Page 74 of Bought By Santa

I try not to wince as he cuts the ropes away, but his movements are jerky and rushed. More than once, he knicks my skin. I want to ask him if he couldn’t just pull one of the ropes to free all the knots, but the look on his face is so intense I decide it doesn’t matter.

Once the ropes are gone, he removes the nipple clamps, making me cry out in pain as the blood finally rushes back. “Ouch!” I never thought that would be the part to hurt.

“Are you comfortable?” His dark voice reminds me my arms are free, and I hurriedly reach for him. My fingers trail over his face, like I’m blind and need to memorize his features with my hands.

Everything feels more potent as I skim over his eyebrows, down his cheeks, over his scar, and lastly, I touch his soft lips. “Kiss me,” I demand huskily.

Not needing to be told twice, he bends and claims my lips in a soul-deep kiss; one that makes my toes curl with every swipe of his tongue. While we kiss, he moves me to my back, and I eagerly wind my arms around his neck, clinging to him.

When he tries to pull away, I dig my nails into his neck in disapproval. I feel possessed, like if he lets go, I’ll stop breathing. I know it’s not rational by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s how I feel. And I’m not ready to stop breathing yet.

Nick starts to fuck me again, with slow and long strokes. Each time he bottoms out inside me, he hits that glorious spot that both makes my breathing falter and quicken all at the same time.

Every minute with him is filled with contradictions, but I embrace each and every one. If I could, I’d climb inside him and stay there forever.

“Carolina,” he rumbles when I finally let him break the kiss. “I love you so fucking much.”

“And I love you, Nicklas Knight,” I whisper, worried he’s going to interrupt me again. When he doesn’t, I repeat the words louder. “I love you, Nicklas. You’re my everything.”

“Forevermore,” he vows.

“Forevermore!”

I blink when he lifts the knife, letting it dance across my skin before he brings it to the spot just above his heart. “You’ll always be a part of me,” he growls.

“What are you—” I cut myself off. My eyes widen and my nostrils flare as he digs the tip into his flesh, my initials taking shape with every precise movement. It’s both terrifying and exhilarating to watch him mark himself for me. “Nick…” I start, breathless, not sure whether to plead or praise. But the sight of my name etched into his flesh steals the words right out of my mouth.

“Carolina,” he says, catching my gaze with unwavering determination. “You’re mine, forevermore. And now, anyone who sees this will know it.”

“Why would anyone see you shirtless?” I hiss, not happy by that prospect.

Even with blood dripping from his cuts, he laughs. “Good point.”

I rear up and cup his face, angling it so he has no choice but to meet my gaze. “No one is going to see that. Swear it.”

“I promise,” he rasps. “No one but you. Not if I can help it.”

As much as I want to hear him correct the last part, I appreciate that he isn’t lying to me. The truth is that there’s no way to tell if anyone will ever see it, so, yeah, his words are more than good enough.

Breaking our eye contact, I lower my mouth to his cut, my mouth sealing over the C and the K and my tongue swiping across the open wounds. His cock jerks inside me, reminding me it’s still there, as hot and hard as ever.

Carolina Knight—it might not technically be my initials yet, but they will be soon enough.

“Fuck!” he groans as he moves his hand to the back of my head, holding me to him. “Drink my blood, Hellcat.”

And dammit, I do. Well, I don’t exactly drink it, I lick it. Then I lift my head, claiming his lips so he can taste his blood as well.

“Say it again,” he commands as he begins to fuck me again.

I don’t need him to clarify; I know what he wants to hear. “I love you, Nicklas.” My voice is a whisper, but it feels like a shout in the silence that follows.

“Fuck,” he growls, sealing the declaration with a kiss that’s all-consuming, devouring any lingering doubts. Our connection deepens with the mingling taste of blood and passion—a bond forged in our dark desire for each other.

Nick pushes me back down, throwing my legs over his shoulders as he fucks me in hard, punishing pumps. Oh God, he’s so deep like this, hitting the perfect spot inside me. It doesn’t take long until I’m shaking with another orgasm.

“Yes. Nick… fuck! Yes! Yes!” I scream as he follows, his own release hot and deep within me.

We collapse in a tangle of limbs and ropes, breathing hard. In the aftermath, our eyes lock, and I see it—the trust, the connection that’s grown stronger with every shared secret, every explored kink.

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