Page 224 of Heartless Legacy

If I quit, I’m supposed to say I submit. That’s not happening, so I complete three more reps in quick succession. At this point, I’m using the momentum of my body to swing them up, but it counts. I finish the last rep and lean forward, dropping the weights by my feet, then head over to a corner to stretch and wait for Wolfe to finish his lesson.

Pax comes over a few minutes later. “I can drop you off at home so you don’t have to wait.” I consider his offer. I can really use a piping hot shower and some comfy clothes right now. He adds, “I promise no trips to cabins this time around.”

It takes considerable effort to press my hands against the floor as I work to get on my feet. “Fine. Lemme let Wolfe know I’m leaving.”

Pax escorts me all the way up to my door, then follows me inside, going room to room checking to make sure nobody’s here. I point out, “It’s highly unlikely that someone got inside the building and into my apartment.”

“Unlikely doesn’t mean impossible. If someone figures out who you are before we’re ready, they’ll come for you.” He finishes his checks, then comes back into the living room and sits on my couch.

“What are you doing?”

“Hanging out until Finn or Deacon gets here, and don’t waste your time arguing. It was Deacon’s idea.”

Hefting my gym bag onto my shoulder, I say, “Whatever. I’m gonna shower.”

The water feels amazing against my skin, and by the time I drag myself out of the shower, my muscles feel looser. Wearing nothing but my robe, I make my way across the apartment to Finn’s room to find my brush. He keeps stealing shit out of my bathroom, so I’ll have to come to his room and use it.

His shower’s running. I drop onto the bed to wait for him to finish. If I go inside the bathroom, he’ll try to drag me into the shower and distract me from my complaints about him taking my stuff. When the water cuts off, I say, “I thought we had a deal.You don’t take my stuff out of my room, and I don’t set your things on fire in the parking lot when I change the locks.”

The bathroom door opens and Pax stands in the doorway, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. I get an up close look at just how much his body’s changed. He was jacked before, but he’s added a little more muscle mass and definition.

Every tattoo on his body has a meaning, so I ask about the ones he got last month. “What’s the story about that?” I ask, pointing to his eye.

“It’s your scratch marks.”

“Yeah, right. As much as I’d like to take credit, I can’t. I haven’t kicked your ass lately.”

“It’s from the last time you put your hands on me.” He drags a second towel through his hair, drawing my attention to the yellow star on his hand. “And that?”

“My reward for being consistent.”

He’s got my scratch marks on his face, and the gold star I drew on his hand. I’ve been making him do menial tasks, getting a sick sense of satisfaction from bossing him around, but he’s been wearing my marks for a month.

That’s sexier than the sight of him standing in front of me in nothing but a towel. Getting off the bed, I walk over to him, reaching up to touch the scratch. “Did it hurt?”

“I’ve had worse.”

Scanning the many designs on his body, I ask, “Which ones?”

“Elbow and neck.”

I finger those areas, then let my hand drift down to the towel. “You said you only get tattoos that hold some significance to you. What’s the story behind those?”

“No story. Just a statement of fact, that I belong to you.”

I’m feeling bold when I say, “Prove it.”

He unties the sash on my robe, pushes it open, and drags his thumbs over my nipples- toying with them until I’m squirmingin his hands- then drops to his knees and takes my clit into his mouth, still teasing my nipples. One hand is on his head, my fingers flex in his hair, I brace my other hand on his shoulder to help keep my balance.

He moans, grunts, and slurps at me until I climax. When my eyes open, he’s staring up at me. “How’s that?”

Fantastic. Amazing. Rejuvenating. I don’t say any of that. “It’s a start, but I’m not feeling the subjugation just yet.”

“I’m here to serve you, Nem.”

“You’re on your knees looking cocky as shit. That’s not screaming humble servant.”

“Then tell me what I can do or say to make you feel in complete control?”

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