Page 72 of Ryker

“You want me to crawl like a fucking dog?”

She looks triumphantly down at me. “Well, since we’re treating each other like animals who Sit when they’re told to, and get drinks when they're told to, I figure you can appreciate the art of obedience between a pet and their master.”

Oh shit. I did tell her to do that back at Knox’s, didn’t I? And though the pet/Master dynamic is totally fine and a lot of fun, that wasn’t something we discussed prior to my treating her that way. Fuuuuck. I’ve never botched a situation with a lover so badly in my life.

I crawl into her suite with my head down. If she wants me to bark, I will.

Tara shuts the door behind us, and I won’t move from this point on the carpet until she tells me.

“Good boy.”

The molten anger bubbling in my veins cools quickly when she sinks to her own knees in front of me.

“Look at me, Ryker.”

God, my name on her lips brings me peace when I deserve torment.

Our gazes lock, and that’s when real shame hits me like a sledgehammer. I’ve been a piece of shit to her this whole time. No amount of pleasure I’ve given her was because I wanted to please her. It was to pacify her. To distract her. To relieve some of the pressure from my own body, not hers.

“Tara.” I reach up to cup her cheek, but she shies away from my touch. Jesus, I have a lot of work to do if she’s already flinching away from me. “I’m so fucking sorry for my behavior. Everything I’ve done with you, since the minute we made our first deal, has been one-sided, petty, and unfair.”

She gasps, clearly not expecting me to say that.

“I understand if you want to get a new Dom. Shit, I’ll understand if you want to call this whole thing off and walk away from the club entirely.”

Her soft eyes harden again. “Is that why you’ve done all this? You think it’s going to make me walk away from you?”

Time to be brutally honest. “Yes.”

Because even though I let her in a little, I have got to shove her out. She doesn’t belong in my world. She’s too good for it. Too sweet.

I don’t deserve her.

And that means I’ll drive her out by any means necessary. She told me she didn’t know her hard limits the night we first started this tryst, but I definitely have mine. I can’t let her in. I can’t keep her. And if there’s even the smallest chance that my last, and strongest demon, discovers that she likes certain kinks…

There will be no saving either of us.

Tara laughs. “You’ll have to try a lot harder than that if you want to run me off, Mr. Hudson. I’m not easily intimidated.”

Tell me about it. And I think that’s one of the main reasons I’m so drawn to her. It would take a special kind of woman to be with a mongrel like me.

“You’re a smart woman, Tara. A smart woman would run from me.”

“Well, I must be an idiot because I’m staying.”

I tip my head back and sigh. “You have no idea what you make me feel like.”

“Explain it to me then.”

“Obsessed.” My dark gaze latches onto her bright blues. “I have to shove you out because if you stay…” I shake my head. “I won’t let you go.” I crawl closer to her. “But I’m stuck, because if I let you go, you’ll fuck someone else.” I pinch her chin. “I will commit unforgivable crimes if another person touches your sweet body.” I lean in, almost brushing my mouth against hers. “I hate that you like to be humiliated, because I very much like to humiliate you.” I move over and kiss her jaw. “And I hate that you like to be my good girl, because it makes me want to spoil you.” I nip her earlobe. “I hate that everything I do, you take, and it makes me crazy for you.”

Her breaths quicken as she presses her hands on my shoulders. “I’ll be your good girl, Mr. Hudson. And I’ll be your naughty brat too.” She swallows hard. “I love being your fucktoy, Sir.”

If she’s trying to get me to snap, it’s working. “Tara,” I warn her. “You’re playing with fire, woman.”

“No, Mr. Hudson.” She stands up and heads over to the collection of whips kept at her disposal. “You’re the one playing with fire.” She plucks a large flogger from the collection and runs her fingers through the tassels. “And I want to know how hot you like to burn.”

A smile spreads across my face. “Do your worst, Butterfly.”

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