“I fucking hate you.”
Her outburst had no effect. He leaned back in his chair and rested his hands on the table.
Paxton forced her body to relax as she tried to ignore the constant vibrations. Her body was strung tight from the sexual pressure threatening to boil over. Her clit had become sensitive as the rubbery vibrator thrummed against it. The way he played with the settings triggered unexpurgated pleasure to surge through her. She struggled with the rogue waves pushing her to the edge only to recede as he turned it lower. He was playing her lust like a maestro, developing the crescendo in layers. If he didn't stop soon, she would tumble over the edge... whether or not he allowed her to.
It was a relief when their main course arrived. She relaxed in the chair as Jared switched the vibrator off. Paxton ate slowly, stretching the inevitable out as long as she could. The knowing look in his eyes told her he was onto her.
“So, what about you? Where did you grow up?”
His expression turned impassive, sending a clear message that it wasn’t a topic for discussion.
“Come now, Jared. Fair is fair. Apart from what you do now and that you’re Kezlin’s adopted brother, I know next to nothing about you.”
“Does my past matter that much? You’ve come to know the man I am now, as I sit here. My past... I don’t talk about it. It’s not a pretty tale and I prefer it stays buried.”
“Very well but you’re not getting off the hook that easy.” Paxton kept pushing with a dual purpose in mind. Firstly, to avoid him reaching into his pocket and switching on the hated vibrator and secondly, she truly wanted to know more about him. “You were adopted. How old were you?”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
She smiled brightly. His sigh of defeat trailed to the ceiling like mist dissolving over the ocean.
“Fifteen. I was in a bad place when the Bates couple adopted me. I owe them my life. If they hadn’t taken me in... I’d probably have been locked up for life or turned into a thug.” He shrugged. “When they had Kezlin two years later, it was over. I stopped fighting their strict rules. She became the bright light in my life. I was bowled over by her sweet smile and how she seemed to need me close— even as a baby. I’m the man I am today because of them. They turned my life around. I’ll be forever in their debt for that.”
“I’m sure they don’t see it like that.”
“They don’t but to me they will always be my saviors.”
Paxton jumped as the vibrators suddenly cranked to life, this time at a much higher setting. To steady herself, she clutched the edge of the table. Her breathing stuttered as the vibration ratcheted up her arousal.
“Too much! Please.”
“Paxton, look at me.”
With glowing cheeks, she dragged in a couple of deep breaths in reaction to him changing the setting again.
“Why am I doing this, Paxton?”
“To test the level of my submission.”
“What do you think I’ve established so far, little one?”
“That you’re an asshole,” she muttered through thin lips as she closed her eyes and bit her lips. Pricks of heat teased her loins, preparing her for the ultimate pleasure that hovered so damn close.
“Stop biting your lip and look at me. C’mon, you’ve been a sub long enough to know what you’re supposed to do. Breathe through it.
“Don’t think I’m fucking trying? Ohhmm.”
Jared cut short his mirth at her incinerating scowl. Her moan ceased when the vibrations stopped.
“Are you ready for dessert?” Guy once again arrived like a phantom. Paxton was relieved that at least Jared hadn’t exposed her suffering to him.
“No,” she puffed breathlessly. “No dessert, thank you.”
“You might as well, love. I’m going to have a piece of cheesecake. It is absolutely out of this world.”
“No. I want to go home. Now.” She exhaled slowly as his eyes narrowed. “Please,” she said in a chilled voice.
“It would be an injustice to the chef if we left without dessert.”