Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen
“I’ll let you get back to your future husband.”
“I haven’t agreed yet.”
“Oh.”
Silence echoed.
“Well, then. Do keep us posted. Your mother will need as much time as she can get.”
After a few more minutes, they hung up.
By the time Mav returned, she was dressed in blue jeans and wearing a T-shirt with an inspirational saying. Despite the fact that she was pacing the confines of the room, she was in control, no longer the woman who’d done scandalous things with the billionaire.
“Morning.”
He held a cardboard to-go tray containing two cups.
“Room service will be up with breakfast in half an hour.”
She took a step toward him and pointed a finger at his chest.
“My dad called.”
“Ah. I expected he would.”
His lips twitched.
“I’m crazy about you, princess.”
And…she was lost. His transformation from resolved to shocked to humored unraveled the knot in her stomach. She lowered her hand.
He held the tray between them, either as a peace offering or to ward her off, she wasn’t sure which.
“I don’t drink coffee.”
“It’s green tea.”
“How did you…?”
“I remembered. That day you visited my office. You brought your own drink with you.”
His voice wrapped around her in provocative tendrils. It was so much easier to keep emotional distance from him when she wasn’t inhaling his scent.
“Don’t do nice things when I’m mad.”
“Would it be so bad? Being my wife? Knowing I’ll take care of you?”
“I don’t need a man for that.”
“Of course not. I’m not questioning your capability or resolve. You’ve argued with me more than any other person. All within the first eighteen hours that I spent alone with you.”
Despite herself, she considered his question. Would it be so bad? Having her BDSM and sexual desires satisfied? She might not want to go to work for him, but the charity sounded exciting. And she’d always planned to return to Houston at some point.
She accepted the tea and took a long drink.
“It’s wonderful.”
“I like waking up with you.”
He lifted his cup in a salute.
“Here’s to many more mornings like this.”
He was a whirlwind that she wasn’t sure how to hold back.
“In case you’ve forgotten, I haven’t agreed to marry you,”
She warned.
“There’s no way I’d drop out of school or transfer.”
“I’ll relocate until you’re finished.”
“That’s not possible.”
She blinked.
“You can’t just move your office.”
The logistics would be a nightmare.
“No one but you has the audacity to tell me what I can and can’t do. You’ll need to fly home to get the marriage license.”
“This is ludicrous.”
“Would a spanking help convince you?”
Damn him. It would. And he knew it.
Wordlessly, he took her cup from her and set it safely on the desk.
“Do you have a hairbrush?”
Her blood turned sluggish as she began the ascent to the alternate reality where worries slipped away.
“Charlotte?”
She nodded.
“It’s in the bathroom.”
“Fetch it.”
While she complied, she heard him slide the drapes closed. When she returned, he was standing near the foot of the bed with his arms folded. He was forceful and intimidating. Even though her pussy still throbbed from the way he’d fucked her so hard last night, she couldn’t wait to be dominated again.
“Remove all your clothes and then place your palms flat on the mattress.”
God, his voice. So uncompromising. Exactly what she wanted in the bedroom. Aware of his watchful gaze, she did as he instructed. This was different than last night. He hadn’t asked for a striptease, and there were no sexual underpinnings.
“I’ll always give you this.”
It was as if he’d seen into her psyche. Which made him perfect for her.
He caressed her skin, but he didn’t warm her up like he had last night.
“I want you to feel it. And if you have a few marks to remember this, I’ll be happy.”
Charlotte nodded.
“Spread your legs. Your inner thighs and pussy are not safe from me.”
She shivered as she adjusted herself.
“Your safe word will always be respected. Use it at any time.”
The first crack of the hairbrush knocked her forward. Everything inside her settled. Yes. Unprompted, she added,
“Thank you.”
He was methodical as he applied the implement to her skin. As promised, he covered her inner thighs, making her sway. Then he caught her pussy with his bare hand. Though he’d been gentle, she whimpered. The scorch of pain receded almost immediately, leaving her more turned on than she could have imagined.
“That was…”
She couldn’t complete the sentence.
Mav continued until her arms gave out and she collapsed on the mattress in a pile of sobs. He hadn’t taken her to subspace, but he’d made her vibrantly alive.
Suddenly, he tossed the brush aside, then smoothed his palms over her heated flesh. She needed this. Him.
With tenderness, he helped her up and turned her to face him. She was still wobbly, so she reached for his shoulders for balance.
“Will you make love to me?”
“Princess, I’d do anything for you. Anything.”
She tugged his shirt from his waistband, reveling in his honed, sexy abs.
With a ridiculous grin, he lifted his arms so she could finish undressing him.
“Are you sure you’re up for it?”
Even after her long soak last night, her pussy was sore from the immense size of his cock. But she didn’t dare tell him that. Instead, she settled for,
“I’ll take another bath afterward.”
“You can’t get enough of me, can you?”
“There should be a way for us to put your ego in a box or something.”
She dropped his shirt.
Catching her off guard, he captured her wrists and linked them behind her.
His eyes were dark, beseeching. All traces of teasing vanished.
“I’m falling in love with you, Charlotte.”
Her pulse surged.
“Tell me you’ll marry me.”
The tremor of doubt in his voice was endearing. This really did matter to him. With his expression and tone, he revealed another part of himself, one vulnerable to being hurt. Her emotions softened.
Still, she hesitated a little.
“Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, like you said. But I need some time to get used to the idea.”
“More than a month?”
This time, his persistence made her laugh.
“Three.”
“Done.”
What? He’d agreed?
With a gleam in his eyes, he capitalized on her shock by kissing her soundly.
Within moments, she yielded to him and linked her arms around his neck. If he was willing to take a risk, she would, too.
“How would you like to celebrate?”
He asked, eyes still as intense, but this time with sexual desire. He backed her up toward the bed.
“I have a suggestion or two, if you’re interested.”
“Oh, Sir. Yes.”
This was a pretty good beginning to their happily ever after.