Page 147 of Mine

The last of the ropes fell from my body and I raised my head, looking down at myself. Red marks wrapped around me, just like the thorns that wrapped around him.

He brushed his fingertips over them, tracing as he hummed. “You’re going to have marks.”

“I love them.”

His scowl deepened. “Maybe we should have talked more about leaving marks because you have that awards show?—”

“I don’t care about anything else right now. I just want you. I’m yours.” I reached up, placing my hand against his cheek. “I’m all yours.”

“They’ll talk,” he whispered.

“Then let them fucking talk.”

Salt paused, but then flashed me a dark look. “I like it when you’re like this. When you don’t care what they think or say.”

He scooped me into his arms, his muscles hard as he held me against his bare chest. I tucked my face against his neck as he carried me through the house to his bedroom. The sheets felt warm against my skin as he laid me down in the center, his hands holding my face.

“Mmm, look at you,” he chuckled. “You have this stupid look on your face right now. I love it.”

I leaned up and kissed him. It was a soft kiss. A butterfly kiss. But then, it deepened, exploding to a corrosive, needy devouring.

This is where I belong.

This is where I always want to be.

THIRTY-NINE

SALT

The airport loomedin front of us, the line of cars at departures winding up slowly to drop off travelers. It was Friday morning, and Pepper was leaving for LA.

I glanced over, giving her an easy smile.

Her hand slid into mine. “I’ll send you pictures,” she said. “It’ll be great. And maybe you can tell me what to wear…”

“You’ll be beautiful and powerful and get all the awards,” I said.

I actually had no idea what awards were even being handed out. Pepper laughed as I eased the gas pedal, getting closer to where I’d drop her off.

“What are you going to do in the next few days?” She asked.

“I have a show at Eros on Friday night,” I said. “Otherwise, I’ll be in the workshop making furniture.”

I’d actually be making a surprise for her. I’d ordered some nice black leather and had everything I needed to start on her collar. It was going to be beautiful.

“If Jeff acts up, call me,” I said. “I can fake an emergency. I can pretend to be your long-lost friend or something.”

She laughed. “It’ll be okay. I mean, I’ll have to deal with his shit, but I’ve gotten pretty good at avoiding him. And I don’t think he’llwant to talk to me very much anyway, since Ally isn’t coming along.”

“Just don’t let him get to you,” I said. “He’s a pathetic man.”

“I won’t let him,” she said confidently. “Here we go.”

I pulled into a spot between two cars and hopped out, opening the trunk. Pepper joined me, waiting patiently as I pulled her bags out for her.

She reached for the handle, and I circled her wrist gently, tugging her close. A light breeze tousled her hair as her head tipped back, her eyes shining in the early morning light.

Pepper curled her fingers in the lapel of my jacket. “I’ll be home Monday.”

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