Page 59 of Compulsion

Her breath catches, and her pupils dilate. Then she huffs and lightly slaps my chest.

“Don’t mess with me like that,” she admonishes, but her voice holds a sultry edge. She’s turned on by my possessiveness.

My grin sharpens, and I grasp her hand, holding it so that her palm is pressed directly over the center of my chest. There’s that steady thrum again, the beat slightly elevated.

“You love it when I toy with you.”

She scoffs and tosses her hair, but she doesn’t try to pull away.

“You can’t hide from me,” I taunt. “Complete honesty, remember? Unless you already want another punishment.”

Her blush is delicious. She’s wearing the sarong to cover the beautiful marks left by my cane. I caught her admiring them in the mirror this morning.

She’s perfect for me.

Her rosebud lips press together, as though she’s debating another retort. She wants to see how far she can push me.

“Go on.” I dare her to try it. “Defy me, and see what happens.”

She blows out an exasperated sigh, but she sways toward me, drawn in by my cruelty.

I lift her hand to my lips and brush a kiss over her knuckles. “Such a good girl.”

I’m baiting her. I’d love a reason to hurt her again, to indulge in the darkest parts of our intense connection.

She practically squirms at the praise. She likes it, even if my patronizing tone makes her bristle.

I’ll break her of those notions of pride and independence. She doesn’t need them anymore. Not when she’s mine to care for.

She shakes her head. “I’m not falling for that. Bait me all you want. I’m not going to give you a reason to punish me so easily.”

I press another reverent kiss to the back of her hand. A strange, giddy thrill soars through me. I’m more pleased by her response than I could’ve imagined. She’s not defying me, but she is trying to deny me. Abigail won’t walk into my traps so easily. It makes our game more complex, and I’ll never get bored.

“Are you forgetting the part where I can make you suffer at my whim?” I challenge. “I don’t need a reason.”

“Dane!” My name is a breathy admonishment. “We’re in public. This is too much.”

“I rather like seeing you blush and squirm for me in front of all these people. Do you think they know how wet you are right now?”

“Dane!” She’s almost alarmed this time, but that flush deepens to the prettiest shade of pink, and she licks her perfect lips in open desire.

My arrogant laugh seems to affect her even more, because she tears her gaze from mine and stares out at the ocean. Her chest rises and falls more rapidly as she draws in little panting breaths. I shift my hold on her hand so that I can test her pulse at her wrist. It’s racing for me, elevated with lust and an edge of fear at public exposure.

“I can be a merciful master,” I allow, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “We’ll discuss this more later.”

She releases some of her tension on a relieved sigh. “Thank you.”

I caress her cheek, lingering on her pretty freckle. “Such a sweet, grateful pet. How did I get so lucky?”

Her teasing smile is wide and brighter than the summer sun overhead. “You’re welcome.”

I hum my approval and wrap my hand around her nape to pull her closer. “I’ll tame this sassy mouth later.”

I press a quick kiss to her parted lips, relishing her little scandalized gasp.

“I am lucky to have you, Abigail,” I say earnestly.

One way or another, she was always going to be mine. But I captured her with such ease. I didn’t even have to remove a man from her life to gain access to her.

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