Page 14 of Closer

His fingers trail up my neck, over my racing pulse, grasping my chin. “Tell me you’re mine.”

I shut my mouth. But oh, how I want to. How I ache to surrender completely and be consumed by this man who does own me, body and soul.

“Say it.” He crooks his finger inside me. “Say you’re mine.”

My lips part, poised to surrender. It’s pretend. “I’m yours.”

“Give me your hand.”

“Why?”

“Give me your left hand.”

I place it into his.

“You don’t need that anymore.” He grasps the ring and twists it off. “Much better.”

The bare skin feels exposed, vulnerable after wearing it for such a long time.

He holds the ring up between us, inspecting how it catches the low light. “Did you like it?”

“What?”

“The ring. Do you like the ring?”

“No.”

“What do you hate about it?”

That it's from Jason. “The stone is too big.”

“Good.” He tosses it behind him. “And now… turn around.”

He helps me down, and I turn. His hand nudges my back, guiding my chest down to the smooth wooden surface.

“Look in the mirror, princess.”

I lift my head.

He reaches for the scissors on the desk, the metal shining in the mirror’s reflection. “Stay still.”

The cool blade grazes my skin. With a few snips, the tension in my chest eases, and the corset falls open, allowing me to take a deep, shuddering breath.

He tosses the scissors aside, his hands skimming up my spine. “Better?”

“Yes.” I breathe out, my skin tingling under his touch.

He bends over, gathering the fabric of my dress and scrunching it up. I watch, transfixed. The hem rises higher and higher, revealing the lacy edge of my garter and the creamy skin above it.

“Beautiful,” he murmurs, almost to himself.

I meet his eyes in the mirror. The hunger in them matches the ache building inside me, the need only he can satisfy.

“Sebastian.” His name falls from my lips, half plea, half warning.

His hand stiffens on my hip, and I brace myself against the desk. In the mirror, I see a woman I barely recognize. Hair mussed, cheeks flushed,eyes dark with desire. A far cry from the poised bride I was supposed to be today.

But it’s me. I feel like myself again.

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