Dangerously Bad
Page 25
“Duff,” she murmured.
“You need this, yes? Yes. But you know this will go my way, love.”
He stepped away from her, keeping his palm flat on her stomach as he moved around in front of her and began those lingering, torturous kisses over her collarbone, her throat, brushing her lips with his before moving on to her shoulder. Her body was vibrating with need, desire a pulsing beat between her thighs. But it was as much the need to be taken over as it was the more animalistic desires. He was feeding one, starving the other, and it made her head spin.
It seemed to go on forever, a little pain mixed with the pleasure of sensual touch, driving her crazy. She realized she was panting, making small mewling sounds, but she couldn’t help it. She wanted to beg for more. She couldn’t let herself do it. There was a certain pride in being able to take whatever it was he would do to her, and she let that pride fill her up.
“You’re doing well, my lovely,” he told her, pleasure in his voice, along with stark desire and some tension she wasn’t sure she understood. “But let’s ramp things up a bit, shall we?”
She waited for him to act—to spank her or bite her, but there was nothing but several long, quiet moments in which all she could hear was her own heartbeat against the background of soft music. Finally, she felt his breath on her skin; then he bit into her neck, a soft bite, making her lean into him, but he drew back.
“Still,” he ordered, and she struggled to obey.
He bit her neck once more, sinking his teeth into her shoulder, then the underside of her arm, but so gently—too gently—and she understood he really was going to torture her this way. The nibbling bites were followed by soft kisses and sweeps of his wet tongue. She was shaking, desire and the need to please a battle being waged in her system—one she knew she would lose one way or another.
When he gave her one good bite on the palm of her hand, she gasped. “Duff! Please . . .”
“I know you need it, princess,” he said, his voice rough. “I always know what you need. You have to leave it to me, though, you know. Do you trust me?”
“Yes. Completely.”
It was true. She’d never trusted anyone the way she did this man.
“Good.”
He began to kiss her again, down her stomach, pausing at the apex of her thighs for a long, lovely moment. When he pulled her blindfold off, she was surprised, blinking hard in the dim light. She was even more surprised to see him down on one knee in front of her, holding a small black velvet box in his outstretched hand. She couldn’t even look at the sparkling diamond gleaming against the dark velvet.
“Duff? What are you doing?”
“I’m proposing, my silly, beautiful, amazing girl.”
“But I’m . . . Jesus, Duff. You’re going to do it now? When I’m half naked and bound and out of my head?” She pulled against her chains, but they held her tight.
“I’m smarter than I look,” he said, a small grin on his face.
“This . . . this isn’t fair,” she sputtered, her heart racing. “You’re going to ask me to marry you after playing? While I’m in this state?”
“I knew this was the only way I could get you to listen. And I figured this would be the best possible form of aftercare. I’m brilliant sometimes, yes?”
“Oh my God. You’re serious.”
His grin faded, his expression somber. “I’ve never been more serious in my life than I am about you. I love you, Layla, my stubborn, wild girl. I love you so hard it makes me shake in my boots sometimes. That’s how I know this is real. That’s why I have to ask you to be my wife, to spend our lives together. Because I need you to be here with me. Wherever ‘here’ is, I need you at my side.”
“But I’m already collared to you,” she said, not even sure why she was protesting anymore.
“The collar is a lovely symbol, but I want the whole thing. That unbreakable commitment. I want to make that commitment to you, as Jamie and Summer did today. I want us to make those promises to each other, to our little girl, to any future children we’ll have. Do you want that, Layla?”
“Goddamn it, Duff,” she said, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Let me out of the cuffs.”
“Only when you agree to marry me.”
She started to laugh then, and her laughter mixed with tears as her system flooded with joy. “You crazy man. Of course I’m going to marry you. Jesus. You didn’t have to go to such lengths.”
“Didn’t I?” he asked, his wide grin back as he got up and released her from the cuffs.
She fell into his arms, and he pulled her close, kissing her, his lips a warm, steady press before he pulled away.
“I need to put the ring on your finger.”
“God, I forgot there was a ring.”
“That’s my practical girl.”
She laughed as he slid it onto her finger, then looked down at the large emerald-cut stone.
“Oh my God, Duff, it’s perfect. It’s so beautiful.”
She started shaking again and leaned into his big body for comfort—a comfort she knew would always be there for her. He would always be there for her.
“It’s you who’s beautiful, my love. My love forever.”
She looked up and caught his gaze in hers, her body melting all over again, her heart a liquid pool of need fulfilled and filled again.
“Yes. Forever.”
How many times lately had it occurred to her how lucky she was? She had the most amazing man in the world, the sweetest little girl ever born. And now this promise of permanence, which was something she’d never dared dream about. But it was real. They were real.
He wiped her tears with his thumb. “I like that you cry so much these days, princess.”
“Don’t say that!”
“It’s true. But I only like it because I know you wouldn’t do it if you didn’t feel safe with me.”
She sighed. “It’s true. I think . . . I think this is really the first time in my life I’ve ever felt this safe. I know you’ll be there to catch me, no matter what.”
“I will. I will swear it to you now, and every day to come.”
“I love you, Duff.”
“I love you, my princess. So damn much.”
“I can’t believe I’m getting married—me, of all people.”
“Us, of all people, my love, which makes us perfect for each other—don’t you think?”
“Yes. Perfect.”
As he bent to kiss her, letting her feel his love along with his command of her, she truly knew what absolute safety was. What absolute love was. And she knew she truly was the luckiest woman on earth.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eden Bradley is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has written a number of erotic and romantic novels, novellas, and short stories, including Dangerously Broken, Dangerously Bound, and The Dark Garden.
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