Page 190 of Irreversible

She swallows. “I don’t expect it to be.”

That’s all the permission I need.

“Good.” I angle my chin toward the floor. “Then get on your knees.”

Her eyes flare.

My dick grows hard as a steel pipe—to borrow a phrase I never thought I’d use from those smutty novels Everly used to read. “Care to test me? Because I never back down from a challenge.”

It only takes a few heartbeats, a slight, visible pulse along the side of her throat, and she sinks to the floor.

I draw a hissing breath through my teeth and let it out as a sharp pang of lust hits me.

Perfect.

Even fully clothed, she’s never been so sexy. That nervous determination in the tight set of her jaw—she may not be a natural submissive, but curiosity has her here, on her knees, wanting to explore the connection we once had. Handing me her trust.

It’s a gift that unravels the last threads of bitterness I’ve been holding on to.

Our past is history. She’s here now.

And she’s mine.

Stepping in so my feet bracket her calves, I look at her. “Let your hair down for me.”

Her hands sink into the mass of hair knotted in a thick pile on the top of her head. Once released, it falls in a heavy cascade over her shoulders and down her back.

“Look at you. On your knees for me.” Humming with satisfaction, I trail my knuckles down the side of her face. “You’ve needed this for a long time, haven’t you? Someone totake control. Make your blood sing with the thrill of it. Push your limits, then reward you when you’re good.”

She glances down.

“Unless it’s not a reward you’re after…”

I bite back a smile when she pulls in an audible breath.

Wrapping my hand around her chin, I lift, letting my fingers dig into her jaw. “Look at me, Everly.”

With glittering eyes, she obeys.

“I see you, fighting the urge to flip me off and see what happens.” I drop my hand to my side. “Remove my belt.”

She hesitates…but only for a second, then she reaches for me.

My cock swells, so engorged it’s painful. But delaying gratification is worth the wait. For both of us.

When she places the belt in my open palm, I fold it in half, pulling the ends sharply so the snap echoes through the room.

A shiver travels through her body.

“Now, take me out. Then put your hands behind your back.”

She unzips my jeans, freeing my erection from my boxers. Her nostrils flare when it jerks in her hand, but she releases me and follows my direction.

Circling behind her, I loop my belt around her wrists and secure them. Coming to a stop in front, I tuck her hair behind her ears, letting my fingers trail down the side of her face with more tenderness than I knew I was capable of.

Damn. If I thought she was sexy before…

The way she looks now—bound and helpless, handing me her trust—nearly makes me come right where I stand.

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