Page 163 of Chandelier Sin
His manner was one of calm confidence.
For the first time since he entered this chamber, he and I locked eyes, and I felt that familiar spark between us—a visceral experience so intense it made my heart pound, and my flesh ignite with passion.
Not showing how I desperately wanted to be with Atticus was going to be the hardest act I’d ever pulled off in front of anyone.
He approached me. “I don’t know what you did to deserve this, but it’s clear you need yourbehavior corrected.”
“Fuck you!” I remained defiant.
He leaned close to my ear and whispered, “I’ve got you.”
I met his gaze, and a moment passed between us. An understanding that he could make this into something beautiful. Atticus released my ankles from the shackles and caressed my flesh for a few seconds.
He ordered me to remove my clothing, and then he forced me across the room, securing me to the St. Andrew’s Cross.
I struggled against the way he secured me, playing along to appease our audience who expected a spectacular fight between the sub and the Dom who was punishing her. Of course, me being Roper’s wife added a flavor of the forbidden. Pendulum’s queen was being obliterated.
A regal show for those privileged enough to be in attendance.
But they could no longer scare me.
I’d been pushed to the brink too many times before, and now I was numb to whatever they tried to do to me.
Atticus checked the cuffs that bound my wrists as he held eye contact with me. “It’s just you and me in the room.”
“You can’t go easy on me,” I whispered.
He gave a sharp nod. “Remember to tilt.”
He was reminding me of that first time we’d made love. When he’d been so tuned into my body, he’d known what I needed to do avoid discomfort—tilt my hips so he didn’t hurt me upon penetration. He was being just as mindful now as he was then.
We spoke in hushed whispers so they couldn’t overhear.
“What did you say to Lance?” I asked softly. “To have him give me up?”
“Offered him my place on the Board.”
“You were promised a place?”
“It was one of my demands, yes.”
“But the consequences…”
Aemon pushed to his feet. “Less talk more action.”
Atticus ignored him. “I would give you the heavens and earth if I could.”
“You have.”
“I failed you,” he whispered.
Which was how I had felt up until five minutes ago when he’d entered the chamber like a man who hadn’t faced off with death six floors up.
“We can make it to the elevator.”
“No, just do it,” I said. “Appease them.”
He turned to face Aemon. “Just establishing a safe word.”
