I undressed, leaving my clothes scattered across the floor. I watched him for a moment, enjoying the sight of him in my bed, before lifting the covers and sliding in next to him. He was still mostly dressed, but I didn’t want to disturb him. When I wrapped myself around him, he made a contented sound. I kissed the back of his neck, closed my eyes, and let sleep take me.
When I woke the next day, Cameron had already showered and gotten dressed. He moved around quietly as if trying not to wake me. I watched him through half-open eyes until he reached for the doorknob. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To the bakery.”
“No.”
“What the fuck do you mean ‘no’? I don’t have long to get the remodeling projects finished, and Maria and I are supposed to try some recipes today.”
“I told you it wasn’t safe. That’s why I brought you here.”
“I thought you meant it wasn’t safe for me to sleep there alone. It’s morning. Who’s going to come after me in the middle of the day in a bakery?”
I raised my brows. “Clearly, you’ve forgotten the kind of people I’m associated with.”
“Angelo, I have work to do, and I’m not going to let some feud you’ve got going keep me from getting it done. You have no right to tell me where to go or what to do.”
“You fucking owe me, and I’ve already told you you’re mine.” And I have no intention of letting you go.
“Our agreement is for evenings only. It’s morning, and I’m going to work.” He reached for the door again. I crossed the room in a couple of strides and slammed it shut before he could open it all the way. “You’re going to fucking listen to me, and you’re going to do it now.”
He shoved at me, and I grabbed him by the waist, lifted him, and tossed him onto the bed. He tried to scramble away, but I was on top of him too fast, pushing him into the mattress, eyes locked with his. “Stop fighting me, Cameron. I told you to fucking forget about the agreement. I will not let you put yourself in danger. I will fucking tie you to this bed if I have to.”
He relaxed under me, tension draining from his body.
“You… you really do care, don’t you? This isn’t just about me owing you and you wanting to make sure I can still pay?”
“You’re fucking asking me that after yesterday?”
“I just… It’s hard for me to believe.”
His eyes shimmered, and I wiped the tear that escaped and slid down his cheek away with my thumb. “Believe it. Whatever people have told you in the past, whatever made you think you have to be alone, that you have to do everything without help, that’s all wrong. I want to help you, and the rest of my family is behind you too.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Because I asked them to.”
“I’ve never had anything like that.”
“You do now.” I kissed him, and he wrapped his arms around me, arching up and rubbing our bodies together as his tongue pushed into my mouth.
I groaned as I opened for him, letting him taste me. Having him here in my room felt right, just like it had at my uncle’s place. I’d never brought a man here before—never wanted to—but with Cameron I knew it was exactly where he belonged.
I kept kissing him until I was desperate for air. I pulled away and shifted so I was sitting on the edge of the bed. “You know what needs to happen now, don’t you, Cam?”
He gave me a confused look. “What do you mean?”
“You defied me and argued with me, and that’s on top of you being late yesterday. It’s time for you to face the consequences.”
“Are you serious? You’re…”
“Going to spank you, yes. You’re going to lie over my lap, and I’m going to use my belt on you until your ass is red and you’re squirming against the bed, begging for me to take you.
I watched Cameron battle against his inclination to protest.
“You want that, don’t you? You want me to discipline you, to force you to relinquish control?”
He didn’t answer, but he stood before me and stripped. When he was fully naked, I reached for the pants I’d taken off last night and pulled my belt free of the loops. I held his gaze as I slapped the leather across my palm. His eyes widened as I’d known they would.
I sat on the edge of the bed. “Stretch out over my lap.”
He did, and he even relaxed as I caressed his firm ass. “No hiding from me. I want to know how you feel when I smack your ass. I want to feel your reactions. No more pretending this is anything but what it is.”