Page 48 of Tower

“This isn’t my pissed face, Azalea.” He gingerly took the garment from her and dropped it to the floor. “I don’t want to talk about clothes anymore, or social conversations, what I want is your body naked, sprawled out on my bed.” He reached around her and snagged the laptop, shutting it. “Make that happen.”

“Make that happen?” she laughed. “Like I’m one of your employees?”

“No.” He turned his dark stare on her. “Like you’re a good girl who doesn’t want to end up with a spanking instead of a fucking.”

Her jaw dropped.

“But—”

He closed in on her space, gripping both of her nipples and pulling them toward him until she cried out, and then he lessened the stretch.

“Butnothing. I’m making you mine, Azalea.”

She whimpered when he released her. The return of the blood flow to her nipples stung, and she tried to rub it away. He swatted her hands away.

“You never cover yourself from me.” His words were hard, like he wanted to be sure she knew he meant business, that he was the one holding the reins, and she could either comply or be punished. And she’d seen how much he loved to punish.

She had no doubt he would switch to the paddle instead of thinking of sex if she resisted him.

And did she really want to resist him? Hadn’t she already decided that afternoon while she worked on his business that she wanted him to take her? She wanted every part of her to be touched by him. Even if they were only together for a short time. Even if she was going back home with her mother when she arrived. To have that memory. To feel his desire for her, to sense the urgency and know she gave him everything. She could live on that memory for a long time.

“If I say no?” she asked, already toying with the hems of the black leggings.

“I’ve never forced a woman,” he replied, his expression stone cold.

It wasn’t much of an answer, but what had she expected? Even if he had forced a woman, would he cop to it? Would he tell her the truth?

In their time together, as far as she was aware, he’d never lied to her. Studying him, she looked for a crevice in his honesty, a crack in that stern exterior. Nothing.

“Are you saying no, Azalea?” His voice was husky.

“Shouldn’t a girl’s first time be…I don’t know...” She felt her cheeks heat at the implication. She was going to sayspecial, but what did that even mean?

He gave a low laugh. “Want me to spread rose petals all over the bed for you? Light a few candles? Maybe write you a quick sonnet?”

“No.” And she didn’t. She couldn’t imagine it being that way with him. With all his sharp edges and dark glares, he’d look out of place. It would be—wrong.

“You’re mine, now, Azalea. And I always take care of what’s mine. Always.” He inched closer to her, taking away what little space stood between them.

She believed him. Even when her mind rebelled and told her she shouldn’t be giving over to him. She never should have agreed to play his little game and let him own her for the short time they were together. Even if he offered everything she wanted, she should have held firm and told him to fuck off.

But she would never get to do anything in her life if she always listened to that horrible voice in her head telling her to be good, to do what she was supposed to do and lay low.

“You’re still dressed,” he said, pulling the elastic of her leggings away from her stomach then snapped it back in place.

Hooking her thumbs into the band, she pushed them down to her ankles, bumping her head on his chest as she bent over slightly. He didn’t back up, didn’t give her room, simply stood his ground.

Like always.

Like she’d come to expect from him.

Once she managed to step out of the leggings, she shoved them to the side. Not sure where to put her hands, she clasped them together behind her, figuring if she covered her sex he’d slap them away.

“Very good,” he whispered, trailing the tips of his fingers over her collarbone. “Get on the bed, Azalea,” he ordered.

She took a deep breath and pushed herself up onto the bed, scooting back as far as the headboard would allow her. As much as she wanted him, wanted him to be her first, she had a bubble of fear in her belly.

When he touched her, it was easy to forget how experienced he was. She didn’t think about all the other women he’d been with or who he would be with once she was gone. When he touched her, looked into her eyes, he made her unable to think about anything other than him.

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