Page 104 of Reluctantly His

“I want for nothing now, but it cost my freedom. Are you going to put me in some gilded cage as well and forbid me from having my own goals?”

Letting go of her hair, I stalked across the room, closed her door and locked it. “You were warned. You will not insult my integrity again, little girl.”

I didn’t want to hurt her.

I didn’t even really want to spank her.

Not when she was still so frail. But I couldn’t let a slight like that slide.

If I did, I wouldn’t be the man that she wanted.

My girl craved a firm hand, and that’s what I was going to give her.

I stood next to her bed with one hand flat on her pillow, just barely allowing my thumb to touch her cheek as I leaned over and spoke just loud enough I knew she could hear me. “Do you want a chance to apologize, babygirl? Or are you going to take your punishment?”

“I don’t have anything to apologize for.”

My other hand moved under her blankets to her ankle and squeezed. Not enough to hurt her, just so she knew exactly where my hand was. “Are you sure about that?”

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to want answers.” Her voice broke.

“Oh it’s not. I even told you I’d answer any question you have, but that last one wasn’t a question, was it? It was an accusation. You think that I’m the type of man who would leave you chained up in some gilded cage. After everything?”

My hand moved from her ankle to her inner thigh, pushing her legs apart.

“Every other man has.”

“I am not every other man in your life.” I pushed my hand up between her thighs and felt her wet pussy.

“I…” Her voice was trembling.

“No, it’s too late for apologies now, princess. Let me tell you exactly how this is going to work. You are mine. Body and soul. That means when you’re out of this hospital bed, we are going to march to the nearest church, and you are going to be a good girl and say I do.”

She gasped as I slid one finger into her tight little cunt.

“If you’re a bad girl, then I’m going to bend you over the kitchen counter and fuck you until I break you.”

“Reid.” My name on her lips sounded more like a prayer than a plea.

“As far as what you do in between those times, you only have to follow a few rules. You will never be somewhere that I don’t think is safe. You will never let another man touch you. And you will never go a single day without sharing your gift with the world. I don’t care if you do charity events or if you work for a world-class orchestra. Your music deserves to be heard by the world.”

I pushed harder on her clit, ramping her up and making her back bend a little, and if she wasn’t such a brat, I would have let her come.

I probably would have lifted the hospital gown and licked her until she screamed my name, letting every single person in the hospital know what was going on in this room.

But that would have been a reward. I didn’t reward bad behavior.

I pulled my hand away from her just before she reached her climax, and she let out a pained groan.

“Any other questions, princess?” I asked, licking my fingers clean.

CHAPTER 37

CHARLOTTE

Isat straight up in bed, my heart hammering in my chest and the rapid beeping of my monitor at my side.

My room was dark and peaceful.

---