Page 93 of Fated to the Hunters
“Sounds like a deal,” Mateo chirped, already loading up the dirty dishes.
Upstairs, Scarlett pushed him through his bedroom door, but continued down the hallway. Before he could protest, she threw a smile over her shoulder. “I’ll be right there. Go lay down and warm the bed for me.”
He couldn’t hide his frown and watched until she was out of sight. He’d already changed into sweatpants earlier, so he pulled the covers back and laid down, anxiously awaiting her return.
He hated waiting, but when she stepped into the room, his patience had paid off. She wore nothing but a baggy t-shirt and barely-there shorts that could hardly be considered as such.
“Come here before I drag you into my arms,” he growled, loving how her cheeks lifted in a rose-tinted smile.
Scarlett climbed under the comforter and draped her leg over his, resting her head on his chest.
“Perfect.”
“Not quite yet,” she said, sitting back up and tugging at the hem of his shirt. “It would be comfier if you took this off.”
Who was he to deny his princess? The shirt was over his head and tossed aside before she could blink and then he lay back down, a perfect fit against his body.
Her fingers drew seamless shapes over his chest, spending more time on his scars than smooth skin. They slowly travelled south and the further they got, the more his cock became interested. She traced his hipbone and ran her fingers over his thigh, down to where the cuts still stung his skin.
“Why did you do it?” She sighed, turning to kiss his chest. “Was it punishment or frustration because I rejected you?”
Ezra grimaced. He didn’t want her to think he was doing this because of her. The last thing he wanted was for her to think that she was the reason he cut himself. Scarlett played part in his thoughts and the turmoil in his head, but she was not the reason he needed the pain. His biggest fear was that she’d change herself to keep him from self-harming.
“The pain helps drown my thoughts,” Ezra finally answered.
“So, it silences your mind and overshadows it so you can catch a break.”
“That’s right.”
“Have you ever hurt yourself to punish yourself for something you have done.”
“I have in the past, and I likely will again.”
“When I do something that I think was wrong, I isolate myself, because I think I’m not worthy of others’ presence.”
“Is that what you were taught?”
Scarlett thought over her response, her fingers tenderly moving up his thigh and to his stomach again. “Father’s silence was punishment. When I upset him, he wouldn’t talk to me. At times he wouldn’t even look at me.”
“Did it happen often?”
“Thankfully no. I knew better.”
“You’re a good girl after all.”
“Why do I both hate and love that at the same time?” she softly laughed.
“Because you enjoy praise, but the term ‘good girl’ doesn’t suit you. You’re not a little girl after all.”
“Did you use a spell to read my mind?”
“Don’t need one,” Ezra said with a smile. “I believe the bond will do that for me.”
Scarlett kissed his chest again, setting off firecrackers beneath the surface. Her fingertips soothed a path up his sternum and to his throat where she gently squeezed down on his pulse points. Her grip was loose, as if she wasn’t sure. Ezra, however, completely relaxed in her hold, his mind easing and the thoughts calming. Hope spread through his body like a cool breeze over the possibility she would make him submit completely. Maybe not today but whenever she was ready, he would teach her.
Her thumb rubbed over the side of his throat, as she shifted and leaned over him. A shiver shot down his spine as Scarlett’s shift unconsciously added weight to her hand. She ran her nose over his jaw, her breath hot against his skin. The cacophony of thoughts that usually swirled through Ezra’s mind ceased to exist. The only sound was his heartbeat in his ears, his sole focus onher. This was surreal and so fucking perfect. She would do so well and deep down, she would grow to love it.
“Scarlett,” he groaned as her lips brushed against his ear.
