Page 95 of Tangled Control

I can feel the ground shaking where the shackles drop off my ankles.

“I’ve got every intention of keeping her by my side, Dad.”

“You could learn a lot from her,” Dad continues with a raised brow and points at my woman. “She’s got work ethics that way surpass yours.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” I drawl and give Catriona a side glance and squeeze her shoulder. “After all, she did sleep with her boss…”

* * *

“I’ll never go to your parents’ house with you again,” Catriona announces as she unlocks the door to her apartment. My chest swells as I take in the familiar surroundings. Only yesterday I thought I’d never set foot in this place again. I need to ask for some wardrobe space as I suspect I’ll be spending a lot of time here going forward.

“It was nothing. Imagine the interrogations I’ll undergo when you bring me to see your mother.”

Catriona snorts and drops her keys in a bowl on the kitchen counter. I need to ask for a spare key too. “Yeah, I’d rather like to enjoy you for a little longer, and since you might not come out alive from a second meeting with my mother, I think I’ll wait until next year.”

I throw my head back laughing as Catriona tugs at my hand, ushering me to the bathroom.

“We both need a shower. I can’t wait to get out of these clothes.”

I pull her yellow top over her head and fill my hands with her bra-covered breasts. “I can’t wait to get you out of these clothes either.”

“Mind always in the gutter.” She rolls her eyes and starts on the buttons on my shirt.

“You seem eager to get me out of my clothes too.”

“Well, you stink, sir.”

I shake my head and chuckle. “Would it come as a surprise if I tell you that I love you?”

Her eyes twinkle. “After yelling at me in front of your parents an hour ago, I guess I should say yes.”

I grunt and unzip her skirt. It falls to the floor. “Promise me you’ll never change.”

“That’s a ridiculous demand, Mr Kearney, one I will never agree to.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and threads her fingers through my hair. God, I’ve missed her touch the last days.

“Is there anything that you will agree to?”

“I’ll agree to loving you back,” she whispers.

My heart thumps against my ribcage. “I’m going to have such a hard time getting a ‘yes’ out of you when I ask you to marry me.”

“Christ, Rian.” She rolls her eyes. “Maybe it would be easier if you left it for me to ask you?”

“Nah, I wouldn’t be able to wait that long.” I tilt my head to the side and run a finger along her throat. My dark tone is at odds with the gentle touch. “Maybe I should collar you first.”

Her breath hitches. “W-what?”

I press my hips against hers to show her what the thought of collaring her does to me. “With my collar around your neck, you’ll be my good girl, following my every order, naked and crawling on the floor, for me to use and tie up whenever I want, however I want.”

Her grip on my hair tightens and her pupils dilate. “Jesus. Don’t talk like that.”

I lean down and whisper against her lips, “And with my ring on your finger, you’ll be my equal whenever you have your clothes on. Will you marry me, Catriona Taylor?”

Her head reels back as she snaps out of the lustful haze.

“NO!” She slaps my shoulder. “It’s way too soon, we’ve only been dating – in secret, may I add – for two weeks, and we even managed to break up in that time!”