***
When I get out of the shower, Rhett is sitting on the bed waiting for me. I pause in the doorway, momentarily confused, but then I remember our conversation from the other day.
I’d fuck the stress out of you if we had time.
Rhett stands, prowling toward me. “You don’t look relaxed.”
“You here to change that?”
He captures my chin between two fingers, gazing down at me, and kisses me gently. “If that’s what you need.”
Thank fuck.
I nod.
“Do you need to struggle?”
“Please.”
I like being in charge. Being the strong one, the leader, the one everyone can rely on. Even when it does nothing but drain me, I can’t shut it off. I can’t be that person all the time, no matter how much I want to be.
At some point, Rhett figured out he could take it from me. I may put up one hell of a fight, but he always wins. It’s what we both usually want, and it’s easier for me to let go when he forces me to submit to him. It’s rare that things go the other way. Rhett doesn’t tend to enjoy giving up control.
Rhett kisses me again, still keeping it gentle and loving. “Your wish is my command, pretty boy.”
Already, I feel myself relaxing.I love this man so much.
Without warning, Rhett yanks my towel off and shoves me onto the bed. I’m caught off guard, so my attempt to roll away fails. Rhett pounces on top of me, grabbing my wrists and pinning them to the mattress. I try to buck him off, but he barely budges.
Clicking his tongue, he leans down and murmurs in my ear, “Disappointing. I was hoping for an actual challenge.”
With a grunt, I manage to free one of my hands. I grab the back of Rhett’s neck and yank him down. Pure heat courses through my veins as I kiss him fiercely. He nips at my bottom lip as I work myself into a better position to dismount him.
He grabs my wrist and pins it back down. “You think I don’t know what you’re doing?”
“You said you wanted a challenge.” With all the force I can manage, I knock him off me. I’m not able to gain the upper hand enough to get on top of him, but when he tries to grab me, I’m able to dodge.
I fling myself toward the edge of the bed, and Rhett follows. When he lands on top of me, it pushes us too far, and we fall to the floor. Somehow, we manage not to hurt ourselves, but it makes a lot of noise. Worth it—I end up on top.
I pin Rhett to the floor and lean down. My lips are a mere inch from his as I whisper, “Don’t tell me I’m beingtoomuch of a challenge for you.”
“You little—”
There’s a knock on the door, and then it opens. “Hey, are you guys okay—ah. Yeah, they’re fine, princess.Morethan fine.” With a laugh, Oliver steps back out and closes the door.
“You’re going to pay for that comment,” Rhett growls. He rips his hands free from my grasp, grabs my head, and pulls me down.
The moment his mouth meets mine, everything shifts. I can feel myself starting to relax. My body softens against his as he bites my bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. I grunt at the pain, simultaneously wishing for more and wanting to pull back.
Rhett flips us so I’m on my back and he’s straddling my hips. “Is that all it took? One rough kiss, and you’re ready to comply?”
Just like that, I’m struggling again. He always taunts me like this. If I give in too easily, I can’t get out of my head enough. What I need is for Rhett to completely overpower me—to take away my ability to make any independent decisions. Only then can I truly let go.
“Let me up,” I grunt as I push at his shoulders.
“If you wanna get up, you’re going to have to fight for it.”
Again, I push at him, but it doesn’t do much. Rhett is bigger and stronger than I am, and he’s also gotten very skilled at putting—and keeping—me in my place.