Page 48 of Bought

He had taken care of me. Those dim memories of being held in his arms, then washed gently, before he’d tucked me into bed. I’d never had anyone take care of me before. I was always the one who’d had to take care of myself, and I was fine to do it. I didn’t trust anyone else.

Yet last night, I’d trusted him.

“Why?” I asked suddenly. “Like I said, you took my virginity. Aren’t you done with me?”

He stared at me for a long moment, then his fingers opened and he let go of my chin, but only for his hand to trail lower and circle my throat in a gentle yet possessive grip. “Why would I be done with you? Your value isn’t in your virginity. Your value is in you and you’re…interesting to me.”

Warmth sat in my chest. “Interesting? How?”

“You’re full of contrasts and complexities. You’re a puzzle and I like puzzles. It’s been years since I’ve had a sub who doesn’t know the lifestyle and I…find I like the idea of teaching you.” He paused, his hold a warm pressure around my neck. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a sub who’s mine and mine only, and I like the idea of that too.”

I hadn’t been expecting him to be so honest and for a moment I didn’t know what to say.

“Do you want to be special, is that it?” he murmured, his thumb stroking the side of my neck absently, sending prickles of heat through me. “Then know that you are. I haven’t claimed a submissive for longer than a night in years.”

I blushed then, because as stupid as it was, I did want to be special.

“Well?” A note of demand had entered his voice, despite the gentle way he was holding me. “Will you be mine for the weekend?”

There were so many reasons to refuse and so many reasons I couldn’t. But all I could think was that I didn’t want to refuse. After all, what else did I have waiting for me this weekend?

Another weekend on Jay’s couch, tangled up in the worry about my money situation and the stress of knowing I didn’t have anywhere to go.

But if I agreed, despite the risk of discovery, I’d have a warm bed for the night. I’d be safe. I’d have someone to take care of me and as much pleasure as I could handle.

If I agreed, I’d have him.

I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more.

“Yes,” I said. “Yes, I’ll be yours for the weekend.”

18

Tennyson

I couldn’t tell myself the dominant in me wasn’t fiercely pleased at her agreement, almost as if I’d been concerned that she’d refuse. Perhaps I’d have tried to convince her otherwise if she hadn’t, or perhaps I’d have let her go.

Letting her go was probably the most sensible course, especially given how I’d found her lurking in my bedroom. She hadn’t been expecting me to turn up, that had been clear, and I suspected that her excuse for being here had only been partly true. It wasn’t just me she’d been looking for though, because if it had been, there wouldn’t have been fear in her eyes.

It might have been that fear I’d seen in her last night, but that had been before I’d taken her virginity. Before she’d turned her face into my shirt as I’d carried her up to bed, and there hadn’t been any fear in her then.

This was different. She’d been afraid of being discovered, I was sure. Then I’d forgotten about that as she’d flinched when I’d lifted my hand as if she’d thought I’d been going to strike her.

The possessiveness that had broken loose inside me the night before had surged in that moment, bringing with it a hot burst of fury. Not at her, but at the man who’d hurt her, and a part of me had been surprised at the intensity of my anger on behalf of a woman whose name I didn’t even know.

I hated physical abuse of any kind and would naturally be angry toward anyone who perpetuated it, but this felt…personal on some level.

Of course, it’s personal. She’s yours.

That possessiveness tightened its grip and for some reason I’d found myself remembering being with Juliana, how we used to sit in her father’s car that I was supposed to be parking, and talk. At least at first. Then we did more, much more. The first time we’d had sex I held her in my arms, swearing silently to all the world that she was mine and no one would ever take her from me.

But there was no point remembering Juliana. And why was I anyway? I’d loved Juliana, and this woman wasn’t her and never would be. Perhaps I was being too possessive of someone I’d only just met, but that was likely due to it being a long time since I’d allowed myself a sub of my own and my dominant side was enjoying being let off the leash.

Whatever the reason, I’d allow it for now. She was a woman worth being possessive over, regardless of why she’d been in my bedroom.

She was still blushing after I’d told her that she was special, and it was a very pretty blush. She was a very pretty little sub. That had obviously meant something to her, and it pleased me to please her.

This weekend was going to be very interesting indeed.