Page 73 of Wallflower

“Why?”

“Because you’re not at all what I expected.”

“Is that bad? Do you want me to come in here and be a monster?”

“No…well?—”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Nothing. There’s no problem. I’m being stupid.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Yeah, I am. It’s shitty of me to label you like that. For all I know, you could’ve been trying to be scary for the boss’s benefit.”

Well shit in a shell and call me Sally. She’s warming to me far sooner than I ever expected. Though, when faced with a place like this, I suppose you’d cling to any goodness you can find. Even if it’s fake.

Sometimes I’m so good at what I do, I surprise myself.

Looking up at her from beneath my thick lashes, I shamefully reply, “I deserve the title. I was terrible to you that first day.” I was fucking horrible to her, but I’d do it all over again. Shit, I’d do worse. Fuck her there in that dingy room. Let Maximus and his torturer watch me take her without guilt or restraint, because even now, it’s agony withholding myself from her.

She looks away for a moment and I grab the rope, slipping it into my back pocket. “Compared to everyone else, you’re pretty great.”

“Even Karson?” I joke.

She turns back my way, a small smile forming on her blushing face. “Let’s not go that far.”

My lip curls in annoyance, fingers tightening around the back of her thighs. “Well, can Karson do this?” I growl, launching myself at her.

I quiet her gasp of surprise when my lips slam into hers. I crash us together, lifting her against me as I get to my feet.

Rose’s tongue teases at my lips, begging me to deepen the kiss as I move us to the end of the bed.

Gently, I place her feet back on the carpet. “Turn around,” I whisper. Fear seeps into Rose’s eyes, hesitation stalling her movements. The control shifts back to me, awakening the dominance she pushed aside.

“W-why?” her voice shakes. Gone is the demanding woman from moments ago.

My hands grip her hips, spinning her around. “Because I said so.” I press her into the footboard, crowding her space so she can’t escape.

“Ripley…” She squirms against me as I cage her in, laying my hands over hers on the wood.

“What?” I rasp, kissing over her skin until her trepidation melts away.

My left hand drags up her arm, cupping her jaw and turning her lips my way, while my right hand pulls the rope free.

Rose loses herself to me.

To this kiss.

Completely unaware as I thread the black silk rope through the decorative hole in the footboard. I rock my hips against her ass. Letting her feel the way I throb for her. Rose’s moan resonates down my throat, and I consume the sound like a fucking junkie.

Only when I cinch the knot tight, tethering her to the bed frame, does she realize what I’ve done.

Her lips leave mine, a chill slinking in at their absence.

Rose looks at her binding, pulling and testing its strength. But I’ve trussed so many people, I could do it in my sleep.

She’s mine until I let her go.