Page 82 of Clawed
“I’ve never been much of a fan of safe words, but for you, I will try.”His free hand rose to her face and gently cupped her heating skin.“For you, I will do almost anything.”
“This is insane, sir.”She turned to kiss his fingers.
“Completely,” he agreed.“But if you say yes to coming away with me, I’ll be the happiest man alive.”
Her lips stretched wider.“You haven’t told me where yet.”
“How about the north of Scotland?”He was thinking off the top of his head.“We can drive there, so no passport control, and it’s far enough away that no one will recognize us.”
“I’ve never been, sir.”
“You’ll love it.”The hand she’d kissed slipped to her nape and held her steady as he went on.“There’s so much space and nature.It’ll be easy to get lost.”
“And you won’t m-make me stay?”Suddenly, she seemed unsure, her body tensing beneath his touch.“If we get there and I change my mind, you’ll let me go?”Meeting his eyes, she swallowed.
Understandably, that concern was at the core of any remaining reticence Hannah had.He’d been a ruthless master to her too many times for her to trust him entirely, but he hoped, with time, he could help her have faith in him.
“I’m going to do everything I can to persuade you otherwise.”He smirked, imagining all of those delightful techniques he could employ.“But yes, if ultimately, that’s really what you want, you can leave.”
He didn’t want to envision letting her walk away, but equally, he couldn’t ask for any more than taking the leap of faith with him.She was putting everything on the line.They both were.
“Okay.”Her answer was almost lost to her breathy exhalation.“I’ll come to Scotland with you, Mr.Lawes, sir.”
He wanted to cheer with happiness, but sitting there, he only smiled.“You won’t regret it, little girl.”
“You’d better make sure I don’t, sir.”
Her tone was remarkably brave for the woman he’d already repeatedly mastered, and it indicated that, despite her misgivings, she already had a level of trust in him.
She wouldn’t have been there at all, otherwise.
“Any more comments like that and I’ll turn you over my knee.”Leaning across the gearshift, he whispered the words softly, enjoying the reflexive panicky gleam in her eyes.
Her breathing sped up as she searched his face for clues about his intent, but before she could cast her judgment, he swooped, finally stealing the kiss that belonged to him.
Chapter Thirty-Two
