Page 82 of His Pet
“You can do it as well as anyone can,” I said. “Better than I can.”
She grinned, then continued: “What I don’t want is for you to tell me that we can’t try the contest next year because you quit the university. But if you tell me that you left for a different reason, that maybe a loving thought crossed your mind in the decision to quit, then maybe it’s okay.”
“It crossed my mind,” I said. “Quite a few times.”
A hopefulness gathered in her eyes. “What I don’t want is to get an acceptance at the best possible publication, my dream journal, really, and not be able to celebrate with the person who made it possible. The man who pushed me to do better. To dream bigger than what I thought I was capable of.”
Her honey-colored eyes shined back at me, and I wanted to take her right then, to make her mine, but I wasn’t going to do it. Not unless that’s what she wanted. I needed to hear her say it.
“What I don’t want is to have to guess about your past. I don’t want to have to make assumptions about the darkness inside of you. I want to know it, Nate. I want to knowyou. What I want,” she stepped towards me and took my hands, “is for you to want me. Just me.” Her voice quivered, but she stayed strong. “I don’t care what happened. I believe in you. You always had the best of intentions.” She blinked back tears. “Because right now, more than anything, I want you to kiss me.”
I scooped her up in my arms, bringing her hips off of the ground, and I kissed her, a passionate, deep embrace, our tongues entwining, dancing with each other, her lips perfect against mine. It felt good to have her back, to have her in my arms, and I swear I never wanted to let her go.
She leaned back. “Dare I ask,” she said, tilting her head, “what you want?”
I furrowed my brows. “It’s not obvious?”
“I want to hear it from you.” She jabbed a finger in my chest.
“I want you, Mara.” I stared down into her eyes, and her smile was the most beautiful sight in the world. “You’re the most complicated and passionate woman I know. I want you to be mine forever.” I added, “And I’m yours. I love you.”
She blinked, shocked at the confession I had made. “I love you too,” she stammered. I smiled, still holding her up, her ass in my hands. After a few seconds, she wiggled. “So I guess you take me seriously.”
“Always,” I said.
“You should probably get back to class,” she said. I laughed and set her on the ground.
“I can call it early.” I offered her my hand. “Come with me.”
She took my hand and grinned. “Okay,” she said.
As soon as I could, I ended class. The two of us sat for a few minutes in my office, waiting out the clock, then headed back to the lakehouse. She was endlessly bubbly, talking at ninety-miles-an-hour about Breaking Edge and the emails she had exchanged with the editor.
At the house, I carried her up to the master bedroom and gently laid her on the bed. I kissed her forehead, undressing her with careful movements, my fingertips tickling her skin. She shivered, an impulse that took over her whole body, and my cock twitched, growing at seeing her yield to pleasure. Bare on my bed, seeing her sprawled and lazy, at peace, I had the urge to tie her up and see her twist in need.
I grabbed her wrists, pinning her to the bed. “You know what I want?” I said, echoing her earlier words. “What I truly, madly want?”
“What?” she whispered.
“You, Mara. And I’m going to take you. All of you.”
“What if I don’t put up a fight?” She grinned. “What if I want you to take me?”
“Then let me, pet.”