by Taye, Kiru
She swallowed down the panic and turned to meet his gaze. Grey eyes filled with quiet confidence met hers. There was no anger. No disappointment. Was there a glint of amusement?
He stretched out his hand, palm open, waiting.
The significance of his gesture wasn't lost on her. She read his actions easily. Consistent. Reliable. Self-controlled actions.
"Your submission is a gift. It is for you to offer it freely, not something to be forced out of you or taken by force," he had told her once.
And he had never taken it. If that didn't make him trustworthy, what did?
So why do I continually fail him?
Lifting her hand, she placed it into his.
"I just didn't like the way she was looking at you." Despite her shame in admitting the truth, she felt better saying it out loud to him. "I was jealous. I'm sorry. I should've trusted you."
"You should've," he said. "I have no interest in Louisa, not now. Not ever."
He leaned down and brushed warm lips against her knuckles, straddling her. His hot, heavy erection pressed between her ass cheeks.
"The only woman I want kneeling at my feet, the only one I want to fuck and make love to, is lying beneath me right now."
Arousal flared again, dripping down her thigh.
He secured her left hand to the other post. She tested the binding again, and it rattled.
She was thoroughly secured. She swallowed again, the sound loud in her ears. Panic and desire fought for dominance in her veins.
He disappeared from view. She heard the sound of a drawer opening.
"So do you trust me now?" His deep voice resonated within her belly, a hint of uncertainty adding gravels to the sound.
Her stomach tightened, and momentarily she hated herself for putting that uncertainty into him.
"I do, Benjamin." Tears clogged her eyes and dropped onto the pillow. "I'm sorry I haven't been good enough for you." Her voice was choked.
A hand brushed her hair away from her face. Warm air whispered on her cheek before his lips pressed against her skin, kissing her tears.
"Shhh. No crying, beauty." His voice was low and velvety. "You're perfect for me."
She opened her eyes and stared at him, unbelieving his words.
"Yes, you have always been perfect for me."
"Even when I was being stubborn and disobedient?"
"Even then. I expected it." He smiled, the luscious uplift of the corners of his lips that always got her heart racing.
"A strong beautiful woman like you who hadn't trusted any man in the past ten years wasn't just going to fall to her knees for me without my working for it."
She quirked her eyebrow, allowing a smile to touch her lips.
"I'm good. But I'm also realistic. It would've been arrogant of me to expect any different from you. Our relationship is about the journey as much as it's about the outcome. Do you understand, Lina?"
A hard tap against her bare bum had her flinching. The links jingled. A dull sting spread warmth out from her right tender cheek.
"Yes, I do, Benjamin."
"Moreover, a well-behaved Lina means I won't get to do this—" he tapped the other bum cheek. Harder. She winced. "—often. It makes you vulnerable, and I'm the one who gets takes care of you afterwards."
"Why?" The word just slipped out.
His hand paused on her skin. "Don't you know by now, Lina?"
In that instant it all came flooding into her mind, suffusing her soul.
"Your reprimands are a way you show your love through your patience and self-control. Without it I don't think I would've made progress with relinquishing my fears and trusting again."
She heard him sigh. Was that relief?
"It's always my pleasure to love you in all the ways I can," he said and reached for her left hand. He released the cuff and massaged her wrist.
"You've earned yourself a reprieve. For the first time since you signed the agreement, I think you finally understand the purpose."
Relief washed over her body like a sea breeze. He also released her right hand. When he shifted his weight from her body, she sat up and hooked her arms around his neck before kissing him, injecting her gratitude into the passionate exchange.
He looked amused when she came up for air.
"What was that for?" he asked as he lay back on the bed.
"Thank you for being so understanding," she said, settling next to him, her hand on his chest, and her leg over his.
His lips brushed her forehead.
"So you didn't sleep, huh?”
"Yes, one thing I found out. I don't sleep well without you, Ben. I will happily share your bed for the rest of my life."
"And I will happily share the rest of my life with you."
The End
www.kirutaye.com
Other Books by Kiru Taye:
www.evernightpublishing.com/kiru-taye
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Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com