“You left me,” she spits, her voice breaking on the last word. “You fucked me and then you left me. And instead of trusting that what we shared in the cage meant something, you fucking chained me like an animal.”
The accusation hits harder than her slap. “I had to go.”
“Bullshit.” Her eyes shine too bright, unshed tears making them look almost silver in the moonlight. “You used me, got what you wanted, and walked away. Just like every other fucking person in my life.”
“Nick called and woke me up,” I say, the truth raw in my throat. “He needed my help with the family business—”
“What was it?”
Even though I shouldn’t, I answer her. “There were problems with a shipment that ended with bodies on the docks. I didn’t have a choice, Eve.”
“There’s always a choice,” she counters, but there’s less conviction in her tone.
“Not in my family. Not when Nick says jump.” I keep my fingers inside her as we argue, feeling her clench around me despite her anger. “I would have come back sooner if I could.”
A flicker of doubt crosses her face. “You could have left a note. Said something. Not just—”
“I know.” The admission costs me, but I give it anyway. “I should have told you. But I didn’t think it would matter to you.”
“Didn’t think it would…” She laughs, bitter and sharp. “You really don’t understand anything, do you?”
Before she can say more, I withdraw my fingers and lift her body onto the stone railing. Her eyes widen with genuine fear as she registers her position—back to the open air, nothing but a thirty-foot drop to the ground below.
Her hands scramble for purchase, finding my shoulders and digging in. “Jack,” she gasps, panic edging her voice. “What are you doing?”
I press my body between her spread thighs, one hand gripping her hip to steady her, the other coming up to circle her throat. “Teaching you to trust me,” I growl against her ear.
Her body trembles against mine, every muscle tense with the effort of staying balanced. The cold stone must be biting into her thighs, but that’s the least of her concerns with only my grip keeping her from falling backward into darkness.
“I could let you go,” I whisper, my fingers tightening slightly around her throat. I groan when I feel her pulse jump. “Right now. One little push and you’d be gone.”
A whimper escapes her, raw and primal. Her nails dig deeper into my shoulders. Fuck, I wish I wasn’t wearing my tux jacket and shirt. I want to feel her nails dig into my flesh.
“But I won’t,” I continue. “Because you’re mine. And I protect what’s mine.”
“Jack…” Her breathless plea goes straight to my cock.
“Open my pants,” I demand.
Her eyes widen like saucers as she bites down on her bottom lip. “I-I can’t,” she stutters. “I don’t trust you enough to let go.”
I chuckle darkly. “If you don’t do it, I’ll have to. And then you have to trust I won’t break your hold.” Pausing, I let my words hang in the air for a minute or two. Long enough, I know she understands completely. “Either way, you’ll have to trust me.”
She lets out a small cry and curses my name to Hell and back. But none of that matters when she lets go and reaches for my belt. “Don’t fucking let go,” she spits.
Then she undoes my belt, her hands trembling. Next, she pops the button and lowers the zipper on my pants, reaching for my cock. She freezes for a split second when she realizes I’m not wearing boxer briefs, but then she licks her delicious lips while pulling my dick out.
“Mhmm, so you can be a good wife,” I rasp, squeezing my eyes shut. “Do you feel how hard I already am for you? Do you feel my cock throbbing in your hand?”
Eve whimpers and squeezes the base of my cock harder before stroking it firmly. I groan when her soft hand runs along the studs.
“Now, remove your underwear,” I instruct.
Sadly, she lets go of my dick and reaches under her dress. But no matter how much she tries, she can’t really get rid of her panties without having to move more than she’s comfortable with.
I chuckle darkly. “Do you need my help?” If eyes could kill, I’d be a pile of ash from the look she shoots me. But eventually, she nods. “Ask me for it,” I command.
“No.”