Page 42 of While He Breathes

“Perhaps you should have thought about that before you ran from me, Ember,” I growl against her a moment before I bite down on the oversensitive nub.

The scream that fills the room is so fucking beautiful I have to pause my grinding to make sure I’m not the one that comes before my time.

Her cunt clenches around the vibrator, and I quickly tug it free before it can push her over the edge.

A strangled sob falls from her, and she presses her head to the side, wiping her wet cheeks against the pillow.

“Good girl,” I murmur against her swollen sex. “Such a good girl for me.”

I’m torn.

Part of me wants to drag this punishment out, to make her understand the consequences of running from me to ensure she never does it again.

But the other part wants to worship her. To remind her why we’re so good together, and how good things could be if she just stayed, if she allowed herself to become my everything.

“Orion,” Ember sobs. “Please. I need more. I need you.”

The words do something to me, and before I know it, I’m stretched out on top of her with my cock pressed against her entrance.

“You need my cock, Little Flame?”

“Yes,” she whispers. “Please.”

“Are you going to run again?”

She stares up at me, her eyes filled with tears and conflict, and for a moment, I wonder if she’s going to reply at all.

But then her head shakes slowly. “No, I won’t run.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and allow my hips to press forward. The head of my cock slips into her wet heat, and we let out a mutual groan of satisfaction, but I hold myself back.

“You’ve said that before, Ember. How can I trust you this time?” I allow myself to slip another inch into her tightness, groaning as my cock presses against the plug in her ass through the thin layer of skin. Jesus. I didn’t think she could feel any more snug, but I was wrong. So fucking wrong.

“I don’t know,” Ember sobs. “You broke my heart, Orion. You lied and manipulated me. You made me fall in love with you, knowing how much it would hurt me when I found out you killed Travis.” Her tears stream down her cheeks, the anguish in her voice making my chest ache for her. “I don’t know how to prove I won’t run again, but I also can’t guarantee I’ll ever forgive you for what you’ve done.”

Anger and frustration clash inside me, because I know I fucked up. I know I hurt her. And I know she’s struggling to forgive me. But can’t she see I’ll give her the whole fucking world? I’d tear my own goddamn heart from my chest and hand it to her if she asked. So why can’t she see how much I love her?

Despite how badly I ache for her, and how desperate I am to fuck her, I pull back and sit at the edge of the bed with my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands.

“Orion?” she murmurs, but I’m too angry to look at her right now, even if I’m not sure which of us that anger is directed toward.

Before I can say something I’ll regret, I reach up and unclip the cuffs, carefully massaging her wrists where they’ve rubbedbefore pushing off the bed and striding toward the door, not bothering to put clothes on.

“Where are you going?” she whispers, her voice breaking slightly.

“Don’t you dare get yourself off, Ember. And keep the plug where it is.”

But I don’t answer her question, because I don’t have an answer.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

EMBER

What the fuck just happened?

Orion walked out of the bedroom ten minutes ago, and it’s only now I’m starting to think he’s not coming back.

Our relationship feels more complicated than ever now that the lies between us are gone, and I’ve never felt more conflicted.