Page 18 of Cartel Viper
“Please, just leave it alone. If anyone you doubt comes near me, then do something. Otherwise, just fade into the background like you did when we were kids.”
“I worried about you back then. Now I fear for you,chiquita. The guy back then was a teen like us. He was a brute, but hedidn’t have the experience an adult man has. He didn’t have the resources an adult man has. It’s not the same. The danger was significant back then. Be reasonable about how much worse it is now. I’ll protect you no matter what, but it would make my job exponentially easier if you told me everything.”
“If it’s that hard, then quit thisjob.”
The venom in her voice tells me something about that word cuts deeper than I can guess.
“You know what I meant, Maddy. I don’t see you as an obligation or burden, so don’t make me out to be the villain here.”
“I don’t have to.”
That cuts deep.
She’s throwing who I am and who I have to be in my face. She’s pushing me away because I’ve gotten too close. I get her.
“You’re being awkward for the sake of being awkward. Madeline, you’re one wrong word away from that spanking. I told you I won’t bend to your will when it comes to your protection.”
“Don’t scold me,Javier.”
“I’m sorry,chiquita.”
“How is that any better? I’m not a little girl,Javier.”
“Stop that.” My hand tightens around hers. “I wasn’t scolding you when I used your full name. I didn’t mean for it to sound that way. You’ve always preferred it, and I wanted you to know how serious I am. You’re not a little girl. You’remylittle girl.”
That one word—my—reveals more of my feelings than I want, but I can’t ignore the surge of possessiveness and protectiveness that consumes me. I don’t want to ignore it. I want to devour her. I want to be inside her. I’m unprepared for how strong this wave of emotion is. I feel like I’m the vulnerable one now.
I lean in, but I won’t kiss her until she lifts her chin. I won’t take advantage of her when we’ve been discussing someone who’s done nothing but take advantage of her, albeit in a different way. She speaks before I can bring my lips to hers.
“I’m not a Little, Javi.”
That makes me pause. I draw back enough to look her in the eyes.
“I’m not a Daddy Dom. Were you someone’s sub, and it got too rough? They didn’t respect your boundaries? Is that what happened?”
“No. You are a Dom, though.”
It’s not a question, but I answer anyway.
“I am.”
She swallows before her gaze drops to my lips. Hers part.
“You’re not a sub, but you want to try, don’t you?”
She remains quiet, so I continue to do the talking. I watch her to gauge whether I’m headed in the right direction.
“You want someone else in control right now. You want someone who’ll take care of you. Make you feel special, protected, desirable, and deserving of their attention. You want to obey because you want your only focus to be on your Dom. You want the freedom to try new things. You want to know that ultimately you decide whether to stop or keep going. You need that power, even if you don’t want to control the scene. It’s why each time I threaten to spank you, you get wet.”
Her nostrils flare. I suspected—hoped—but that confirmed it. When her cheeks flush a deep red, it’s not desire like I feel. It’s mortification. She thinks I know how she reacts to me from some embarrassing indicator. I lean forward and bring my lips to just behind her ear. I let them brush her skin as I speak.
“My dominance might make you wet, but you’ve been keeping me hard since the moment I laid eyes on you in that hotel.”
“Do I have to submit?”
“You already did,chiquita. But I won’t force you to do it completely. Keep your wall around you—for now—but it’s already crumbled in parts. You didn’t leave the restroom the moment you found me. The moment I put my hand on you. The moment I insisted you let me help. The moment I told you to get in my car. The moment my hand touched yours. You’ve stayed, so you’ve already submitted.”
“Javi.”
