Page 53 of Prey Tell
Why? I know you, Chase. None of this scares me. Stop pushing me away.
Her words from earlier startled me. I’d spent my entire adult life pushing people away. Women, mostly. Never getting too close. It’s easier. Relationships are uncontrollable. Being in love, specifically, makes you do stupid things. I need the control. It’s the only thing I can count on, besides Jackson and my brothers. I am an all or nothing man. This is the only way I can guarantee that control without half-assing anything.
It’s why I got into this lifestyle. I saw what happened to my parents and decided at a young age that I would doeverythingin my power to control the situation. Especially after what happened to Miles when we were kids… I vowed to never let something like that happen again.
But Juliet? She’s not afraid to throw herself into this. She’s completely up front about her feelings. She always has been. She has these lists and arguments that are ironclad, and she isn’t afraid to tell you why you’re wrong. I smile when I think of how thoroughly she went through her limits—limits I’m sure she researched extensively.
And her feelings for me? She’s not afraid to admit them. Not afraid to pursue me. To tell me that she wants me as her Dom. Which is… completely foreign to me.
She’s not forward—she’shonest.
She doesn’t hold anything back.
It makes me want to relinquish all of my control, all of my self-imposed rules.
Juliet has always been special to me. With other women, I have no desire to emotionally connect with them. It’s easier to keep them at an arm’s distance. But Iwantto give her everything. Iwantto spend time with her. I wasn’t kidding when I said she had the capacity to ruin me.
I rub my chest and stare at her signature on the contract. Large, swooping letters that make everything inside of me flare with heat. Will she regret signing it by the end of today? By Monday?
I am in control.
I can keep my feelings in check. I’ve never let that side of myself show. Not since I was a kid. Not in that way.
As long as she understands my limits, we will be fine.
My bedroom door clicks open, and I look up to see her watching me from the doorway.
“What should I wear today?”
“We’ll be hiking,” I say gruffly. “Wear something comfortable.”
Her eyes widen as she nods, closing the door.
I hear the shower in my en suite turn on a minute later.
Running my hands through my hair and over my face, I try to calm the way my cock throbs at the idea of Parker naked inmybathroom—though I hardly come here anymore except for these hunts. We each had our own living quarters, and this one was mine. Miles was on the other side of the castle, and if I hadn’t kicked him out of his house for the long weekend, he’d be here too. Instead, he’s at my place in the city.
The shower turns off.
I’ve been so adamant about keeping her at a distance, but I’ve already let my guard down. Because my interest in Parker precedes everything I know. It goes back over ten years, back to when I was a fucking kid. She hasn’t broken down any of my walls.
She was already inside.
I run a hand over my face.
Fuck it.
She’s here, so like I said earlier, I guess we’re doing this. Though, I can’t deny the excitement that courses through my veins.
I suppose I should start acting like this isn’t everything I’ve always wanted.
* * *
A few minutes later, I’m scrolling on my phone when Parker walks into the living area wearing dark red leggings and a matching sports bra underneath a denim jacket.
Sinful.
Also, fuck my life.
