Page 33 of Unleashed

Her eyes open, and a look of challenge meets my gaze. "Well, are you joining me or not?"

The tension crackles in the air between us. For a moment, I don't move. I let the words settle between us, a challenge and an invitation. Her bright blue eyes are wide as if she's surprised even herself, but steady, waiting for me—curiosity tinged with a bit of defiance. My little swan is daring me to come closer, even though she should be running. She's inviting me into her space, laying down whatever fears she has.

"Is that a challenge?" My voice is a low, deep growl. I hold her gaze as I shed my boxers. The air is thick and hot with steam, and as I come closer, her eyes track the movement of my hands. I thought it was dumb as fuck to have this huge bathtub in here when I first took over this room.

My parents' room was on the first floor—not the primary bedroom because they wanted to be nearby when they were raising us. When I became guardian of my siblings and owner of this house, I took over the vacant main suite. I wanted space. This is a good vantage point, most importantly, overlooking the front lawn, with wide open spaces so I can see to the left and right of the estate. Now, having a tub like this doesn’t seem like a waste. Even if we never use it again, it was worth it just to see her naked body submerged in its depths.

Her eyes track the movement of my hands as I brace myself on the edge of the large tub. The control I have over her with the slightest movement sends a surge of heat through me. "Are you impatient, little swan?"

"Why do you call me that?" she asks, licking her lips. She tilts her chin up defiantly as though she's brave, but I know that she's tumbling. I can tell by the way her fingers graze her neck and the way she gasps for air.

"Your nickname. You grew up in Siberia. It seemed fitting."

"Siberia," she says quietly. "I remember that." Fuck. I don't want to trigger her fucking memory. I need her aligned with me before I do. Her memory is going to come back, and I have no idea how or when, but I need her loyal to me before it does. "You're elegant like a swan," I say quietly, changing the subject. "Graceful."

I step into the tub, and her eyes continue to track every movement. I submerge myself into the water, and fuck, it feels good. Can't remember the last time I had a goddamn bath. I reach for her, my knuckles brushing her jaw. I watch as a droplet rolls down my finger and onto her chin. Quietly, I tilt her face upward so she has to meet my gaze.

The pulse in her throat flutters. Her chest rises and falls in the heated water, but she doesn't flinch. I don't see fear in her eyes like I did before, but now something more—a magnetic pull, as if she doesn't even know who she is, but her body does. And it's telling her she wants more. I watch as a flicker of something dark, dense, buried under layers of confusion, passes. She wants to understand, wants clarity, but maybe a part of her remembers I am not someone she can trust. I want to get her focused back on me.

"Up here," I say with a little growl. She flinches, and her eyes meet mine. The heat of the tub envelops us as I scoot closer to her. I reach for her and pull her over to me. She floats easily in the hot water and nestles against my chest, the warmth ofher skin next to mine. My hand splays across her stomach, my thumb grazing the underside of her breast, my pinky right at the little V of her pussy. She has a small, tight, unshaven patch. I rub my thumb along the edge and feel the softness of her satin skin. Underneath the surface, she's strong. I feel her muscles tense beneath my palms, and she does not pull away.

"How is your pain?" I ask gently into her ear.

"It's there, throbbing in the background. But tolerable," she mutters.

"Let me take your mind off of it," I whisper in her ear.

Her eyes close, and she lets her head fall on my shoulder. “Deal.”

My cock throbs beneath her ass.

I rub my thumb over her hard nipple in the water. I cup both breasts, weighing them in my palms and flicking water over them. I place one hand under her ass and lift her so that her breasts break through the surface. I bend and suckle a nipple between my teeth. I bite her lightly, and the way she moans—the sound in the small chamber—makes my dick hard as fuck. I lick and suck, tugging her nipple into the wet heat of my mouth until she's moaning, her mouth parted, her cheeks flushed, and I don't think it's from the heat of the water anymore.

"You have no idea how much I wanted this," I whisper in her ear. "You fought me. Wouldn't let me touch you anymore. Ran from me." I nibble her ear and tug the lobe with my teeth. She gasps, and my voice lowers again. "I should punish you for that."

She shivers, even though it's warm in here. "I should be afraid of your punishment.”

I drag my mouth along her neck and lick the water off her skin. Her pulse quickens under my lips, her body shrinking against mine. I crave her submission, crave her taste. I crave the way she responds to me as though she wants what I can give her, even if her mind betrays her.

I cup her abdomen and slide my hand lower over the warm wetness of her pussy, drawing out a soft gasp from her. I tighten my hold, keeping her close to me, her back against my chest and my cock against her ass. Her breath stutters as I press a finger to her throbbing clit, just teasing, just skimming.

"Tell me you fucking want this," I growl in her ear, my voice a command. "Convince me not to punish you."

"Tell me what that punishment would entail first," she says.

Hot damn. My pulse races.

"You over my knee. My palm across your ass. You, tied to my bedside, naked, while I tease you and bring you to the edge of climax. You, wearing my cum down your neck, back, and breasts while I stroke myself off again and make you watch.” She swallows with widened eyes as I continue. “You, sitting on my face, sucking my cock while I whip your ass, taste your cream, and don't let you come."

"Uhm. That sounds a lot more enticing than being locked in or grounded," she says with that humor.

"I can do that too."

She actually smiles at that, her laughter filling the small room.

"You want this. Admit it." My voice is a dark command.

When she doesn't respond with words, her body tells me everything I need to know. The way she shifts, opening her pussy to me, inviting me to touch her. I press one fingertip to her throbbing clit again and circle. Her head falls back on my shoulder, and she sighs contentedly. My other arm curls possessively around her waist, holding her tight as I press my lips to the hollow of her throat. She lets out a soft whimper, and a dark satisfaction and primal urge surge through me.

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