Page 72 of Double Down

I spread my thighs so that she can kneel between my feet and hold out the boxes.

“Which would you like to open first?” I ask.

“The smaller one, please. Sir.” The words are barely a whisper.

“Color?”

“Green.” Still quiet. I tip her chin to meet her eyes. Nothing but need and desire. There’s no fear, no trepidation. She plays her part perfectly and as far as I can tell, loves it.

She truly loves every depraved second.

It makes my heart—no.Not that. It makes mybrainstutter for a moment, pause for just long enough to stop and think about what it all means.

This girl submits beautifully to my control, soothes Storm’s rage, challenges Con, and matches both Mav’s playful nature and his depth. She really is the perfect woman for all of us.

But keeping her means that we’re playing with fire. I’ve seen how trusting someone turns into disaster, how affection sours.

And yet…even knowing that, I don’t want to let her go. How do I keep someone who enthralls me enough to risk everything?

How do we all?

“Good girl,” I murmur, running my thumb over her cheek. I hand her the smaller gift. “Open it.”

She lifts the lid and I smile when her eyes go wide.

It isn’t my first choice—a true collar will have to wait. I will collar only one woman in my life, and Phoenix hasn’t earned it.

I don’t know if she’ll ever earn it.

Destroying me is one thing, but the others… When the time is right, she’ll run—or she won’t. I refuse to make commitments until then, even though part of me loves the idea of her wearing my collar.

And a huge part of me rejects the idea that anyone else but her will ever be good enough to even consider giving a collar.

I take the box and lift a dainty gold chain from its bed of velvet. The pendant is a phoenix—sleek swirls and lines—with a diamond at the center. Only a few carats. Phoenix isn’t a woman for big, flashy rocks.

“Do you like it?” I hold it up. “Be honest. I’ll know if you lie.”

“It’s perfect,” she says, reaching out, then jerking her hand back.

“No, the necklace is just pretty. You. You’re perfect. Would you like to wear it?”

“I…I don’t…no one’s ever bought me jewelry.” She frowns. “I don’t think I even own any jewelry.”

I ignore the stab in my chest and nod, motioning her to turn and lift her caramel hair. The necklace settles just below her clavicle and catches the dim light.

“Would you like to see what’s in the other box, Kitten?”

Her fingers rest on the pendant and her gaze is faraway. I don’t need to hear in words whether or not she likes it. And yet?—

I can see what it means. I wish I had bought her something more expensive, now.

“It’s just a necklace, Phoenix.”

“I—” Her lips clamp shut. “No, it’s not just a necklace. It’s…you don’t understand?—”

“Tell me.” It’s not a question.

“I want to thank you for this gift first.” Her pupils are blown. I run my thumb over her bottom lip, smearing that dark pink.