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I blinked Didn’t he realize I knew he’d struggled withhatever issues I’d put between us I’d shut hiht," I said, not needing to elaborate

Q snarled "You think I’ers painfully "You let rateful And if you knehat I’d done only an hour ago, you’d know it’s not you who needs forgiveness"

His voice softened, so his eyes "I told you never to lie to ed in my throat I frantically searched his eyes "Why? How?"

He shook his head slowly and with such finality allaze, I shrank away at the bleak resolution reflecting there "It wasn’t what I said--it hat I thought All this ti hing, he pressed the tip of his nose against o--not fully, as I don’t have the power to coh to show you what I need I want to hurt you I want to make you cry--I want to punish you, Tess, but I don’t trust you’re doing it for the right reasons I think you’re doing this entirely forhim my pain, with no limitations, purely for his pleasure?

No, I didn’t believe that I’d been so wary of everything Q had to offer up till now I’d wanted it but skated around it at the sa myself head first into his world And his refusal frustrated the hell out of ers, I hooked the to undo it His eyes darkened as the daPut our deht now Letscared, Q I’iveto fall in love with you even more and demand you marryas if he wanted to strike and consu to see if he would kiss me

He didn’t

"Do you knohat hurt the most?" he muttered

"No" I worried he’d slipped into insecurity, talking himself out of whatever was about to happen

"It was your willingness to hand over your sanity and happiness And now you’re doing it again and it’s fking with ain I really--"

He bared his teeth "I haven’t finished Don’t interrupt"

I droppedwiththis for you, too I believe you do want avelike the true devil in the darkness "Does that scare you?"

There was no lie No half-truth "No"

His body shifted; the air filled with proainst his front and the table The edge of the wood dug intohis chest on ainst the felt

With nothing between us, his skin burned ly delicious

"Good answer This time-- Je te crois" I believe you

My heart sprouted feathery wings, tickling ive in, but not let go"

Okay, that would have to do for now "You’re going to trust that I want this asto trust you, esclave"

"You’re going to punishto punish you"

"How?" I whispered

Q paused "How?"

"How are you going to punisheyes with his overs

Q’s nostrils flared, his gaze riveted on , provoking He may be in control, but I had all the power Ihow slick he’ded desire "That’s not yours to play with That’spunish you I’ to steal all your inhibitions You’re going to co to unravel, Tess, and I’ to lick up every drop"

His hand twisted ainsthis ar but accept his brutal assault I skipped fro as if every inch ofmyself in for I kneouldn’t take it easy ons, positioning his ck right in the centre ofhas ended, esclave Now’s the ti si hwith it flaainst the pain "I’ yourinin my head

Do I still want this?

Did I still want pain or had that been false bravado--ain, strikinga bonfire My eyes prickled with tears even as the fire froevery inch of e sent ain, lower this ti good--a pain I’d forgotten how to coave myself over to it I wanted to turnhurt you, esclave?" Q deover my shoulder, I locked with his wild eyes It took a moment for the question to sink in, but then I knew I knehat he wanted

For the first tiry At the hard "Who caused you agony?" His hand stroked ain--the hardest one yet