Page 95 of Ink Deep Devotion

“When did you get home?”

He’s been silent since I was brave enough to have phone sex with him. One week of replaying what I did. One week of him away, leaving me with only my doubts.

Who the hell was I?

I’ve gone through phases of denial, mortification, and pride. Too many emotions.

Is it normal? To make a move, then question it? To relish in it regardless of the risk?

Should I care about the repercussions?

He swipes his thumb back and forth, scratching his thicker beard. It’s handsome on him; he usually shaves, but seeing him like this, more rugged, is a turn-on.

“You washed the sheets.”

I tug at the ropes again. He smirks from behind his hand.

“W…why would I reward you for leaving me?” I sputter, losing control of my confidence because anticipation binds my tongue.

He stands, slowly walking to his closet, and emerges with a black silk tie.“What are you doing?” I clench my legs shut, hoping he doesn’t see how my body is reacting to him.

He tilts his head slowly, looking at my body completely at his mercy in his bed.“Giving you what you want.” He smirks at the silk tie in his hands.“I’m about to play a game, little fox.” He steps closer and leans over me, so his lips press against my frantic heart. He kisses my breast and then moves, circling histongue around my nipple until it hardens.“It’s going to drive you into a state of wild frenzy, but you’ll play nice because foxes are used to running wild. Panting and begging.” He grins as he sucks the fabric and my nipple into his hot mouth.

My back arches, arms yanking that damn rope, but the harder I pull, the tighter the knot becomes.“Dash, let me go.”Let me catch you as you fall.

He snickers,“Why would I do that?” He holds the tie up.“This is what you wanted. To capture my heart, grasp it, and then toy with it. You see, Mila, a hero would have let you go, a villain would have gagged your mouth, but an anti-hero would relish as you beg. That’s what I am right, the anti-hero?”

My mouth pools with saliva. I hurry and gulp, but the sound is like a green light to his ears.

“I’m giving you what you want. You should have stayed away.” He places a knee on the mattress and then leans over me, raising the tie over my face.

“I want your love.”

“You have it!” He growls in hate.“You. Have. It! Happy?”

He’s crumbling and I can’t catch him because of this damn rope holding me down.

“I’m not happy,” He mocks. “I’m going ravenous with hunger for you. Only you! But the more I have you, the more I’m never filled. When will it be enough, Mila? Tell me. Tell me!”

Soft silk blinds me. He ties it around my eyes before I can reply. Darkness forces my other senses to heighten. Every inch of my skin pebbles as his heavy, grief-filled exhales brush against me.

“Let me see you.”

“Your eyes shouldn’t look upon a monster.”

“You’re not a monster.” I move my legs, wrapping them around him, trying to hug him.“You’re the man I love.”

“I don’t deserve your love when all I can interpret is hate. That’s all they fed me when they took me away from you. Hate. Blood. Death. That’s all I see when I close my eyes.”

“But it stops when you touch me, doesn’t it?” I frantically challenge him as I squeeze my legs tighter around his hips.

“It stops,” I repeat.“Let me help you.”

He snickers an ominous rumble.“Your help is only making it worse.”

I feel his weight press down upon me, his lips against my ear.“The man you love can never be. The world will tear us apart. This is all I can give you. You want another stolen moment?”

The zipper of his pants sounds as he shuffles on the bed, struggling because I won’t dare loosen my legs from around him. He shifts, lifts my hips, and rips my cotton shorts off of me.

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