Page 67 of Under His Control

It felt special.

Honest.

For a few seconds, it didn’t matter that I once betrayed him, or that he was punishing me for it, or even who were to each other.

Then he literally ran away.

Is that the real reason why he’s taking me home tomorrow?

He shuts the dishwasher and meets my gaze again. Chair legs scraping on the floor draws our attention. Elizabeth is standing, watching us.

For how long?

Tension fills my body because that sharpness in her eyes is back.

“After a meal that good, I want to have a little chat with Mary Jane but I’m out of tobacco,” she says. “I’m going to go buy some. You guys want anything?”

Jacob says no. I ask for some red licorice twists. As soon as the front door closes after her, I don’t waste a second of my window of opportunity the universe just gifted me. I turn to Jacob.

“I’m sorry.” Own your wrongdoing with courage. “I’m sorry I disobeyed you and went outside like you told me not to.”

He glances at me as he washes the large pan in the sink. He doesn’t say anything. I grip the edge of the counter and forge ahead.

“That first day when you said we’re going to see this through, I said the same thing to myself before you did. It’s necessary we keep our promise.”

He pauses rinsing the pan and looks at me.

“Of course. Because of the money.”

I take my time to find the right words before I speak.

“All these years, I never reached out because you never did. I thought you wanted nothing to do with me—for good reason—and I believed you would never forgive me. Now I’m here with you. This is a chance to heal things between us, but it will never happen if you take me home tomorrow.”

He stares at me before looking away to finish rinsing the pan. His movements are slow as he sets the pan on the drying mat beside the sink, then dries his hands on the kitchen towel, avoiding my gaze.

Finally, he sets the towel down and lets out a long exhale. He moves closer, a determined glint in his eyes.

“If I let you stay, I’ll have to punish you. I can’t let you get away with disobeying my rules scot-free.”

My relief is bittersweet.

“I—I understand.” I press my clasped hands to my stomach to quell the flutters. “How will you punish me?”

Jacob abruptly turns and leaves the kitchen without responding. He returns a short moment later with something in his hand and takes a seat on the couch.

He sets the object down on the coffee table. It’s a bottle of lotion.

“Come here, Penelope.”

Compelled by his stern voice, I move to him.

What does he need the lotion for?

I’m about to sit beside him when he raises his hand then pats just above his knees twice.

“Lie across my legs.”

Like that damn moose, I stare stupidly at the truth barrelling toward me.