“You can take a shower,” I told her. “Here. This is what you’re wearing to bed.” I held out the short, silky black nightgown I’d bought for her.
Her eyes widened, and her lips parted on an incredulous gasp. I almost groaned at the sight of her shocked, innocent expression. Her open mouth practically begged to take my cock. I’d never felt her lips around me before. I’d always fucked her tight pussy. There were so many other ways I wanted to take her.
“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.