Page 53 of Redeeming Rabbit

“I think it’s the clothes. They make me feel powerful. I think I like it.”

I did, too. So goddamn much, I was already picturing her in a leather corset.Fuck.I closed my eyes and tried to think about sports and cars and shit. Elenore was the only thing on my mind. And she was wearing knee-high boots, a thong, pasties, and wielding a whip.

“No. You’re in total control,” I told her honestly.

She gave my cock another squeeze through my pants. “Good. I believe I’m also angry that you didn’t return my texts.”

“That’s fair.” It was. Ghosting her had been a dick move. At the time, I’d believed my actions to be justified, but what I’d done had hurt her. I could see that now, and I regretted it. “But I’m glad it brought out this side of you. Unreserved. Confident… Naughty.”

She gave me one last squeeze and released me. “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way.”

She was quotingWho Framed Roger Rabbit. Had she also watched it, missing me?

Stunned by the possibility, I let her lead me inside and through the crowd to find Tina standing in a cluster of ol’ ladies, who were likely welcoming her into their fold.

I’d long ago accepted that people are individuals and shouldn’t be painted in broad strokes based on shit like gender, race, and sexual orientation. It’s what’s inside a person that determines whether they’re someone I want to know. The ol’ ladies… they were all something special. I’d never seen them be mean and catty or team up on each other like girls used to do in high school. These chicks worked together, even forming a non-profit to help other women out of shitty situations. Every time I saw them, I wondered what my mom would have been like if she’d had friends like the ol’ lady tribe. Maybe she wouldn’t have looked for support in asshole men. Rose needed friends like them.

Elenore, as well. A better man would have left her with them and given them space, but I wasn’t leaving her side. My brothers kept throwing interested glances at her, so I closed in to stand at her back. Her skirt was so fucking short that if she bent over, she’d give everyone a show, so I blocked the view. Folding my arms across my chest, I glared at the room. I’d done a lot of weird shit in my time; nevertheless, something about tonight’s behavior must have been extra concerning because everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at us.

I fought the urge to pound on my chest and scream, “She’s mine, fuckers!” Instead, I gestured for everyone to turn around and mind their own goddamn business.

Tina pulled Elenore to the side, and I followed. “What’s going on?” she asked, her tone both amused and concerned.

“We made out in the parking lot,” Elenore replied, her tone almost clinical. “I believe I may have inadvertently started the launch sequence.”

“The launch sequence?” Tina didn’t seem to pick up on the innuendo. “Is this a cry for help? Do you need assistance? Should I call Kaos?”

I’d been silently chuckling over Elenore’s phrasing for foreplay, but I bristled at the insinuation she wasn’t safe with me.

“No. I may not be an astronaut, but I’m still a scientist. I’ll figure it out.”

“Did someone drug you? Blink twice if you need help.”

Elenore waved her sister off. “I’ve got everything under control. Isn’t that right, Roger?” Her gaze made a slow perusal of me that about melted my jeans off.

The woman was trying to drive me mad, and it was working. Removing my cut, I wrapped it around Elenore’s ass because it covered a hell of a lot more than her skirt and wouldn’t show her business when I took her out of here. When I straightened, my thumbs grazed the swell of her breasts, causing lust to flash in her eyes.

“W-what are you doing?”

“It’s been a month, Poe. I’m not waiting any longer.” I slung her over my shoulder, carefully keeping her ass hidden beneath my cut.

Tina took a step forward and opened her mouth, likely to object, but Kaos appeared at her side and wrapped an arm around her waist. I nodded at him and turned to leave with my prize.

Catcalls broke out across the room, but I couldn’t care less. I flipped the jealous bastards off as I marched past with my hand planted in the center of Elenore’s ass. To my surprise, she didn’t protest as I climbed the stairs to my room, where I slowly slid her down my chest. The press of her body felt incredible against mine, and I had to fight the urge to rub myself against her, showing her precisely how hard she made my cock. Had I not been concerned she’d hightail it out of there, I probably would have. But the next few moments were crucial to any future she and I would have. Since the moment I’d plowed into her, I’d been developing a plan.

The bottom line was that I didn’t need Elenore to love me back. Sure, it would be advantageous, but love wasn’t necessary. There were other needs I could fulfill, and I planned to make myself so damn useful she’d have to keep me around. Thanks to the club girls, I had tons of experience in the bedroom and took direction like one of Hollywood’s leading men. Since they only fucked around with those who made it worth their while, I learned early on to pay laser-focused attention to the noises women made.

Elenore’s moans had taught me a great deal the first time I’d been between her legs. I’d discovered several pleasure points with my tongue and fingers I couldn’t wait to exploit with my cock. I would work her over until she forgot her own name, doing shit to her body that would make her crave my touch. She might not love me, but I could damn well make her need me.

Determined, I gently set her on her feet and studied her. Hazel eyes—wide with surprise and an emotion I hoped to hell was lust—stared back at me.

Definitely lust. I can work with that.

At least, I should have been able to, but my fuck-up game was strong. And so goddamn reliable, I couldn’t stop myself from blurting out the truth. “I love you!”

At the same time, she said, “We should talk.”

Not the ideal conversation starter for either of us, but at least she didn’t freak out this time.

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