Flawless Ruin

I need to make things better. Explain myself. For whatever it’s worth.

“You have to understand,” I start. “It may have been a job in the beginning, but once I got to know you, I—”

He raises a hand and barks out, “Enough. I don’t care. Just come here.”

It doesn’t matter if he wants me closer so he can hold me, or spit in my eye. I do as he says because I have no choice. Like every sensual order Caleb has ever given me, something inside is compelled to obey.

I scurry forward until my feet are only inches from him. This close, I can’t meet his eyes, but I know his are on mine.

This close, I can feel the heat between us.

My pulse pounds under my skin as he reaches a finger under my chin, tilting my head up to meet his. I brace myself for more recrimination and blame, but instead, he plants a searing kiss on my lips. The second his lips touch mine, the heat is electric. He tempts my lips open with his tongue so easily, and then he’s commanding my mouth like he’d always commanded the rest of my body.

And I can’t help but sway into his arms. Surrendering. Because he owns me.

Deeply. Utterly.

It’s not a tender kiss, no softness, no joy. Caleb’s mouth is relentless, harsh and almost painful against mine. He nips sharply at my lip, fingers digging into my waist, but still, I’ll take it. I’ll take anything this man has to give if there’s even a hope of making this right—

He tears away with a low, cruel laugh. “Still so pliant,” he muses, shooting me a disgusted stare. “Still not willing to let the act slip.”

I catch my breath, reeling. And then I realize exactly what that was.

Punishment.

“I think you’re wet,” he murmurs, then nudges me aside and leaves me, standing there, dizzy and breathless, near his desk.

I hear Vicki greeting him outside, gushing that she’s so happy to have him back and was so worried, but I can’t even think to conceal how weak-kneed and flustered he’s made me.

And damn him. He’s right.