Page 76 of Text Me, Take Me

The orgasm crashes through me, stealing my breath as I clench around him. He throbs deep inside, spilling with a raw, primal sound. We ride it together, panting, shaking, my hands braced on his chest, his arms finally wrapping around me, pulling me down into him.

He holds me there, his heart pounding against mine.

I let my forehead fall to his shoulder, my hair damp with sweat, his body flushed and trembling beneath me.

“Still in control?” he asks, tone teasing.

I lift my head, smile. “Always.”

“I’ll die if I let you go.”

I should panic. But his tone isn’t possessive this time. It’s worshipful. Hopeful. And I feel it too. Our flavor of crazy: the desire to be chained.

I press a kiss to his chest, let myself melt into his warmth, and whisper, “Then don’t. I love you, Dom.”

“Hush–you don’t have to say anything tonight.”

“I mean it,” I tell him. “I love you, and I’m tired of pretending, of fighting. I don’t care how we started; I just care where we’re going.”

“You’ve been through a lot?—”

I prop my arm on his chest, sitting up, staring confidently at him. “Listen to me.I love you.”

He leans up, finding my lips. “I love you too.”

CHAPTER 27

DOM

One Week Later

Iwait in the bar’s backroom in San Bernardino. A couple Vultures are clinging onto the idea they can go up against me, though most have seen sense and fled south. My phone buzzes. It’s Evie, labelled asKeepsakein my contacts.

Keepsake: This piece is absolutely enthralling. Whoever gets this engagement ring is going to be one lucky lady.

I smile. A genuine ear-to-earn grin that feels almost second nature since I met Evie. This past week has been heaven. We’ve spent every night together, in bed, sharing meals, talking dreamily about the future.

After that first night when she came to me and took control, I felt a shift in her. It was like she tattooed the truth into her being. She has agency. She can take the lead. I was powerless to her thatnight, completely enthralled, her prisoner, as she rode me and made me hers.

Since then, the L-word has flowed like wine.

Dom: I know you’re doing an incredible job. Soon, it’ll be time to establish a permanent location and start taking regular orders. You’re going to be amazingly successful.

Keepsake: I have more ideas about my business, actually. I got my start turning everyday bits of metal into jewelry, right? What if that’s my whole schtick? I could have customers bring in pieces from their lives and interweave them into custom jewelry.

My smile somehow grows wider, more magical.

Dom: That’s an incredible idea.

Keepsake: Is ‘the thing’ done yet?

Once upon a time, I wouldn’t have discussed this with Evie, but we keep no secrets from each other now. There’s only openness, like when we discussed my CEO role and how stressful this week has been… catching up on all the work I missed while I was hunting the Vultures. But the dark times are behind us, and we’re moving into the light.

Dom: I’m waiting for the remaining Vultures to arrive.

Keepsake: Be careful. I’d hate for us to go through all this to have it end here.

Dom: We’re not even close to the end. This is just the beginning, Evie. This is our first chapter.

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