A ghost of a smile tilted her lips. “Yeah, you’re all right.”
He grunted a laugh. “And you left all right in the dust miles ago. You’re pretty fucking amazing. Sounds like a healthy sex life to me. You like to tie me up? Big fucking deal; everybody’s got their kink.”
Chloe snorted and rolled her eyes. “Somehow I don’t think being tied up every time you have sex is your kink. Hell,” she said, throwing her arms up. “It’s not even my kink. I certainly never liked it before. I just can’t do it any other way right now.”
“Well, clearly it’s still getting me off, so no worries there, babe. I’m good to keep going as we are.”
She tilted her head. “Seriously? You’re okay letting me continue to tie you up?”
“Yes, babe, I am. But know this, my body is yours to experiment with in whatever way you want. You feel ready to change things up, let me know. If it works, fuck yeah. If not, at least we know we both get what we need the way we’re doing it.” He meant it. He’d take her any way he could get her. Handcuffs, ropes, fucking chains if that’s what she needed.
“So you want this to continue? With us?”
Like he wanted to keep living.
“Don’t see a reason to end it, do you?” It sure wasn’t a declaration of love, but it was something he had a feeling she’d appreciate more. Security. Safety. Someone she trusted to help her past her issues. When she was ready and able to return to the woman she’d been before the attack, he’d just have to hope he was ready to let her go.
“No,” she said. “I don’t.” Reaching out, she smoothed a hand down his chest. He had to clench his teeth as a line of fire traveled straight to his dick. That’s all it took. One innocent over the clothes touch and he was hard and aching for her. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course, babe. Anything.”
“That feeling I get.” Her face turned pink as she traced the patch with his road name. “When I have some guy at my mercy, that feeling? It’s kind of like a drug in my system. Like a high. I felt the same way when I was fighting with Jig.”
“Knowing you can defend yourself, that someone can’t hurt you is pretty fucking empowering.” He frowned as something akin to jealousy surged through his veins. Jig may be a better fighter than Rocket, but he’d be taking over her training. She didn’t need to be getting any kind of high from another man. Not while Rocket was the one in her bed.
“Yeah. Maybe it’s a better way to work out my issues.” She chewed on her bottom lip then said, “You know, before I ran into the girls at the grocery store, I was thinking of maybe trying some stuff without you handcuffed.”
“Some stuff, huh?” He raised an eyebrow. Shit, he wasn’t sure he’d survive whatever stuff she had planned for him. He was starting to think keeping him handcuffed was a smart move. Kept him from becoming a complete rutting animal in her presence. But damn if he could deny her anything in his power to give when she looked at him with that mix of courage and vulnerability. “Just let me know what you need and I’m game.”
She lifted her arms, reaching for him, then winced. “I think what I need right now is a bottle of Motrin and a hot bath.”
He stood, not bothering to try and hide the bulge in his jeans. If they were going to continue spending time together, she’d have to get used to him in this state. Her eyes widened then she licked her lips causing him to groan as he imagined that pink tongue on the head of his dick. “I think that can be arranged.” With six large steps he was in the bathroom and turning on the tap. “I’m the only one who ever uses this shower and I had one of the Honeys scrub it before you got here,” he called out above the sound of rushing water.
“Honeys?”
Oh right, she wouldn’t know who they were. Chloe appeared at the door of the bathroom wearing only her sports bra and black bikini panties. Her stomach had a slight roundness to it that flared into hips he’d fantasized about countless times. He’d give anything to sink his fingers into the soft flesh as he fucked her long and hard.
They’d get there.
“Club girls.”
Her frown was adorable. “That’s not making it any clearer.”
Ugh, he was going to have to spell it out for her. “They help out around the club, shit like cleaning, cooking, servicing the guys, in exchange for a place to crash, protection, and basically a family.”
“Service the guys?” Chloe’s chuckle was unexpected. He’d kind of expected her to be disgusted. “Sooo basically, they clean and fuck you for a place to stay.”