Page 44 of Bind Me, Sir

We’d only been to the church three times since moving in together, and even though Lily feigned hatred at me for stealing away her right hand, her twinkling eyes the evening before while rocking one of the twins revealed her happiness over being the one who brought us together.

It was the sight of my love holding the other twin, cooing and cuddling the small bundle that had settled my mind entirely upon what I’d planned for our trip north.

I’d brought Natalie to the Laurent estate for one purpose, but seeing her with a baby had filled me with a desire for so much more. And, I always got what I wanted.

After washing up in the bathroom, I returned with a warm wet towel, taking care of my sweet submissive, the woman who had tumbled into my life with a scattering of papers. It hadn’t been easy, it hadn’t been a smooth transition as we learned one another, but through the months, I’d fallen deeply in love with her spirit. Her kindness. Her giving nature.

She’d eventually written to Luna, who sat in jail—where she belonged—and offered her forgiveness even though her sister hadn’t asked for it. It took six more months before Luna finally sent a reply. Jail had been the answer, just as Natalie had hoped.

Luna had become a new woman, changed for the better, and even I choked up as Natalie read her letter out loud, tears pouring down her face. That had been a week prior, the same night I decided to make Natalie mine, permanently.

I took my time unwinding the ropes tying her arms behind her back, the imprint left on her skin almost as satisfying as the soft smile on her lips as she floated in subspace.

Once released, I held her to my chest and lounged against the bed’s headboard, our breath the only sound in the candle-lit church. Darkness reined beyond the electric candle in the window, but no such darkness surrounded us.

Natalie had brought a light to my life I hadn’t realized I’d been missing. I smiled more. Didn’t work as much. Enjoyed a full month on my yacht doing nothing but drinking wine, fucking, and sleeping.

We forced ourselves to visit a few of the countries in the Mediterranean we explored, but it had been our visit to my parents in Greece that highlighted our vacation.

My parents adored Natalie as much as I did, my mother thanking me for choosing such a wholesome girl as we’d said our goodbyes. Since I couldn’t have Natalie’s parents’ blessing, I’d been thrilled to have mine.

Natalie let out a sigh, and I smoothed back a few dark strands that stuck to her forehead.

“Okay, love?”

“Mmm.” She snuggled against my chest, one hand on my heart, the other wrapped around my back, clutching at me as though afraid I might let her go. I had no intention of ever doing such a thing.

I eased open the bed stand drawer and pulled out the small box I’d entrusted to Mrs. Hummel’s care earlier that day. A flick of my thumb lifted the lid, and I slid the chain inside over my thumb.

I touched the locket dangling on the end to Natalie’s hand on my chest, slowly sliding it up her forearm.

She gasped and stiffened—and I knew she’d finally opened her eyes. “Jordan?” she whispered, and I eased her up to sit on my lap.

Without a word, I undid the clasp on the choker and fit it around her neck, my focus on relocking it above her breast bone.

“Not too snug, is it?” I asked, once I’d clasped the two ends together.

Eyes sheened over with tears, she shook her head.

“I love you, Natalie,” I said, cradling her face in my hands. “Every inch of you, every silly tick and flaw that makes you, you.”

A tear slid from her eye, and I kissed it away, licking the saltiness off my lip while pulling back once more.

“I love you, too,” she whispered, words I never tired of hearing.

“Let me worship you for the rest of our lives, love. Please.”

She laughed through her tears. “I suppose I could live with that.”

“And you’ll let me tie you up whenever I want?”

“Yes.”

“And spank your silly ass when you need it?”

“Please.”

I grinned and hovered my lips over hers. “There’s something more I want to give you, though.”

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