“You’ve worn far less around me,” I pointed out when she simply continued to stare at the scrap of black material.
“I didn’t… I didn’t know you then.” She tried to defy me, but her eyes were still fixed on the nightgown.
“You want to know me? This is me. And you’ll do as I say.”
Her mouth finally closed, her lips pressing to a thin line. “No. You might be keeping me here against my will, but I don’t have to do what you say. You can’t boss me around like this.”
“Can’t I?” I took a step toward her.
She didn’t shrink away. She froze where she sat on the bed, her breath catching in her throat.
I’d known she enjoyed a little light sexual domination, but I’d never turned this side of myself on her before. Not really.
I finished closing the distance between us, moving slowly to gauge her reaction. She swallowed, but she didn’t recoil.
I reached out and rubbed the silky nightgown against her face, trailing the soft material over her cheek. She drew in a shuddering breath, and her eyes darkened. She didn’t flinch from my touch.
“Are you scared, angel? Do I frighten you?”
“No,” she breathed, without hesitation. “But I’m mad at you,” she added softly. “I don’t trust you.”
I dropped the nightgown onto the mattress and sat down beside her. She didn’t cringe away, so I took her hand in mine.
“I know you don’t. But I’ll earn your trust back. I promise. I would never do anything to hurt you. All I want to do is keep you safe.”
All I want to do is keep you. I’d made sure to add the safe part. She’d said she wasn’t scared of me, and I didn’t want that to change.
She nodded. It might not be a verbal admission that she believed me, but it was a start. I owed her a full explanation for what I was doing to her. I’d wanted so badly to hide my life from her while we’d been together in Cambridge, but that had to change.
“Go take a shower.” I softened the command as much as I could manage. “I’ll be waiting here, and we’ll talk when you come out.”
She plucked at the nightgown. “Do I have to wear this?”
I caught her chin between my thumb and forefinger, capturing her in my gaze.
“Does it make you uncomfortable? Do I make you uncomfortable?”
She shifted on the mattress, but I didn’t release her.
“A little bit,” she admitted.
I raised my free hand to her throat, stroking the column of her neck with my fingertips. She shivered and remained locked in place.
I leaned in to whisper in her ear, and I heard her breathing hitch as I neared.
“Do you want to know a secret, angel? I like making you a little uncomfortable. I like watching you shiver and squirm.” I nipped at her earlobe. “Are you scared now?”
“I… No.” She tilted her head to the side, giving me better access.
I kissed the hollow beneath her ear before tracing the line of her neck with my tongue. She let out a soft moan. My cock throbbed, but I held myself back. I couldn’t fuck her. Not yet. I still owed her the truth, and then she could decide if she was ready to accept me.
“Wear the nightgown for me.” I didn’t bother to conceal the ring of command this time.
“Okay,” she agreed on a sigh.
I would have preferred a Yes, Sir, but she was nowhere near ready for that. She might never be ready for that. I craved it, but I could do without if she would be mine.
I pressed a kiss against her collarbone. “Good girl.”
I withdrew from her slowly, and she swayed toward me. Our connection was as powerful as ever. She just needed some time and some truth to make her come around and accept it again.
“Go on,” I prompted when she didn’t move.
She scooted off the bed, grabbing up the scrap of black silk before darting to the opulent bathroom. She shut the door behind her, as though that could put a barrier between us.
It would take a hell of a lot more to truly keep me from her, but for now, I’d give her some breathing room. No matter how badly I wanted to join her in the shower.
My cock got rock hard as soon as she stepped out of the bathroom. The skimpy nightgown was so short that it barely covered her pussy. If she turned around, I’d see her luscious ass peeking out beneath the hem.
She stopped in the threshold to the bedroom, freezing in place as I examined her. I allowed myself a full minute to admire her body, drinking in her perfect curves and smooth, alabaster skin. Her nipples pebbled in response to my rapt attention, and the thin silk did little to hide the peaked buds.
I wanted to close the distance between us and rip the flimsy material from her body, revealing the dusky pink tips of her nipples and exposing her fully. It had been so long since I’d seen her naked, and I ached to learn her perfection all over again.
Her teeth sank into her pouty lower lip, and her hands twisted together in front of her. I recognized her nervous tics. She was feeling shy, vulnerable.
Now wasn’t the time for me to strip her, pin her against the wall, and fuck her hard. She needed me to handle her carefully; she needed tenderness, not aggression. I found her innocence enticing, but I didn’t want her to be anxious around me.
I stood and approached her slowly, allowing her time to move away if she wanted to.
She remained fixed in place. Her eyes roved over my body as I moved, flicking down from my steady stare to focus on the ridge of my cock where it strained against my jeans. She licked her lips, and I bit back a lustful growl.
When I reached her, I took a deep breath and held out my hand, giving her the option to take it.
She immediately initiated contact, clasping my hand with her much smaller one. I closed my fingers around hers and led her back to the bed, guiding her to sit beside me on the edge of the mattress.
I brushed a stray lock of hair back from her face, and she closed her eyes at the electric contact. I didn’t want to stop touching her, so I indulged myself. I stroked her hair, letting the damp, dark chocolate strands fall through my fingers. When I reached her shoulder, I traced the line of her collarbone before running my palm down her arm. Her skin pebbled beneath my touch, her body lighting up with the same awareness that gripped me.
My fingers closed around her hand again, my thumb brushing across the inside of her wrist. Her eyes closed, and she swayed toward me. Her head tipped back, waiting for my lips to capture hers.
I brought my free hand up and allowed it to sink into her hair, fisting it at her nape. She sucked in a small gasp when I tugged her back, and her eyes flew wide.
I thought I’d see the sting of rejection in her eyes, and an apology teased at the tip of my tongue. But it wasn’t necessary. She stared up at me with raw lust. She liked my hand in her hair, the little bite of pain as I wrapped it around my fist and took control.
With great effort, I eased my hold and resumed stroking her, lightly massaging her scalp.
She let out a blissful sigh and leaned toward me again. She wasn’t seeking a kiss this time. She rested her head against my shoulder, relaxing into me.
I shifted my touch just long enough to grip her waist and position her body so she was curled up in my lap. Then, I resumed petting her. She snuggled closer with a happy humming sound.