Page 57 of A Rogue's Rules for Seduction
“With passion,” another person added.
Dom’s gaze snapped to hers.
Despite the furious blush in her cheeks, Willa tried to maintain a regal posture as befitting a queen of female warriors.
“I stand before you,” he continued in a more emphatic tone, “to plead for your indulgence, not as a hero, but as a man. A man humbled by your glory.”
Her mind spun as she tried to think of a proper response, something that Hippolyta might say when presented with Greece’s legendary pinnacle of strength.
“I am not swayed by your flattery. They are words I’ve heard before.”
“What can I do,” he answered, pressing a hand to his heart, “to show a great queen that I am sincere?”
“Kneel.” It leapt from her before she could stop herself, but hell, the command felt right. “Demonstrate to me that you are deserving of this favor you seek.”
To her shock, he didn’t hesitate. Instead, he immediately sank down onto his knees. Doing so put his face level with her breasts, and his own chest heaved up and down as he seemed captivated by the sight.
And, God, ifhewasn’t a delicious spectacle, this massive man fully displaying his impressive physique, kneeling before her.
The role took her over. Tipping up her chin, she walked slowly around him, inspecting him as a ruler might consider her subject. She granted herself the pleasure of trailing her hands across his chest, along his shoulders. His muscles tightened and flexed beneath her palms as if he barely held himself in check. And yet he did. He remained kneeling as she studied him.
“Does Greece’s man of strength kneel to show that he is respectful of my power?” She raked her fingers through the coarse silk of his hair. “Is that how he intends to lay claim to that which belongs to me?”
His throat moved and his eyes shone. “Any wild thing—like myself—can be strong. I kneel because there is so much more to you than mere strength. And there is power to be gained by that.”
She stood in front of him, her fingers still tangled in his hair, and their gazes held. All notion of performance was forgotten. The audience disappeared. The only thing that signified was Dom, on his knees in front of her, showing her that he believed she had depth and complexity, and that those parts of her should be celebrated.
“Then you renounce your claim on my possession?” she demanded. “There is aught else you want?”
“Let me bide awhile with you like this,” he said, his voice gruff. “If I am what you desire, then use me as it pleases you.”
Her breath came hard and fast as she warred with the desire to take and take—and give and give.
“Iwilluse you,” she answered. “And if you please me, I will grant you what it is you seek.”
“And if I don’t please you?” His words were a low rumble.
“Then I will set you to more labors until youdo.” She stroked her fingers across his mouth.
His tongue slipped from his lips and he licked her.
She gasped. At the sound, he surged to his feet and swept her up, into his arms. It was like being lifted aloft by a storm... the ground simply disappeared beneath her and she was dimly aware of being carried off the stage. In a distant corner ofher mind, she registered the audience applauding, followed by Mr. Longbridge and Baron Hunsdon enunciating as they took their places for their performance.
Dom kept going, striding out of the ballroom and down the corridor. He went on, through the house, until he shouldered open a door, and then they were outside. Even then, he didn’t stop, moving with deliberate purpose... into the Untamed Garden.
The foliage was dense around them as he stalked down the path. There was no illumination other than moonlight, and in its paleness the stone pavilion at the center of the garden took shape. A moment later, they were inside the structure.
He lowered her, and she slid down the long, solid shape of his body until she was on her feet, molded to him as her arms looped around his neck. She pressed against him as if she was the moonlight itself.
His eyes were dark fire as he stared down at her, and from deep within his chest as if from the very center of his being came the plea,“Use me.”
Chapter 18
Whatever the fuck was happening, Dom didn’t want it to stop.
Her ripe body pressed to his, Willa looked at him, lust hot in her eyes.
The scene they’d acted onstage had been no performance. It was as if in her regal but revealing costume, she’d embodied the queen she truly was, a queen who was also sensitive and vulnerable, and he was all too eager to worship both parts of her.
