Derision (The Broken Bonds 7)

“Keep your arms raised.” I release one of her wrists. She keeps her gaze trained on me while I secure her other wrist in the cuff. There’s enough slack in the chain between the wood and cuff that her arm isn’t strained; just restrained enough to stir her arousal.

I take my time as I finish cuffing her wrist, and then her ankles, making sure I touch and linger at every inch of her body on my way down. I have no intention of bringing her to her breaking point tonight. This—this is all for her pleasure.

As my hand roams up her leg, eliciting a shiver, she gasps in a deep breath when I bite the seam of her panties and then shred them away from her body.

My hand is there in an instant to feel her become wet. She drenches my fingers as I hiss out a curse, my control already long gone. I suck her into my mouth, hard and needy, my teeth nipping her clit as I tongue her hot pussy.

I reach up and grip the lacy top of her corset, tug it down until her breasts spring free, then I’m kneading one, plucking her nipple to make her tighten against my mouth.

“Fuck me,” she breathes out. “Now, Chase. I have to have you inside me.”

The fierce need to concede to her spoken demand barrels through me. I plunge a finger inside her tight center, giving her the penetration she needs, as I lower my zipper. “Say it again,” I order.

“Fuck me…right now. Take me—”

I’ve barely gotten her ankles free of the cuffs before I’m hauling her leg over my shoulder, my pants just lowered enough for my dick to seek her entrance, my control ripped away. “Do you love what I do to you? Love how I make you feel?”

Her eyes penetrate mine, the sultry swell of her breasts as she heaves making it painful to withhold—but I do; I ease the tip of my cock between her soaked lips, stretching out the anticipation. Hers and mine.

“I’m in love with everything you do – everything about you,” she says. “I’m in love with you, Master.”

My hands latch around her hips and I haul her against me, driving in deep as I press my lips to hers. Her cry is swallowed by my hungry kiss, my need to devour her overbearing.

I break away just far enough. “Tell the man you love him.” I capture her gaze, make her look into my eyes.

She doesn’t waver. “Chase, I love you.”

“Fucking hell,” I say under my breath as I sink inside her, deep, claiming, taking her mouth once again. I’m lost there, inside her kiss, inside her—unwilling to let her go. “My love for you is all I am.”

The truest part of me admits defeat. I’m hers. It’s the greatest loss I’ve ever experienced. And as she shatters around me, pulling me farther within her soul, her body, it’s sweet mercy that releases me within her.

17

True Colors

Alexis

There can only be one pivotal moment that alters your world. Only one—that’s what I’ve believed ever since my life shifted so tragically once before. And yet I’ve been proven wrong, inclined to trust that with Chase, I’m never going to stop experiencing them.

How many times can I be awoken, remade? Transformed by his touch?

I catch myself staring off into space, Julia nudging me to bring me back down. “Alexis, do you want me to handle the paralegal research?”

Giving my head a stern shake, I say, “Uh, no…” I glance down at my files, trying to sort through the same documents I’ve been organizing for the past hour. “I can delegate the work…I just need to weed through it first.”

Julia’s smile captures my attention. “It’s the best feeling, isn’t it?” she says.

I glance her way, unable to hide my own telling smile. “What?”

She rolls her heavily kohl-rimmed eyes. “Oh, please. Save it for the paralegals and interns. You’re not fooling me. You’re in love.”

I’m taken aback, shocked at having Julia—the scary lioness I’ve tiptoed around for a year—talk so openly with me. It’s not a matter of trust; I realize in this circumstance, she’s the only person I have to confide in; it’s the issue of being able to confide at all. For me.

Even when my mother was alive, it was difficult for me to talk candidly, wary of opening myself up to let others in. The way I view things…the way I see the world…it’s just too tiring. I feel awkward just thinking of trying to explain it.

“It’s okay, Alexis,” she says, laying her hand over mine. “I’m not going to judge you.”

My forehead creases. “I’m not ashamed,” I say, suddenly defensive, and she laughs.