, desperate to own her body and soul. And my body is more than willing to play along.

I groan in excitement as we roll over, and she sits on top of me. I sit up with her on my lap as she starts grinding against me the same way she did in the car. But this time, we’re alone and surrounded by soft black pillows and filthy sex tools hanging on the walls. She knows they’re there, she looked, and the sparkle in her eyes made my cock throb with glee. I can’t wait to use them all on her and more.

“Yes, be filthy for me, princess,” I growl, and I push her up and down on my dick.

I press a kiss to her chest and her collarbone while her head tilts back in bliss. Her body rolls over my hips with ease as though she always belonged there.

I grab a fistful of her hair and force her to look me in the eyes as we both head toward oblivion. “Say my name, Charlotte.”

“Fuck me, Easton,” she murmurs, her lips wet and appetizing as I hover next to them.

Her breath is on my skin, and her eyes are on mine as we come together in devious fuckery.

And as she falls apart right here in my arms, so do I.

I bury myself deep inside her and groan as my seed jets into her pussy. While I hold her down on my lap, pure fucking ecstasy fills my veins and releases my heart from the vengeful thorns that’s held it tight for so long.

And I fall onto the bed with her in my arms. I curl up behind her, wrapping my arm around her belly so she’ll be close to me. When my cock is flaccid, I pull out and press a kiss to the back of her neck.

“I love you …”

She turns her head slowly. “What … what did you say?”

I look her in the eyes as I repeat the words. “I love you.”

I’m not ashamed to admit my real feelings for her. I’ve known them all along to be true, but I couldn’t face the fact that I’d actually fallen for the precious daughter of my enemy. That the man who I hated so much for my entire life could produce such a perfect girl … and that I want her to be my wife for real now.

Not merely to own her and control her, but to love her until death do us part.

“I …” she mutters.

“Shh,” I whisper into her ear while my hand rests on her shoulder. “I know how you feel.”

She places her hand over mine but doesn’t say another word. None are needed. The way my arms wrap around hers and the way her body molds into mine say enough.

“It’s hard,” she mutters after a while.

“I know,” I say, burying my face in the crook of her neck. “But we’ll get there.”

“I feel so bad,” she adds.

I snort. “Ignore it.”

“How?” she asks, her eyes tearing up.

I lean up and grab her chin to softly turn her head. “Don’t cry.”

“I can’t help it,” she says. “It’s just that … this is all wrong. You’re the bad guy. You took me against my will.”

“I know.” I grab her hand. “And I’m sorry that I did.”

She averts her eyes and sighs. “Sorry doesn’t change what happened. Sorry doesn’t fix this conflicted heart of mine.”

I lie back down and hold her. Because that’s all I can do in this situation. I can’t change her mind, and I don’t want to manipulate her anymore. I’m done playing those games. I want her to be mine, and I’ll be happy with that.

“This is all because of my father. Why does life have to be so difficult?”

“It’s not, and your father no longer matters,” I say.

“You did this all to get revenge on him,” she says, brushing away a single tear.

“I don’t need it anymore,” I whisper.

She briefly glances at me from over her shoulder. “What?”

“I’m done punishing your father. I’ve already ruined him. And I have you. That’s all I ever wanted.” I bite my lip. “I only want you to be happy.”

“After all this? All this fighting, these games … you’re done?” she mutters. “How do I know you’re speaking the truth? This could all just be more manipulation.”

“It’s not.” I press a kiss to her shoulder. “I’m done. I promise.”

She glares at the wall in front of her, and I wonder what she’s thinking about.

If she hates me for putting her through all this when all I wanted was her heart.

I didn’t even know what I truly wanted until it ran away from me—until it was no longer in my grasp—and it fucking hurt. I can only imagine what she’s going through right now as her heart desires one thing, but her brain knows I’m not right for her.