Page 148 of The Invite
And I’m not the kind of woman who’ll put up with it, even though I can’t put a name to what’s happening between us.
Steepling my hands in my lap, I admit, “You scare me, Augustus.”
“I know.” His fingers flex against my sides. “But I can’t take back the things I’ve done to you, Nessa.”
“I’m as much to blame for giving in and not putting up a lot of fight. Actually no, you’re more guilty.” His lips twitch at that before he goes serious again as I heave a frustrated sigh. “My problem is more with the fact that you aren’t sorry for doing all those things to me. You can’t use your desires as an excuse to get away with it and expect me to just get along and let you do whatever you want. What if you push me too far without realizing it? I’m the one who’s going to suffer the consequences.”
“I’ll let you have a safe word.”
My voice rises as I snap. “What good will it do if you just drug me?”
“I won’t without discussing the scene first.”
“So, you plan to do it again?” I ask, aghast.
A wicked light flashes in his pupils and he demands in a husky note, “Unless you let me fuck you whenever and wherever I want, including while you’re asleep.”
There isn't a hint of shame, which should be bothersome, but Augustus is too confident. I’m not one to judge anyone for their dark desires because the past weeks have taught me that I’m cut from the same cloth.
Nevertheless, Augustus’s isn’t a filthy fantasy but far too extreme. It’s ten times more depraved and dangerous craving to claim someone in their most vulnerable state.
Despite it, a thrill shoots straight to my core, igniting the need to squeeze my thighs together. I think my reaction is scarier and problematic at the fact that even a small part of me wants to submit to him.
“How do I believe this isn’t a trick?” I counter.
“Because I do not lie.” His gaze darkens as if he loathes having to say it out loud. Trailing his palm up my spine, he grabs the back of my neck. “I like control in every aspect of my life, especially when I’m fucking. I like it rough and taboo with urges that would usually send a girl running. Sex before you was nothing but a release for me. Then you came along. You ran but you also let me catch you and didn’t fear me. You danced with the devil and begged for more. Tell me I’m wrong that you didn’t love letting me have complete control over you and I’ll walk out of your life.”
This is my chance.
I should be leaping at it because I know he means it.
My lips can’t form a lie, though, under the intensity of his stare, and I blurt out the truth. “You’re not wrong.”
“Then say yes and tell me your safe word.”
“On one condition.”
“Name it.”
“I get to decide the first time you claim me.”
He freezes, rendered stunned, and I almost smile. I bet he didn’t see that coming. He recovers fast and his features become predatory. His lips part to reply but I press a finger against them.
“I’m not finished.” His eyes narrow as I trail my hand lower to caress his smooth jawline and rest it there. “If you want me to relinquish all the power over my body to you, then you’ll sacrifice some of your control too, Augustus. You say you worship me, then prove it. No games, no chase, no cameras, and no drugs. Just you and me.”
“You want to change the stakes between us?” he rasps, roaming his fingers down and slipping under my top to possessively stroke my skin.
“Yes. You’ll stop breaking into my house. Quit stalking me. You’ll delete the recordings you’ve made of us, remove the one you uploaded for your fans, and stop the blackmailing.”
He pinches me punishingly, and taunts, “Sounds like more than one condition, little prey.”
I stifle a moaning gasp, concentrating on negotiating. “It’s my terms or nothing.”
“Nobody has seen the videos of us.”
“What?” My mouth falls open. “But I saw it online.”
“It was a private link only for you.”
