Page 11 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

“You’re going to do fine, princess.”

“I hope so.”

I cupped her face. Her guard was down, her expression showing her vulnerability, her fear. She needed me to reassure her. She told me once I knew what she needed before she did. Knew she wanted to submit and belong to me before she’d admitted it to herself.

“Even if I’m not right next to you, I’m always there.”

I ran my hand down her jaw and neck before brushing my fingers across the A on the chain around her neck. The first gift I’d given her. I didn’t know it at the time, but I really did love this girl back then. She’d dug her way into my soul and reminded me what it was to feel again.

“Let this remind you. I’m yours and you’re mine.”

“If I didn’t know you any better, I’d say you’re being ridiculously gooey right now.”

I grinned.

“Am I not allowed?”

She shook her head.

“Nope. You’re only allowed to be commanding, rough and brutal.”

Her smile told me she was taking the piss. She craved not just my control, but when I was soft with her too. When I took care of her in the ways I knew how.

I wrapped a hand around her neck loosely. I’d never harm her. If I physically hurt one fucking hair on her head, it’d kill me. I wasn’t like my father or hers.

“Is that so?”

She swallowed, her pulse thudding against my palm.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Go sit at the table before I decide to tie you to it and fuck you.”

I released her neck and stepped back. Her eyes darkened, but she didn’t say anything. She picked up the wine glasses and took them over to the table, setting them down before sitting. She eyed me over the rim of one of the glasses as she brought it to her lips. I knew what she was thinking about. The brutal pounding I’d give her later.

Her phone rang. She slipped it out of her pocket, staring down at the screen for a moment before putting it to her ear.

“What’s up?”

She held the phone away from her ear for a moment.

“Hey, Gert, please, stop screaming.”

She rolled her eyes at me.

“So you got my text? Yeah… You can do this weekend? Good. I’ll ask John if he’s free… Why do I have to have him there? I’ve told you before, my uncle insists on me having a bodyguard… What, no, Aiden can’t come. He’s not allowed to see it before the day… God, you really have no shame. No, I’m not bringing him so you can spend the whole time drooling rather than looking at dresses with me.”

I laughed. Avery told me Gert referred to me as ‘the sex god’ and that had nothing to do with my bedroom skills. She just thought I was hot. Avery didn’t appreciate it in the slightest, having her best friend making eyes at me. It wasn’t like it was serious. Gert had a girlfriend who she was all ‘loved up’ with according to Avery.

“You make me sick. No, for the last time, I’m not telling you how much we have sex so just shut up… I’m hanging up now… Oh god, seriously, Gert, get your fucking mind out of the gutter… Goodbye… No, oh god, no. Enough, I’m going.”

She hung up, staring down at her phone with disgust.

“What did she say this time?”

She looked up at me, placing her phone down on the table.

“You really don’t want to know.”

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