Page 44 of Raising the Sun

Success.

“What on earth are you…?”Or not.He shifted for a better angle to gape at me with his wide, startled eyes—not the expression I was going for. “No, you… Ash, no! You definitely are not doing that. No way.”

I frowned.

Had he not heard me?

I was offering to lay his enemies at his feet, should the situation call for it. What was more romantic than that?

“Why not?” I said. “If you are wronged, I’d wish to make them pay for it.”

“That’s—” He chewed on the rest of his sentence, snort-huffing as he cast his eyes back to the TV, only for them to return seconds later, sparkling with awareness. “Are you… are you trying to be sweet? Because chocolates would do the job.”

I scoffed. As if confectionery was anything compared to what I offered. “How droll.”

“Not to me! I love chocolates. Or, I don’t know, cake? And if it means everyone gets to live, all the better!”

“Torture, then?”

“No.”

I rolled my eyes, tilting my head away so I could sulk without an audience. “You humans are so hard to please.”

“I’m literally the opposite.” He gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his teasing smirk—a recently developed look that never failed to rile me. “Besides, what other humans are you trying to please, hm?”

I shrugged, playing coy. “Well, since you do not appreciate my efforts, I suppose I should seek—”

He kissed me, and it was possessive, no fumbling or awkwardness. His fingers migrated to my neck, curling gently yet firmly enough to hold me in place as he staked his claim. It lit a fire under my skin and wrenched a moan from deep in my throat. Sojealousywas the key to weakening his restraint?

Duly noted.

Isaac seemed to remember himself as we parted, a flush spreading over his freckled cheeks as his eyes darted to everycorner of my face, clearly checking for my reaction and well-being. He removed his hand, flexing his fingers as if not knowing where to place them, or what to do in general.

My cock was so hard it had its own heartbeat.

“So, no killing… okay?” he reiterated, and I was too overcome with the fog of lust to do anything but nod.

Was it any wonder I’d found myself so enamoured with him? Even after spending every day for two months in his presence, he still had the capacity to astonish me. Would it still be that way in a year or so?

I had no doubt.

The film played again, and for a while, I lay there, zoning out as I envisioned all the ways I’d satisfy him later. Perhaps I’d suggest the introduction of nipple clamps, have him squirming and squealing with pain and pleasure, see if he could be coaxed into coming just from tugging on the chains.

I grinned to myself, but even the promise of his raw, puffy chest and pretty pleas wasn’t enough to withstand the singing. Once my cock had flagged, I could only concentrate on the filthy fantasies for so long before the assault on my eardrums became too much.

It was incessant.

Thankfully, it ended just as I felt the urge to flee through the window. That would have been rather counterproductive, considering my plans.

Isaac nudged me to sit up, his bottom lip already between his teeth. “So, did you like it?”

No. “It was interesting.”

“You hated it.”

“No.”Yes. “It was a musical,” I stated. The less I said, the less I had to lie to him, though he appeared mildly offended by my attempts.

“What have you got against musicals?”

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