Page 69 of Fighting Conviction
A wicked smile inched across his face. “Unfortunately, the things I have in mind today are not nearly as fun as what’s going on in your head. Although, I’d be really fucking interested to see where that imagination is taking you right now.”
Disappointment twisted up in the lust consuming her body, but when Dev snapped the rope like a folded belt, the clapping sound made her thighs quake from how hard she was squeezing them together.
Ellie closed her eyes and took a breath to center herself. If he was going to keep teasing her, she wasn’t going to take the bait anymore. Two could play at that game.
She opened her eyes and adopted a smirk before crossing her arms. “Whatever, get on with the lesson then,sir.”
A rumbling formed in Dev’s chest and fire lit the forest green in his eyes. Why she’d chosen to poke the demon, she had no idea.
“You know exactly why, girl. And I fuckin’ approve.”
Sasha whistled inside her mind, and Ellie braced herself for the wave of misery that accompanied their inner conversations. Ellie had started hearing less from her friend in the past couple of months and Sasha had been radio silent since the store incident. The only thing Ellie could do in the moment was hope all the self-help had prepared her for the worst.
But when her pulse remained calm and her heart didn’t try to tear itself out of her chest to get away from the pain, she let the tension in her muscles relax. Dev was looking at her with a tilted head, but said nothing as she smoothed down her loose midriff hoodie for something to do with her hands. Inside, she didn’t know how to feel about…notfeeling guilty.
Deep down, she knew it was healthy for her to move on, and fewer talks with a ghost was a good step in the process. Even with all the talks with her therapist, cognitive-behavioral exercises, and meditations, on some level, Ellie had still expected to regret the moments she didn’t think about her friend. To feel remorse over being the one left behind, and having the audacity to forget her for a second. But all she felt was gratitude. For who Sasha was, the friendship they had, and the person she’d help Ellie become.
Ellie closed her eyes and spoke to her friend, at peace with the fact their conversations were getting few and far between.
Thanks, Sash.
She looked up to find Dev watching her with soft, knowing eyes. “That’s… nice.”
“What?”
“That.” He stretched across the small table and brushed her bottom lip with his finger. “This smile. It’s nice to see. I’ve been seeing it around more lately and it’s a relief.” He stroked her cheek, sending shivers down her spine, and dropped his hand before turning back to the props. “Today, we’re going to work through escape techniques.” He picked the handcuffs up and twirled a cuff around with his index finger. “Pick your binding, angel. First one’s your choice.”
Ellie gulped and looked at the item until her eyes stung. What a freaking choice indeed.
“What’s it gonna be, baby?”
“Uh…” She sifted through all the scenarios in her mind, spending a little extra time on the ones involving handcuffs. And while each fantasy made her clit throb with anticipation, her anxiety and adrenaline got the best of her and she blurted out the worst possibility. “That one. The duct tape.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Devil’s smile lessened and he tried not to read too much into the look of panic that crossed over her face. He grabbed the tape and tossed it in his hand, attempting nonchalance and trying his best not to look disappointed. If she wasn’t ready, she wasn’t ready, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to pressure her. How fucked up would that be?
“Alright, let’s do this. We’re going to simulate a kidnapping situation.”
Ellie pursed her lips and shook her head. “But I wasn’t tied up when I was kidnapped. Just high.”
What she said didn’t surprise him, but how she said it was a kick in the gut. He’d figured they didn’t tie her up. Most trafficking situations don’t require ropes and duct tape. Drugged, pliable victims were easier to move in plain sight.
No, it was her casual delivery, like they weren’t talking about the most traumatic event in her life, that made him want to burn the McIntosh Hotel down to hunt and kill the assholes who’d done this to her.
Good thing he wouldn’t have to wait long. Tomorrow was the big day. If everything went smoothly, they’d save victimsandrid the world of a few more demons.
His fingers itched at the prospect but he had to tone down his anticipation. Ellie couldn’t know about the plan, not yet anyway, so he cleared his throat and moved on.
“I know, baby. But not every situation is the same. Go ahead and lay down.”
Ellie hesitated and looked around. “O-on the floor? Or…” She pointed and did a one-eighty until her finger indicated the bed.
Devil hid a smile. Fuck, he couldn’t wait to tryanythingwith her on the bed, let alone bondage. “The floor will do… for now.” He watched her carefully and his cock twitched at the crestfallen look on her face. Did she want him as badly as he wanted her?
It’d been thirty-one days since he’d tasted her and twenty-eight days of pure torture keeping his hands off her since she fainted. For twenty-eightfuckingdays he’d backed off, letting her focus on herself so he wouldn’t interfere in her recovery.
And fuck, she seemed fully recovered now. Her skin had its healthy golden glow back, and the sunken bags under her eyes were gone. She seemed happier, too. No, shewashappier, he could tell. Earlier, when he’d said it was nice to see her smile, he hadn’t been blowing smoke up her ass.
