Page 74 of Dominated

There was no reason to deny what he already knew. It didn’t matter how hard I tried to hide these feelings; he could see right through me.

I hated that he had that ability.

That he had hurt me—destroyed everything I had—and yet he still held so much control.

“You’re right … I can’t stop thinking about you.” I pushed my palm against my heart. “But at the same time, I wish you hadn’t done this to me. I wish our circumstances were different.”

“But no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be able to replace me. You’ll never be able to duplicate the feelings you have for me.”

I bent my knee, curling my toes around the edge of the table. “But does that matter?” I drew in some air. “What should matter is that you hurt me. Lied to me. That I don’t know who you really are. And to top it off, you’ve put me in danger. For a man who acts so protective, so alpha and dominant, you’ve placed me directly in the hands of your client. Look what almost happened to me while I was running. If I hadn’t been fast enough, I could have died, Bale. That’s your fault.” Emotion pounded through me. “I don’t think there’s anything left of us to hold on to. I wanted your help, I wanted your protection, but now, oh God, I don’t know.”

“I love you.”

My head instantly dropped, my arm wrapping around my bent leg to tighten myself into a ball.

I’d never heard those words before from a man.

They hit.

Hard.

And the list of side effects that came with it were longer than a prescription medication.

“Don’t love me.” Tremors were moving through me, and I couldn’t stop them. “It hurts too much to hear that.”

He took a breath—the sound so familiar that I could envision the way his chest expanded, his nose flaring the smallest amount, his lips parting. “It’s too late for that. I love you, Pepper. I want to give you everything.”

“Bale …”

“Open your robe.”

My eyes flicked closed, the heat from his words burning them, to the point where I needed them shut.

“Open your fucking robe, Pepper.”

Our language.

The way we communicated.

Did he feel like he wasn’t getting anywhere with me verbally, so he needed to try this route?

Was that what I even wanted?

His physical love?

His order had made my nipples instantly harden, the material rubbing against them as soft and persistent as his tongue.

“Bale—”

“Open your robe—don’t make me say it again—and put your finger on your clit. Just one finger—don’t give yourself more. This isn’t about being greedy.”

It then dawned on me why I was in this room.

Who would be coming in here any minute.

“I’m not going to be alone for much longer, Bale. He’s going to be walking through my door any second—”

“My eyes are on the hallway too. Don’t worry; I’ll warn you before anyone comes in … but you’d better hurry.”

---