Page 94 of Stay for Me

“W-what?”

“You’re testing my patience again,” I pushed out.

“I was just suggesting—”

“—something stupid,” I finished for her. “You were suggesting I let another man take you out of my home after carrying you down a damn mountain.”

She flinched. “Mags—”

“You aren’t fuckin’ leaving, Diana,” I declared, putting my hat on the hook on the wall. I'd put one up in every room. Her chest began to heave as I kicked the door shut and made my way to her.

“Mags,” she breathed.

I was to the bed, and before I could think differently, I leaned over her as she sank down, my hands on either side of her head as I caged her in. Those hazel eyes, now greener than anything else, were wide, her pants filling my ears, giving me something to fill even more fantasies. For years, I dreamed of this moment. Me, above her in bed as she looked up at me in awe.

“Tell me, right here and now, that you want to leave me,” I challenged.

“I—I—Mags, I was just—”

“You say my name and ‘please’ in the same fuckin’ sentence, I’ll give you anything you fuckin’ want,” I informed her, my heart bleeding now. “That’s the kind of power you have over me, Firefly. Drivin’ me insane, do you understand?”

Her pants grew louder, and my cock twitched, begging for something other than the hand I’d fucked myself with for over a decade.

“M-Mags,” she rasped, her eyes dropping to my lips.

But fuck, if she asked me to kiss her, I would. If she asked me to take back all the pain I’d caused her, I would. If she asked for me to make love to her, I would.

All she had to do was say the goddamn words.

She didn’t know my weakness, not until now. That made my next sentence more dangerous.

“You want to leave, you better say my name and ‘please.’ ‘Cause that’s the only fuckin’ way I’m lettinganyonetake you out of here,” I bit off.“Someone tries to take you from me, I’ll kill ‘em.”

“Okay,” she practically whimpered, the scent of my soap on her surrounding me now.

My eyes dropped to her lips, knowing in my soul she tasted sweeter than I could ever dream.

“Get some rest,” I ordered softly. “I’ll be back later with food.”

Then, I was gone, shutting the door behind me.

It wouldn’t be until hours later, after everyone had finally left for the night, that I finally lost my shit, letting my baby see the worst parts of me, the parts no one should ever see.

Chapter Nineteen

Diana

Therewasasoftknock on the bedroom door, or maybe there had been a few. I didn’t know. I was too busy replaying what just happened with Mags. I was on my fifty-fourth reply when a sharp, loud knock sounded, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Come in,” I called after clearing my throat.

I watched the knob twist, and then Thomas stood before me, his hair in disarray, his eyes solemn. “Diana,” he greeted, his throat bobbing.

Tears formed. “Hi, Thomas.”

He rubbed his nose and cut his gaze from me. “So, uh, I’ve decided you’re not allowed to have any more fun days, and I’ll be emailing Emma to loop her in on this decision immediately.”

A weak but welcome chuckle came from me. “I’ll make a note of that in my calendar.”

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