Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 111359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
He just stared at her for a long moment. “You did this to yourself.”
“Y-yes.”
“For me? To show that you’re not fragile. And you don’t want me to treat you like you are?”
“I mean . . . sometimes I might be. Like tomorrow, after I speak to Rosa, I might feel like falling apart. Then I might need you to handle me with care. But I don’t need you to change who you are. You’ve . . . there have been several t-times you’ve held back. Or changed what you were g-going to say. I know it and so do you.”
You’re all right. Don’t panic.
You’re fine.
You can do this.
“I know that you don’t want to s-scare me. Or to remind me of him. But I know who you are. I trust you. Things are going to come up. Maybe when I don’t expect it. But I can’t help that. And I’ve spent so long in stasis. Too scared to move forward. Too busy trying to protect myself. I don’t want to do that anymore. We’re taking back parts that I lost. Like my body. Like my choice. My choice to give you my body.”
He was staring down at her. His eyes moved over her.
“How did you know where I was?”
Crap.
“Um. Why were you having lessons with Saxon?” she asked.
“Hannah,” he said warningly.
“I’m sorry! I saw your text from Saxon. Why didn’t you tell me what you were doing?”
“You saw my text from him. Hmm. So you were peeking when you shouldn’t be. That was naughty.”
A shiver ran through her at him calling her naughty. And it chased away some of the nerves. Unfortunately, they started coming back as he moved toward her.
He started stripping.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“I think that deserves punishment, don’t you? Although I don’t think I’ll add that to your tally.”
“You won’t?”
“Nope. I think I’m going to give you that punishment right now.”
Uh-oh.
“Why didn’t you tell me, though?” she asked. “You lied when I asked where you were going.”
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to react in a crazy way.”
Oh.
“Like, say, doing something like this.” By now he was down to his boxers.
And Lord . . . his body . . . it was delicious.
“And I didn’t know how I was going to like it,” he added. “Whether it would be for me.”
“And?”
“Oh, it’s for me.” He moved to the bottom of the bed and pressed her legs apart. “Which is good, because I’d do anything for you.”
“Just don’t change. I like you who you are.”
I love you how you are.
She was too nervous to say the words.
He licked up her thigh. “Spread your legs.”
Pushing her legs apart, she tried to keep her mind in the here and now.
This is Raid.
Raid cares about you.
“Damn. This is convenient, isn’t it?” He’d found the slit in her panties and he ran his tongue along her slick lips.
She moaned, trying to move. That’s when she was reminded of the bonds on her wrists.
Shoot. She froze.
Relax. This is Raid.
“Hannah?”
“Yes?”
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
“What’s your safeword?” he asked.
“Peach.”
“And where are you at? Green, yellow, or red?”
“Green,” she lied.
She was definitely at yellow. On her way to red.
He slid his hand along her side to cup her breast. Oh God, that felt good. Then he drew the cup of her lingerie down so he could suck on her nipple.
Shoot. Even better. A deep groan escaped. It felt like she could feel the tug of his lips on her clit.
“You’re so beautiful. Such a good girl. But next time we do this, I want you naked. Easy access.”
Next time . . . crap.
Raid. This is Raid.
“Hannah? Where are you at?”
“Green.”
“Good. Tell me your triggers,” he urged.
“Um. Uh.” Crap. She couldn’t think. “No name-calling. No blood. No disfigurement. No humiliation. No extreme pain. I don’t like canes or whips.”
“Good girl.”
Nope. Fuck. No. Her breath froze in her lungs.
It’s Raid. We’re taking those words back.
He brushed his fingers along her chest to her other breast, freeing it. Then he leaned over her, straddling her legs. And his mouth sucked on her other nipple.
Fuck! She couldn’t breathe.
“Hannah, where are you?” he asked sharply.
“G-g-green.”
“Fuck. No, you’re not. Peach.” His hands were working at the ties around her wrist before he’d even finished speaking.
What was he doing? Why had he said her safeword?
“Raid? What are you doing?” she asked.
As soon as her hands were freed, she felt better. Like she could breathe easier. Which was stupid.
Raid rubbed at the marks on her wrist. “Being tied up is now a hard limit unless you want to work on it, and then we’ll find a way to work up to where you don’t keep freezing on me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh no, you don’t need to be sorry about that part.” He grasped her chin.
“There’s something I have to be sorry about?”
“Yep. And we’ll get to your punishment as soon as you stop shaking.” Raid sat back against the headboard and drew her onto his lap, holding her firmly.