Page 124 of Piece Us Together

I can’t be a good boy. Why can’t you see that?

My stupid chin and lower lip wobble. I grit my teeth, my fists clenching at my sides. “Why don’t you go get Jaxon to be good for you.”

“That’s weak. Try again.”

“Fuck you. I don’t want this. I don’t wantyou. Fucking let me go.”

His eyes narrow, darker than I’ve ever seen them before. “Make me.”

I growl in frustration, bucking against his hold again. He tightens both hands to pin me in place before leaning in until we’re nearly nose to nose. I hit him where I know it’ll hurt. Where it always hurts him. “You’re not my dom.”

He does the head-tilting thing again, a smile curling across his lips. “You sure?”

“Can’t take no for an answer, Hunter?”

“Not when we have a safeword instead.”

“I’m not going to use a fucking safeword because I’m not your fucking—” He cuts me off again, his hand tight.

My body buzzes, feeling floaty and warm. The calm from before is desperately trying to overtake me again. I find myself wanting to sink against him. To wrap my arms around him and beg him to never let me go. I want to be his. I want him to be mine.

The tears are back when he lets me breathe again.

“Kneeling is a limit for you. I’ll never ask you to do that. You’ll sit for me instead.”

Yeah, I will.

I’ll do anything for you.

Will I be good enough then?

No.

I’ll never be good enough.

“I’m not your fucking dog.”

“No, you’re right. You’re my kitten.” He tightens his fingers again. His other hand moves to my face. I can feel his thumb as it gently brushes tears away. He doesn’t stop, even though it’s pointless. I’m still crying. “Sit for me, sweetheart.”

I close my eyes, needing to hide from him.

“I—I don’t want to.” The words are choked, but I don’t think it’s because of his hold on me. It’s because they’re a lie. Because they’re tangled up in too much fear. Because they’re my last string before I give in.

“But will you anyway?” he asks. His voice is soft now, no longer full of calm dominance. I can hear the need in him. The aching want. The fear of rejection. “For me?”

My world wobbles.

Then it calms.

It is so damncalm.

I sink down, his hands lingering until they can’t possibly touch me anymore without him following me to the ground. His fingertips dance in my hair as all the tension inside of me seems to melt away.

There’s a sharp intake of breath. I realize belatedly it’s from him.

I answer it with a sigh of relief.

The only thought in my mind is,Oh.

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