Page 43 of Call You Mine

Until it pings again. And again. And for a third and fourth time.

I scoff, clucking my tongue as I shake my head. “Sounds like they’re eager to get a hold of you.”

“It’s probably just Willa, pissed we walked out on her like that, or Ace who I much rather never speak to again, or—” Her body grows stiff as a glimpse of panic settles in her eyes before she blinks it away, but I caught it. Eyes shot wide, pupils dilated—the same panic that’s been in there since the day she came back to Hillcrest. The day she showed up on my doorstep covered in blood and bruises. Marked by a monster I still know nothing about.

“Or who else, Wynter?” I demand, blood rushing through me at the idea of someone hurting her again. Or worse. Of someone coming to claim her, claim what I’ve just now decided is mine, and take her away.

“No one,” she whimpers, nearly panting, her nimble fingers fumbling as they try to once again wrap around cock. She’s ignoring me which can only mean she’s hiding something. Trying to use me, use my body, to shield her fear.

“That’s not the way it works, Princess,” I force out between gritted teeth. Her hazy gaze travels up my chest and meets my eyes before she once again tries to look away. But I don’t let her. Reaching for her, I grip her chin, forcing her eyes up to meet mine. I lean forward, my lips resting just below hers in this position with enough space our eyes are still locked on one another. “This is a tit for tat type of situation. You give, you shall receive. You hide shit from me and this little game we’ve got going on…” I let out a lazy chuckle. “It ain’t going to work.”

Shooting my hand down I clasp it around her wrist, forcefully halting her movements. It pains me. My cocks throbbing, aching to feel her fingers, her warm mouth, to get inside her. But the anger rising inside me like molten lava, burning through already flammable energy within, is too strong to ignore. She’s fucking lying to me. I can feel her pulse thrumming in her wrists, visible in the veins of her neck.

Wynter rolls her eyes annoyed like she has the fucking right to be. Like I’m the asshole who’s being difficult.

I’m done with her games. If she doesn't want to confide in me, then my dick won’t be getting anywhere near her. “Goddammit Wynter, I told you not to fucking lie to me.”

“I’m not…” She says but I interrupt her, again grabbing her chin between my fingers, only this time with much more force.

“Damon,” she calls out. “You’re hurting me.” The ache in her voice almost snaps me out of my fury but I’m too taken aback by how much she affects me.

My other hand, still wrapped around her wrist as she struggles to make me release her. “Baby, you forget I know everything about you.” Cupping her face in my palm, I trace her red and swollen bottom lip with my thumb, sensitive and soft skin under my calloused fingertip. “The way you look when you’re scared. How your body shivers when I touch you. The way your mouth parts and eyes roll back when you come for me.”

She moans breathless and almost in pain as her hips once again roll above my lap. I grunt, trying to keep her still.

“Damon, please. I’m begging you. Touch me.”

“Tell me who is calling you, baby, and I’ll give you everything you need.”

She shakes her head, closing her eyes as she fights with herself, not knowing which choice to make. She wants this, wants us, wants me, at least enough to make her come. But she also wants to keep her secrets safe from me, from others maybe. Wynter was raised to keep quiet. To keep secrets, avoid questions, and look the other way when she knew things weren’t right.

It’s hard for her to open up now. Rightfully so, but how can I make her see that she can trust me? I’ll keep her safe so long as she’s mine, and there’s no doubt about it.

She. Is. Mine.

Rolling her eyes she climbs off of me, settling back onto the passenger seat, practically naked since her dress is a tattered mess. Grabbing her purse, she digs her phone out and the moment she unlocks the thing, her face goes pale. White, like a fucking ghost.

I lean forward trying to catch a sight of the screen in my periphery, but she quickly jams it back into the bag. Only not quick enough. I caught one thing. One thing that is making my blood boil, rage consuming me so quickly I can feel the fire in my breath.

The signature.XOXO, E.

What the fuck?

“Who the fuck was that, Princess?” I growl, and she visibly shivers in fear.

Taking her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes flicker between me and her fingers twiddling in her lap. “No one.”

“Bullshit. I’m going to ask you once more Wynter, and I swear to God you better think twice before you lie to me again. Who the fuck is sending you a kiss like some lovesick fucker?”

She turns abruptly to face me, her eyes wide and mouthing gaping in shock. Yeah baby, I saw it. “I said it was no one. Now drop it because you're wasting your breath.”

Maniacal laughter echoes in the car, making her so much more anxious than she was.Oh no baby, this isn’t how we play.“You ain’t gonna tell me then? Fine.”

Wynter thinks she can play me again, she’s oh so fucking wrong. She's the one who left, the one who’s always been cagey, jumpy when I ask her questions she doesn’t want to answer. She showed up onmydoorstep after a fucking year, covered in blood, full of bruises and cuts made at the hand of another, one she refuses to tell me about, and I can’t help but think he’s the one who texting her. Sending her fucking kisses like a pussy whipped bastard.

I’m the one who implemented the no sex rule, on the stupid contract I forced myself to make after accepting her ridiculous offer. All because I knew if I didn’t, I’d be powerless against her. Like I always have been. And here I am, the first one about to break the goddamn rule, giving her all the power. I don’t share power—I wield it. And no pussy, no matter how rich or how fucking perfect, is going to make me relinquish it, again.

“That’s it?” She asks, obviously shocked I didn’t push the matter further. Her body relaxes, but that hint of fear still sits deep inside her. She’s not as good at masking her emotions as she once was. Not when she feels so much deeper now.

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