Page 36 of Inferno

I nod, sucking in a sharp breath. “I have control issues, Henry. I’ve known you less than a week and I’m fighting all of my urges when it comes to you. I want to demand your compliance.I want to know where you are, who you’re with, what you’re doing, and what time you’ll be finished. I want to know what you plan to wear, what you’ll eat, and how hard your pretty cock gets every time you think about me. I want to feed you, wash you, care for you. I want to be involved with every decision you make and every thought you have. I want you to look to me for every little thing, and I want you to want that too.”

This time he doesn’t look away or try to hide his reaction from me as he stares in shock, his pupils blown wide, his parted lips hanging open.

“I’m a lot, Henry. Too much, and in the past, with a guy I was seeing a long time ago, my needs suffocated him. I hurt him in a way I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive myself for, and I don’t want to do that to you. I don’t want what I feel for you to hurt you, and that’s why I ran, Kitten. It wasn’t about you; it was about me.”

“So, what changed?” he asks cautiously.

“Nothing,” I scoff. “Nothing changed, except I fucking missed you. Five days not seeing you or speaking to you was unbearable, and even though I probably should, I can’t stay away.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Do you want to be mine?” I ask him, then immediately regret it. If he says no, I’m not sure I’ll be able to accept that.

“I…you…”

Henry stumbles over his words, and it’s so cute I want to give him an out, but I can’t, so instead I watch him, my gaze scrutinizing his features as I wait for him to speak.

“I…”

His words trail off again, but I can’t answer this for him. If I do, then I’ll already be allowing my need for control to become toxic, and that’s not what either of us wants or needs.

“Henry, it’s not a trick question. Do you want to be mine?”

Sucking in a sharp breath, he pushes a strand of hair off his forehead with shaking fingers. “Yes. I want to be yours,” he says, half gasp, half moan.

“Good,” I exhale. “That’s so fucking good. But we’re going to take this slow. You call the shots.”

“Me?” he splutters.

“Yes, you. For now, at least, until we get to know each other better.”

“But you said…” HIs brow furrows.

“That I’m a control freak?” I chuckle.

He nods.

“I am. But I’m going to keep it in check. All of this is new to you, and it’s easy to get caught up in things. You’re mine, Henry. That won’t ever change, but while we get to know each other, I’m not going to try to be your Dom. But there are a few things…rules…that I’m going to ask you to think about that are non-negotiables for me. Is that okay?”

The server arrives with our food, interrupting our quietly spoken conversation. Neither of us speaks while she places several appetizers on the table, taking her time to eye fuck me, while I do my best to ignore her without being blatantly rude.

“Thanks,” I say dismissively, spearing a stuffed mushroom on my fork and holding it up to Henry’s lips.

I hear but don’t see her huff of annoyance as she bounces away, her ponytail swishing behind her.

“Eat,” I say, not acknowledging the questioning look in my kitten’s eyes.

When he parts his lips and takes the food from my fork, I hold my breath, waiting excitedly for his reaction.

“Oh god,” he moans as the creamy cheese and rich garlic taste coats his tongue.

Once he’s swallowed, I feed him a bite of calamari and watch as his nose wrinkles. Chuckling, I move on to shrimp cocktail,then gooey mozzarella sticks. I don’t eat anything until he’s tried a bite of each dish and I’ve seen his reaction to it all.

“What’s your favorite?” I ask, stabbing a calamari ring with my fork.

“The stuffed mushrooms and the mozzarella sticks,” he admits, shyly.

Nodding, I push the two dishes toward him, then pull the calamari and shrimp toward me.

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