Page 112 of Pretty Obsessed

“No, I want you to do it again.”

One of my brows popped. “Have you ever been rimmed?”

“No.” There wasn’t exactly hesitation in his reply, but a hang up maybe?

I’d have to press for more later.

We slid into bed, entirely used to one another’s company. We’d spent so many nights together it felt natural. Like returning home and for that I was happy. He kissed me as promised, sliding his fingers under my chin to hold my mouth to his. River didn’t do anything halfway. I melted into him and felt myself falling harder.

I needed to protect myself. Breaking up with Pat hurt, but this had the potential to destroy me. Why did the most wonderful, gentle, kind, and hot as fuck human I’d ever met have to be so unobtainable? We had to have this conversation more than ever. I needed to have clear boundaries in my head. Maybe if I held onto the lines tight enough, I’d survive River Wade.

“Now will you elaborate?” He didn’t break us apart, instead he whispered words between kisses.

“Do you like this ownership idea?” I asked, unsure how to broach the subject further. It had been a sex game, true, but still said to get him to come for me.

Neither of us knew what the other expected.

“Of course I do.” His voice gruff and commanding. “You have to know.”

“It does make you come pretty hard when I say it.” I slid my hand around to the small of his back.

“You make me come hard.” His words drew a smile from me.

“We have an arrangement. So let’s broaden that. When we are together, you own me. No one else. Just us.” I let it out and braced myself for the blow.

“What does together mean?”

“This is pretty clear, don’t you think?” I asked. I couldn't have denied the man anything, if he'd even pushed for a relationship, I'd have done it to my detriment. I had to be so careful with my heart and walking this line with him. I already knew I’d have to stop looking at any celebrity gossip. I’d make myself sick if I let myself.

"Explain the parameters." His words were clipped, but at least he hadn’t turned to ice on me.

"When we are in the same place, I'm yours. All yours."

"I own you?" he asked, dropping his gaze between us.

I shifted under the intensity of his gaze. "Yes, you own me."

He owned me all the time. More than he'd ever know.

"Define the same place? Same room, same city? Same state?" His brows rose, studying my face.

"City. When you're within reach, I will make myself available to you." I smiled. "I can be the intimacy you need. I'll take care of you."

"And the rest of the time?" His words gave nothing away. I couldn't tell what he wanted. I hated not knowing what he was thinking.

"We are friends, anything we want to be…I just won't carry expectations on how you fill your needs. But the same applies in reverse. When you're here, you're only mine." I tried to keep my voice steady when all it wanted to do was break. I couldn't bear to already know he was having others and then think I'd have to fight for time when he was here.

Did he know how much this would cost me? Could he have any idea? I doubted it. But I knew he had needs and I couldn’t fill them all.

His brows pulled but he nodded. "As you wish."

I didn’t like the tone he’d taken, or how his body went stiff in my arms.

"I'm trying to keep things reasonable, River. I'm trying to be understanding on what's best for this type of relationship…"

“I know.” He pulled out of my grasp, rolling to his back and putting his hands over his face.

“Is there another way you can think of to keep us both happy?” I didn’t know how to ask what I wanted to ask. “You’re going to be gone so much.”

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