Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
I stiffened and blinked.
“You’re not scared of commitment,” he went on. “You’re scared to end up where you once were—and that’s not gonna happen with me.” He cupped my cheek and brushed the pad of his thumb over my lip. “I had an interesting conversation with Tate when you went into the office yesterday. Interesting but not surprising. He essentially confirmed my guesses.”
That knot of unease grew in my stomach, but it was the strangest feeling. It wasn’t necessarily bad. It was scary, filled with hope and nerves and worries and doubt. And longing.
“I’m not out to trap you,” he said. “I’m gonna take over and show you that we can have everything.”
No one could have it all.
I closed my eyes and willed my brain to pipe down. It was time to listen.
“You will be mine.” His low tone sounded both like a threat and a promise. “You will belong to me. Whether I rent out your asshole to kinky friends or we have a quiet night in, you’ll never doubt who your Owner is.”
My God.
He nipped at my lip. “Sometimes, I’ll make you watch when I fuck someone else. I’ll own you then too. Other times, I’ll ride my Daddy’s big, perfect cock until I come all over you. Then the next day, maybe I’ll take you to an adult theater and we’ll find a stranger to have fun with.”
“Stop it,” I whispered. “You’re making me hard.”
“And when I become your Owner,” he whispered back, “telling me what to do and not to do will get you punished. That’s when I’ll edge you for two days and put your cock in a cage. Maybe I’ll ask someone in the community to fuck my brains out, and you can suck the come from my ass when we’re done. Who knows. Either way—look at me, honey.”
I swallowed nervously and opened my eyes. The compassion and filth and dark promise in his gaze were everything I didn’t know I needed to see.
“Your sexual freedom is important to you,” he murmured. “It is to me too. And so is commitment.” He paused and touched my cheek. “You asked me what I wanted—and that’s what I want. Someone to share that lifestyle with. I want a loving relationship based on trust and honesty, just like the next guy. I want dinners and lazy mornings in bed and chores and hitting the gym before work. I want you, Franklin. I want all this with you, and you let me know when you’re ready.”
I managed a quick nod before I crushed him in a hug. My mind exploded and resettled over and over. Questions piled up. Answers soothed like aloe on a burn. How could he be so sure? It would never work because I had Lily. But of course it could work because what he described sounded so lovely that I wanted to dive right in. How on earth would our family react if we went public? Why did I care? Did I care? It was much too soon to think in those terms.
With him as my Owner, he could take the wheel. I’d seen the sheer comfort in Tate so many times when he could just say, “I’ll ask Master. It’s his decision.”
Jack Dune, from nephew to Owner.
I shook my head, bewildered and nearly dizzy.
“You called me a flight risk,” I murmured, clearing my throat. “I don’t think I am, but I’m… Lost is the wrong word, but—”
“You don’t have to explain.” He hugged me harder and kissed my cheek. “I get it. Your divorce isn’t final yet. You’ve barely landed. Trust me—I understand. I’m not in any rush.”
I exhaled and felt some of the tension fade, at least. “How can you know what you want? I haven’t been myself with you until…well, now.”
“That’s not true.” He eased back just enough to make eye contact. “I’ve known you all my life. You may have denied your orientation and part of your sexual identity, but don’t tell me I don’t know you. You’re the man who never missed any of my games in school. You called my mother to ask how my exams went. You’re still involved in the Christmas bonus to your employees because you want to make sure they get what they deserve. You signed up for ASL classes the day you learned about Lily’s hearing impairment. Should I go on? Because I can. I have almost thirty years of memories.”
I exhaled a laugh, my throat feeling thick, and it made me painfully aware of where we were. “I’m so overwhelmed right now that my mind’s all but blank. I can’t process a damn thing.”
He gathered my hands in his and kissed my knuckles. “You’re gonna take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
I blew out a breath and welcomed the warmth of that comfort. “I like your vision. I don’t want you to think I don’t.” I had to hug him again. I needed it. And I pressed my lips to his forehead. “This means you’re moving back to DC, yes?”