Page 48 of Princess of Thieves

Something in his voice is...different.

And it stirs something inside me.

“Uh huh,” I murmur.

“What I propose is...well, I want to give you more than just a literal key,” Will goes on. “I want to put you in control of everything.”

“Okay,” I say, still not fully following.

Or maybe I follow a little.

Maybe he...

I swallow, and my racing heart hopes against hope that this is going where I think it might be going.

Because between the steady rumbling of Will’s voice and the closeness of his body and the tension I can feel vibrating through all three of us...

I shift in my seat.

It’s doing something to me.

“So, same principle.” Will shrugs. “We could just...do something enjoyable, and keep you in charge. All whatever you want. You say the word, and it all stops. You only ever go back in if you want. Otherwise, everything stays locked up tight.” He does a little zip-lip gesture in front of his mouth. “The key you get is whatever you say.”

I can’t help it. “Like a...safe word?”

Something like delight flickers briefly in Will’s eyes, then disappears. His throat bobs again.

“Something like that.” His voice is coal-dark now, hungry.

“The fuck are you on about, you bastard?” Rob growls.

Will rises swiftly and claps his hand over Rob’s mouth. I almost gasp at the suddenness of it, the force.

“The lady didn’t say you could speak,” Will mutters. Rob’s eyes widen, his jaw tensing, but he doesn’t tear away. Will’s hand strains as he glares down at me.

“I think if it’s going to be a punishment, it ought to be one that makes you feel good, Maren. Don’t you agree?”

“I guess so,” I say, more timid than I want to.

“You guess so?” Will says, pressing his palm harder against Rob’s mouth. “Or you’re certain?”

I look at Rob, as helpless as I’ve ever seen him, held in place by the easy, masculine strength of his best friend, and heat blooms all down my body.

I find my voice. “Certain.”

“Good.” Will releases Rob with the tiniest shove, and Rob sucks in a breath, rubbing his jaw like it’s sore.

“Was anyone going to ask me about this?” he says, taking a step closer to Will.

Will smirks. “No.”

In a single, fluid motion, he pushes Rob right in the chest, sending him stumbling back over his feet and right into the side chair behind him.

“That’s kind of the point.”

Rob starts to get to his feet, but Will stops him: two strides over and a hand to the sternum.

“Uh-uh. Stay there.” He flashes a glance at me. “Assuming that’s what Maren wants.”

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