"Why not?" I frown. "It’s only a glass of liqueur."
"Easy for you to say that," she scoffs.
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"You’ve never had to watch your weight, have you? Measure every ounce of calorie that goes inside your mouth. Then weigh yourself to see how it has affected you? You don’t know how it feels to have those same calories stick to your thighs."
"Gorgeous thighs," I murmur.
Her cheeks flush. "And if you are like me, also to your boobs."
"Spectacular tits."
"Don’t make fun of me."
"How many times do I have to tell you that I absolutely worship your breasts, and as for your thighs?" I place my glass on the counter, then sink down to my knees in front of her.
"What are you—" she begins to protest as I run my hands up the backs of both of her jeans-enclosed thighs, then kiss her one thigh, then the other. "I adore your thighs." I straighten, then press my face into her stomach. "I love your curves." I press small kisses up her waist as I rise to my feet. Then kiss each breast in turn before I press my lips to her throat, then her chin, until finally, I place my lips close to hers. "I completely and utterly adore the way you look, Flower, you must know that."
"And yet you said—"
"I was an ass, a completestronzo, no, atesta di cazzo, to have said what I did. I said it in anger, and I am sorry. I am really very sorry for having upset you. I didn’t mean it; I promise." I take her hands in mine, then kiss the tops of her palms. "I have never been attracted to anyone the way I am to you." I kiss the tips of her fingers. "I have never wanted to tie anyone else up the way I want to tie you; never wanted to fuck anyone as much as I want to fuck you."
"Thanks, I guess?" she mutters.
"I have never wanted to…" I swallow, "never wanted to be with anyone the way I want to be with you. When I’m not with you even for a second, I miss you."
"Oh." She blinks rapidly. "What are you trying to say, Christian?"
"That part of your charm is that you are so confident in who you are, what you are, that it’s not just how you look physically, but what you are inside. Your big heart that was so moved by Karma’s distress when Michael took her, that you put your life and that of your family on the line to help her escape; your selflessness which led you to train as a doctor so you could help other people. Your generosity of spirit which allows you to give yourself up to me every time I tie you up and take you, that allows you to submit—"
"I didn’t submit," she protests.
"Oh, you did." I laugh.
"No, I didn’t. I—"
I place my fingers over her lips. "Let me finish complimenting you, woman."
"Ah…" She purses her lips but finally subsides. Thank fuck.
"As I was saying, whether you think you submitted to me or not, your body bent to me beautifully. You had me in your power; you know that, don’t you, Flower?"
"Me?" She laughs. "I had you in my power?"
"Absolutely, utterly, completely. You allowed yourself to bend to me. You showed me just how it felt to have control over you. To inflict pain on you, to watch you squirm under my ministrations. To bring you to the height of passion. To push you over the edge and see you fall apart. You addicted me to the sensation of watching you yield to me. You made me realize I’ve never felt this free with anyone else. You set me free, Flower, and now I’m hooked."
"You … you are?" She swallows.
I peer into her eyes. "In every sense of the word."
"I … I’m not sure what to say."
"You don’t need to say anything."
She draws in a breath. "Okay."
"Okay." I curve my lips.