Page 43 of When We Ignite
It wasn’t easy to watch.
“It’s not about anything harmful,” I said quickly, my voice softening. “I swear, the last thing I want is to hurt you.”
“No. You just want to own me,” he muttered.
“No, I don’t,” I countered quickly.
He rested his chin on his knee, looking at me. “So this isn’t about ownership? This isn’t you branding me?” he asked, holding up his wrist where the bracelet gleamed faintly.
I shook my head. “Not at all. Ethan, you’re free to do whatever you want. That’s why I told you I wouldn’t try anything until you asked me to. This about you making your own choices.”
“That’s why you like that I’m younger than you,” he said to himself, shaking his head. His tone wasn’t angry—it was resigned.
“No. That’s not true in the slightest,” I said firmly. “I’m not trying to take advantage of you. You have all the power here; you can do what you want.”
“You were pissed just now because I didn’t come to you the second you asked,” he said, his voice cold and sharp. “You saw the bracelet and assumed that meant I was game, and when I said no, you got angry. So no, I don’t think you actually want me to do what I want. I think you only want me to do what I want as long as you’ve told me what that is first.”
My stomach sank further. “No, that wasn’t it. I lost my temper, but it’s not like that.”
Ethan stood abruptly. “I’m not doing this. If that’s what you want from me, I’m out.”
“Ethan, wait,”I said, following him as he reached for the door.
I pressed my palm against it, keeping it shut.“Look, I know it sounds like a lot, but I wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want me to. It doesn’t get me off to force you. I told you I want you to want this, and that hasn’t changed.”
Ethan didn’t turn, his hand still on the doorknob.
“This isn’t about you losing your say. It’s about trusting that I’ll get us where we both want to go. That’s the control I want—the kind you give willingly. And I don’t expect it all the time. I want it to exist between us, in what we do together. Whether that’s in bed or something as small as wearing that bracelet. If you’re not into it, that’s fine too. I’ll deal.”
His shoulders tensed, his body caught between fight and flight.
“I want to go,” he said quietly.
“And you can,” I said softly. “I just don’t want you to run off terrified of me.”
“This whole thing with you is already too much. And now this? I can’t do it. I’m sorry, but I can’t,” he said, turning the knob and opening the door.
I stepped back, letting him leave. As the door closed behind him, I pressed my forehead against its cool surface, frustration and regret clawing at my chest.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.
This wasn’t how the conversation was supposed to go.
CHAPTER SEVEN
ASH
My Pet
are you up?
Iwas awake, scrolling through my phone, when his text arrived. It was two in the morning. Sitting up in bed, I blinked at the screen, certain I’d scared him off for good.
Me
I’m up
The typing indicator blinked for a moment before his reply appeared.
