Page 48 of King of Sinners

“Accepted.” He stares at me for another second, then two, his gaze unreadable. “I’m going to take a shower.”

And then he’s gone. My heart jumps into my throat as it tightens painfully. It’s already happening. He’s angry enough that he doesn’t even care that I’m in lingerie.

Has the passion cooled that much already?

I start to follow, not sure if I’m actually allowed to enter his room. The only time I’ve been in it is when he invited me in this morning.

“Mason?” I call just as I hear the shower turn on.

He appears again, tugging at his tie and loosening his collar as I stand in his doorway. “What?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m tired. It was a long damned day that involved not one, but two physical altercations.”

I wince. “Leo?”

“Leo.”

“You don’t want me to make it better?” I nip at my lip as I slide my hands over my hips.

His eyes drift down me again. “Not right now.”

This is bad. Really bad. “Is our agreement over?”

He pulls off his shirt and when the fabric clears his face, his gaze holds mine. Steady. Even. “Of course not. You think I’d let anyone hurt you?”

My breath blows out in a rush, a little relief making my shoulders drop down a notch. “But you’re angry with me.”

“I’m not.” And then he starts to turn away.

I could cry out. I could chase him. Instead, I sink to my knees, parting my thighs as I do, so the black thong underwear I’m wearing is on clear display.

He stops in the doorway, going still, his eyes devouring me. I don’t lean forward, don’t lean closer. Instead, I lean back, resting on my hands, as I part my legs wider. I’m nervous…but even still, I can feel excitement stirring low in my belly.

Mason pivots back to face me, the intensity of his stare letting me know I’ve caught his attention.

“I know that I was bad today.”

His shoulders draw up, his back going stiff and straight.

“You told Professor Burke that he needed to take his punishment for what he did.”

“I should have ripped his throat out for what he tried to do to you.” That has my attention. There is a ferocity in Mason’s tone that is almost shocking. It doesn’t frighten me, instead, I feel protected. Safe.

He crosses to where I am on the floor until he is standing over me. Reaching down, he skates his fingers over my jaw. “It’s been a long day, sweetheart, and a traumatic one for you.”

I can see his erection in his dress pants and my own body is aching with need. But I don’t reach out and touch him. This is my punishment after all. But his touch, the fact that he’s calling me sweetheart, has my chin lifting and my back arching up. His eyes skate down my body again.

“What is my punishment, Mason?” I want him to touch me and then I want him to make me cum and then I want to sleep in the circle of his very strong arms.

I’m not afraid of Mason, even after what happened with Burke today. Mason would never hurt me like that. But I’ll feel safest of all with his heart beating against mine.

He crouches down then, resting on the balls of his feet, his elbows coming to his knees. He brings one hand to his jaw and his knuckles are a mess, even worse than this morning, I swear.

I gasp, wanting to touch them but I’m not doing anything I haven’t been told so I hold still.

With his other hand, he reaches out and touches my bare knee, his fingers skimming up my thigh until he stops just before the thong.

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