Page 100 of Their Fairy Princess (Office Intrigue Duet 7)
Ian: I know that.
Isaac: Then it’s time you use those interrogation skills to get him to understand.
I lifted my head, nodded.
Isaac pushed to his feet, walked up the steps, and closed the basement door, sealing us down here together.
I took a deep breath, walked over to Dante. He was fighting it. All of it. The emotion, the pain the incident had caused him.
I remembered how Heaven had let go so beautifully when I had spanked her. It had drawn the emotion to the surface, given her the opportunity to let it all go. I went to the storage closet, retrieved a crop.
“We’re going to try this one more time,” I told Dante, sliding the flat leather end over his ass, then smacking him gently. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, Master.” He sounded completely defeated.
I clicked the machine up several notches, watched as it penetrated him. It moved with intent now, enough to excite. Every time it drilled into him, I smacked his ass with the crop. I wasn’t gentle, not hitting the same spot twice. I continued until he was whimpering.
“Do you want more?”
“Yes, Master,” he panted.
I clicked the machine up another notch, smacked his ass harder. It took a few minutes before he was crying out, but it was a start. I doubled the taps, smacking him twice in rapid succession again and again until I could hear him sobbing. I didn’t stop even when I turned the machine off, watched it retreat from his ass. I kept spanking him, listening to the emotion that escaped in deep, ragged breaths, his chest heaving, his shoulders shaking.
I paused, stripping off my own clothes before picking the crop up again.
“Do you need more? Or do you understand where I’m going with this?”
“I understand, Master,” he gasped, choking on the emotion.
I used the key Isaac had left sitting by Dante’s feet, freed him from the restraints. Before I gave him permission to move, I massaged his wrists and ankles, then took my seat on the sofa, commanding him to crawl over to me.
When he was kneeling between my thighs, I patted my chest. “Lay your head here.”
He draped himself over me, resting his head on my chest. I ran my hands over him, enjoying his warmth, relishing the tears that continued to fall. He needed this, needed to let it out. When he settled somewhat, I ran my hands over his hair, soothing him.
“This isn’t a game, Dante.” When he tried to lift his head, I held it in place, then resumed brushing my hand over his hair when he stilled. “I’m talking about the relationship. All four of us. It’s serious. As serious as it gets. Love shouldn’t be taken lightly. And while I understand your need to protect everyone, I won’t let you do it at your own expense. That’s not how love works.”
I cupped his cheek, lifted his head. When his eyes met mine, I held the stare for long seconds, willing him to see the emotion I wouldn’t hold back from him. I didn’t say the words immediately, wanting him to feel me. When his face softened, I grazed his cheek with my knuckles.
“I love you, Dante. I won’t make excuses for it. I’m not going to pretend—not to you or myself—that it’s not there.”
I could hear my accent thickening, something that always happened when I was driven by pure emotion.
“I don’t even care if you love me back,” I told him. “The fact is, I love you. And I’ll take care of you, protect you, keep you safe. Last night…” I blinked, swallowed past the lump forming in my throat. “I can handle the destruction. That’s nothing. I’ve got plenty of money. Furniture, walls … all that shit can be replaced.” I gripped his chin between my finger and thumb. “You can’t. I won’t let him touch you again. You can bet your life on that. He won’t touch you.” I stared hard, wanting him to see as well as hear the promise in my words. “I will kill him before I allow that to happen.”
It was then that Dante broke. His face crumpled seconds before he buried it against my chest, sobbing uncontrollably. The man had years of torment and heartache built up. It pained me to hear it, but he had to let it out. If he ever wanted a true chance at happiness, he had to find a way to let it go.
“We won’t let him win,” I assured him, soothing him with my hands, roaming them over his back.
His head turned, his lips pressing against my chest. I knew what he was seeking. Comfort. Something he’d rarely gotten from sex.
My cock stirred as he trailed his lips lower.
“You can have what you need,” I told him, sliding my fingers in his hair and holding his head still. “But I won’t let you escape this, Dante.”
