Page 150 of Until I Own You

I burble out a few nonsensical syllables before being able to speak. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not. I couldn’t hold it in. I thought—I thought maybe you’d be more willing to try if I could come to you and tell you that I laid the groundwork and that we already had someone willing to accept…us.” He says the word “us” almost like a thirteen-year-old girl giggling at a sleepover. It’s so cute for a man who knows how to tie me up and play my body like a fine-tuned instrument.

I smile. Still. There’s a pull of fear inside me.

“You know, isn’t life too short to be scared?” he asks, a nervous tilt in his voice.

I wasn’t able to see it when he told me the story of his dad. That was selfish of me. I hate to think it took this trauma for me to see it. But Seth really cares. He wants this so bad.

And so do I. “And my dad?”

“You’ve gotta be a crazy person to go to your stepfather and tell him you love his daughter,” Seth scoffs. “And I’m a lot of things, but I’m not crazy.”

I twist my lips.

“At least, I wouldn’t go to him without your consent,” he amends, squeezing my hand. “If you want me to, I’ll do it. I’ll do anything for you.”

I never knew people actually say things like that. That men call women perfect. That they say they’ll do anything for them.

My man does.

“And our friends might know,” Seth mumbles.

“What?!” I shriek.

He jerks back. “I mean, the guys! I had to tell the guys!”

“Why did you have to tell the–”

“They thought I was ogling Abigail! And I’m not going to make up a whole narrative when the truth is I just want to love you and have everyone know it!”

I have no response to that other than a wide smile. “I want to love you and have everyone know it too.”

Seth leans in, nudges my nose with his. “You mean it?”

“Yes.”

“Say my name.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“No. Say my name.”

I press my chest to his, wishing I could melt into him and become one. “Yes, Seth. I want to love you and have everyone know it.”

“That’s my good girl.”

I giggle and slide my arms around him in a tight embrace. I would remain here the rest of my life if it was a possibility.

Seth holds me as close as he can with one hand, pressing kisses to the crown of my head.

I can’t believe how far we’ve come. To go from disdainful stepsiblings to giving into our love with whole hearts and clear eyes.

All because of a few silks and chains…

I’ll leave that part out of the story I tell the grandchildren.

There’s a knock on the door and, on instinct, the two of us pull apart. “Who is it?” Seth calls out.

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