Page 5 of Need

I felt a deep pain in my chest unlike any I’d ever known. It took me a few seconds to find my voice. “I won’t stop you.”

Brianna didn’t respond. Her eyes roamed my face and then fell to her lap. Once again, she pressed her lips together.

I decided to take Logan’s advice and tell her exactly what I wanted. “I would like for you to stay. How do you feel about that?”

She shifted on my lap a little. “Scared.”

“Why do you feel scared?”

“You want me to be your... submissive,” she whispered.

“Yes,” I answered.

“I don’t,” she said, and then stopped herself. “What would I have to do?”

The fact that she didn’t say no outright gave me some hope. I smiled, tucked her hair behind her ear with one hand, and reached over to retrieve the new journal with the other. Her fingers touched it reverently when I placed it in her lap. “This is a journal. It’s yours. I’d like for you to put your thoughts and feelings down in it every day.”

She opened it, flipping through the blank pages. “I used to have a journal when I was with my mom,” she said absently. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I waited until she closed the book and cradled it to her chest. Brianna seemed very pleased with her new journal. “We need to communicate. I need to know what you are thinking and feeling, Brianna. I want to help you so that you’re not afraid anymore, but you have to help me. You have to talk to me. Will you do that?”

“Yes.”

I cupped her face with both of my hands. “You don’t have to make any decisions right now, Brianna. I won’t force you into this. It has to be your choice.”

She closed her eyes briefly. When they opened again, they were glistening, and a single tear fell down her cheek. My mouth opened and pressed against her skin, capturing the moisture. The salty taste lingered on my tongue.

Brianna’s lips parted as she sucked in a deep breath. My senses registered her reaction, and I felt the pull I had felt so many times before. Tilting her face up with the pads of my thumbs, I moved my lips down to within a breath of her own. “I want to kiss you, Brianna.”

She didn’t answer me so I remained where I was. She tilted her head, bringing her mouth closer to mine almost unconsciously.

“Do you want me to kiss you?” I whispered.

“Yes,” she said, her breath ghosting across my lips.

A second after the word left her mouth my lips were covering hers. My fingers wrapped around her scalp, moving her head to give me the best access. Her lips parted and I took advantage.

The taste of her against my tongue drove me on. Ever so slowly, I explored every inch of her mouth. The mouth of the woman I hoped to one day make completely and solely mine.

Brianna’s hands came up to rest lightly on my chest. My hands increased their grip on her hair as I pulled back enough to say, “Touch me,” before going back to my delicious exploration.

Slowly her hands moved up my torso to my neck. Feeling her touch my bare skin sent a shiver down my spine, and I pulled her closer. I wanted to devour her.

My body shifted and I put my left hand on her waist, pressing her closer. She was too desirable for her own good.

I forced myself to push her away. My forehead rested against hers as our harsh breath mingled together. Her expressive blue eyes fluttered open. For a moment, they weren’t afraid. Then, I saw it again as she registered the want I knew was reflected in my own eyes.

With great reluctance, I leaned back and cleared my face of my desire. “I have one more request,” I said once I’d regained my voice.

“What?” she asked, still not fully in control of herself.

“I want you to talk to Lily.”

Chapter Two

Stephan

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