Page 86 of Under His Control

“If you’re so concerned about what Cedric will do to me, why don’t you do the one thing that will stop him? Instead, you’re always using his name to manipulate me into staying with you so you can carry on your revenge.” She shakes her head. “You and Cedric are the same!”

“You can’t be serious. I’m the same as the guy who’s draining all your money and terrorizing you? Who wants to prostitute you?”

“Yes! Both of you are using money to hold me hostage! Both of you just want to get in my pants and then throw me away!”

She turns, facing the passenger window, her arms folded tight. I scowl at the road.

Maybe I’m not so comfortable with uncomfortable truths. Not this time. I don’t like that, at the most basic, she’s right that I’m no better than Cedric.

I was worried the money would be a burdensome tether to her. Now I turned it into a short leash to keep her trapped with me. But that other part about fucking her and discarding her is the furthest thing from the truth.

Yes, I want her.

I also want to keep her.

Tense silence persists for the rest of the drive. When I pull into my driveway, Penelope flees the car the moment I turn it off. She makes it to the porch before I do, avoiding my gaze when I finally climb the stairs.

I unlock the door and hold it open for her. She sweeps inside then sheds her outer wear with impatience. She’s wearing more layers than I am. I’ve already taken off my boots and jacket by the time she’s done removing hers.

I grab her arm, stopping her as she attempts to storm down the hall.

“There’s an important difference between me and Cedric. He doesn’t care about you but I do.”

“I thought you resented me.”

She tugs her arm, trying to free it from my grasp. I pull her closer and she strains away from me when I wrap my arm around her.

“Does this feel like resentment?”

I lower my head and press my lips to hers. Penelope twists her face to the side, squirming to escape me.

“It feels like a mistake.”

“This is the best mistake I’ll ever make.” I move my lips against the edge of her jaw and she trembles. “So shut up and let me kiss you.”

I tilt her chin up and kiss her again. When she breaks the kiss, I drag my lips down her neck, licking her skin just above the collar. She gasps and I raise my head to steal another kiss.

Penelope trembles as I slip my tongue into her mouth. Triumph floods my body when she gradually relaxes and returns my kiss, sliding her tongue with mine. I groan into her mouth, my need rapidly growing beyond tasting her lips. Of course it does. She said the same thing yesterday.

A little of her is never enough for me.

This is a mistake. It’s the beginning of the end of my self-restraint and I don’t fucking care. Fuck every valid reason why I’m not supposed to have her.

I’m saying yes.

I slip my hands under her thighs and lift her. Our lips separate and tension fills her body again. She grips my shoulders.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re going to see this through.”

Penelope becomes squirming resistance in my arms as I carry her down the hall. She demands I put her down. My hold on her is firm all the way to my bedroom.

I climb onto my bed and lay her down. Even though her pretty brown eyes gleam with outrage, she’s so fucking beautiful lying under me, her dark and silky hair pooled around her head, her lush lips pinker from our kiss.

She opens her mouth. Before her protest can escape, I stopper it with another kiss. I deepen the kiss and dominate her with it. She whimpers into my mouth and lifts her face to return it despite her hand pushing against my chest.

I settle my lower half between her legs, her soft, warm pussy pressed against my hardening cock through our clothing. Our kiss becomes hungrier as I rut against her. She clings to my shoulders, tilting her hips up to rock in sync with me.