Page 76 of The Exception

She grabbed the belt from my pants and walked beside the bed. I remained silent, full of eager anticipation. Excitement. My desire barely restrained. What would she do next?

“Sit up.” Her voice was commanding, sexy.

Okay. I’d play along.I did as she asked.

“Hands behind your back.”

I arched my brow. She held her ground, and I respected her all the more for it. I groaned inwardly—this woman was going to drive me mad with lust.

I placed my hands behind my back, and she secured them in place. The belt was wrapped around my wrists, so it was snug but not tight. With some effort, I could’ve gotten out of it, but I didn’t want to.

“Is that…is that okay?” she asked, her voice a whisper of silk against my skin, her hair tickling my chest. It was the first time all evening she’d sounded almost hesitant. I appreciated her concern. She was angry, but she’d still checked in with me.

“Yes,” I said, scarcely able to speak. My cock was so hard, it felt as if I might explode if she didn’t touch me. “Wha?—”

She pressed her finger to my lips, and I could feel my pulse beating there where our skin met. “Did I give you permission to speak?”

I shook my head, entranced by this new, commanding side to Lily. Had she always been this bossy? Or did I bring that out in her? I wanted to believe it was the latter. I wanted to believe this was just for me. All for me.

I’d never been with a woman who’d tried to dominate me. Wouldn’t have thought I’d ever feel safe enough to let go, to trust someone like that. And as much as I craved control, as much as I wanted to torture her like she was me, part of me also wanted to surrender. Wanted to let someone else call the shots for a change. Not just anyone else—Lily. Being in charge all the time was fucking exhausting.

She smoothed her hands over my shoulders, watching me as she adjusted the pressure of her hands so it was just right. Her eyes lingered on my skin. “I’m in charge now.” The words were scarcely above a whisper, but she commanded my attention all the same. “Do you understand?” She held my gaze without flinching. Without backing down.

I nodded. I was willing to do or say anything, so long as she continued touching me.

She stood at the foot of the bed, just out of reach. I bit back a groan. God, this was torture.

“From now on, you will communicate with me. Confide in me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said in a teasing tone.

She narrowed her eyes at me. “I mean it, Graham.”

“I know.” I sobered, letting her see my sincerity. “So do I.”

She held my gaze a moment, then her expression softened, and she seemed satisfied. “Good. Now, we’re going to work on your communication skills.”

I arched my brow, intrigued. My cock was practically leaking from the tip at this point, the belt biting into my wrists in a way that was almost pleasurable. Ordinarily, something like that might have triggered my senses to go wild, but I was so keyed up that I’d barely noticed it. Even now, it was a welcome distraction from my need to drive into her relentlessly over and over.

“Every time you follow instructions or communicate with me,” she continued, “you’ll get a reward.”

“What kind of reward?” I asked, intrigued. Fuck me, I was dying to know what she had in mind. I would’ve never expected this from her. I would’ve never expected that I’d like it.

“You tell me. What do you want?” she asked.

“Kiss me,” I demanded. When she didn’t move, didn’t speak, I added, “Please?”

“Where?” she asked, prolonging my torture. “Here?” She placed her finger to my lips.

I nodded. She leaned forward, allowing no part of her body to touch mine apart from where our lips met. Our tongues tangled, and I groaned, trying to break free from my restraints so I could touch her. My muscles jumped from the strength it took to hold myself back. To wait for her to make her move.

She leaned back with a dazed expression that mirrored how I felt. “Where else?”

“Everywhere,” I said the word on a sigh.

Hands on her hips. Fucking glorious. “You’ll have to be more specific.”

“Shoulder.” One word. That was the most I could manage.Pathetic.

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