Page 57 of As They Are (Strawberry Springs #2)

Now Wren’s eyes were wide. “Really? Even after today?”

“Yes, but this isn’t the time for that. You need rest?—”

“Fuck that. Are you being serious?”

“I don’t joke about what I wanna do to you.” My voice grew huskier, and I ran my hand up and down her back. “And this is included.”

Wren’s eyes met mine for all of one second before she was off the bed. I blinked, wondering what she was doing.

Then she threw my ties at me.

“Why are you going through my closet?” I asked.

“Because you have so many things we can use.” She pulled out a red one. “Think this one is good for my arms?”

“You want to— now ?”

“I want my brain to shut off, and you can make me do whatever you want.” She turned to me. “You’ve earned it after coming after me.”

Jesus.

This woman. She was going to kill me.

I wrestled with it for half a second as I gazed at her, trying to see if there was any hint of doubt in her voice. But her eyes were steady. Hopeful, even.

“Get on the bed,” I said.

Wren wasted no time.

I’d never been happier that I’d chosen a metal bed frame. I wrapped the red tie around her wrists before attaching it to the headboard. When I was done, she was already breathing heavy.

“Still want this?”

“I didn’t say the safe word,” she whispered. “I’m just so excited .”

I huffed out a laugh before kissing her cheek and moving down to her legs. I left them splayed open as I used the other ties she’d grabbed and attached them to the frame.

Wren tugged on them lightly. “I really can’t move.”

“Good,” I said. “Now I can do what I want.”

Her breath hitched as I kissed a freckle on her shoulder before covering her mouth with mine. I’d missed her even though we’d been apart for only one night, and all I wanted was for her to be unable to run. She was stuck with me in more ways than one.

Wren was already writhing, trying to angle her hips up. It was fruitless.

There was no rush. We had forever together. Despite what she thought, there was no growing tired of her. No future where I’d waste this chance she was giving me. I had her. I wasn’t losing her. And I’d chase her to the ends of the earth to prove that.

Or tie her up and show her exactly how much I wanted her.

“You’re gonna go slow, aren’t you?” she asked when I pulled away.

I only nodded.

“Fuck.” She tried to get out of her restraints. “I don’t know if I can wait.”

“You will,” I whispered into the place where her jaw and neck met. Then I bit down.

Wren let out a moan, going slack for a second. I moved onto the next freckle, giving it a gentle kiss before scraping her delicate skin with my teeth.

She was out of breath by the time I got to her breasts. I tugged up her T-shirt, watching as her peaks hardened in the cool air. I straddled her to keep her down before covering them with my mouth.

“Christ,” she muttered. “I can’t . . . I need . . .”

“I know what you need. And you’ll have to wait.”

“Henry, I— fuck .”

Whatever she was thinking was cut off as my teeth lightly grazed her nipple. Her body tensed and her mouth fell open in pleasure.

She was quiet as I moved downward. I nipped at different parts of her on the way, stopping at her hips.

Wren had only come to bed in a T-shirt and her underwear after her shower.

At the time, I didn’t dream of suggesting this after the day she’d had.

Now I was glad for one less layer to remove.

With both of her feet bound, there was only one way to remove the last barrier between me and what I wanted so badly.

I gripped the side of her panties and ripped the seam apart in one smooth motion.

She gasped. “Henry!” Her entire body flushed despite the sharp edge to her voice. “I liked that pair.”

“I’ll buy you more.” My finger teased her pussy everywhere except where I knew she wanted me. “You’re soaked for me, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I need you. Please. ”

My mouth watered at the thought of tasting her. I had great self-control, but I couldn’t wait forever. I brought my mouth down onto her wet pussy, fucking her with my tongue.

“Yes,” she said, bucking her hips against my mouth. “Just like that.”

I spent time on her core and then moved up to her clit.

After I circled it with my tongue, I went back down to her opening, making sure to give them both attention.

She was whining on the bed, hands still bound by my tie.

I kept her on the verge of coming by moving back and forth, and I could tell she was growing desperate.

“Please,” she said. “I need to?—”

“You can handle a little more.”

“I can’t .”

“Let me decide that.”

She gasped as I took a break to admire the way she was laid out for me. Her body was tinted pink, highlighting every single one of her freckles.

Fuck it. I needed her to come.

I renewed my movements, focusing my mouth on her clit and pressing one finger inside of her. She jerked her hips as she muttered my name.

I felt it all when she came. The way she shuddered. The way she tightened on my fingers.

And I knew I couldn’t wait any longer.

Taking off my shirt, I reached for a condom.

“Finally,” she said.

I knelt between her legs once more as I slowly worked my way in. It had only been a few days since I’d fucked her, but every time felt like the first. Otherworldly and perfect.

Wren gasped for breath when I was fully seated inside of her. The heat of her pussy alone was almost too much, but I also had to contend with the fact that she was completely under my control.

She was always gorgeous, but the sight of her tied up for me, tugging at her restraints while I made my way inside of her, was too much. I bit the side of my cheek to keep from coming.

For a moment, I stayed still, reveling in the way we were joined. All I could feel was her, both underneath me and wrapped around my cock.

Then I felt her tighten around me.

“H-Henry,” she begged. “Please. I’m begging you to move.”

My mouth covered hers before I pushed deeper into her. I felt her sharp intake of air as I pulled all the way out and plunged inside again.

Normally, she would wrap her perfect legs around me and make me stay close to her, but this time, she couldn’t. She was completely at my mercy.

I wanted this to last forever, but this was too good.

Watching her continue to tug at her restraints, and the way she moaned my name as I fucked her, pushed me to the edge.

I wanted to hold out and make this go on for longer.

But I also wanted to come, and the very next night, I’d tie her up and make her do it all again.

We had forever, after all.

My thrusts were erratic and she must have already been at the edge. She arched into me and I felt every part of her tighten as she came once more.

And that did it for me too. Heat exploded from my cock, spilling into the condom as I pressed into her one last time.

It took both of us a long time to catch our breath.

“What was I thinking, giving this up?” she asked.

“There was no way I’d let you,” I said as I caught my breath. “You’re too perfect.”

“And so are you.” She smiled up at me. I had her here with me, in my arms and in my life.

And I’d never let her go.

Wren broke out into a massive yawn right after.

“Tired?”

“Yes,” she said, shaking her head. “Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever been this tired in my life.”

I rubbed up and down her arms. “Let’s see. You fixed up a mansion. Stressed for the one week you had off before starting on a whole library, and then had to deal with your awful mother and the subsequent emotional release that caused. Did I miss anything?”

“I also tried to go immediately back into work.”

“You should rest.”

“I don’t know if this is the kind of tired one night of sleep can fix.”

“Then take as long as you need.”

I expected her to fight me on it, but she yawned once more and said, “You know what? I think I will.”