He was a man who had lived in the past and a whole future was opening up in front of him. It was overwhelming and beautiful. His past didn’t matter. The future he could build was all that counted.
His cock was straining, but he ignored it for the time being. He reveled in serving her. This was the beauty of the exchange. She gave him her softness, her trust, and he worshipped her for it. From the outside, a BDSM relationship might look like an exchange of softness for strength, but it wouldn’t work if they weren’t both strong. Avery was stronger than him in so many ways. She lifted him up and made him better, and he could do the same for her. He could show her just how amazing she was.
“That feels so nice.” She leaned back into his strength, her breasts toward the water.
“You feel nice, love.” It was so good not to pretend with her. He kissed the shell of her ear, running his tongue along it. He nipped her lobe, loving the way she shivered in his arms despite the heat from the shower. “Tell me again.”
Those words fed his soul.
Her lips tugged up. “I love you, silly. I love you a lot.”
“I love you, too.” It was easier and easier to say those words. They were meaningful. He’d watched Sean and Jake and Adam fall in love and it had seemed so incomprehensible to him, but now he was pretty sure he was better at it than they were. Jake and Adam had needed each other to love Serena enough, and Sean, well Sean was a chef. It was a little douchey. Liam was definitely going to be the best husband. And there was no way in hell he was joining them when they had their vagina talks.
Unless he really needed advice.
A sexy little puff of breath came out of her mouth as he let the soap drift between her legs, gliding over her clit and making a sweet circle. His girl liked it when he played with her pussy. He intended to do it often. The next few weeks would be one long learning session. He would learn every inch of her, discover what made her purr.
“Do you like that?”
“Oh, yes.” Her hands drifted back, cupping his hips.
“I’m glad, love. But it’s my turn, and do you know what that means? Do you know what I want?”
Her head fell back, her body open to him. So trusting. He wouldn’t let her down. “I know what you want.”
He was being a bastard, but he wanted to hear her say it. When they’d met, she’d shied away from the dirty stuff, but he was going to show her how beautiful dirty could be, how hot they would be together. “Tell me.”
She only hesitated for a second. “You want my ass, Master.”
Yeah, that did it for him. He wanted to shove his cock deep and know that no one would ever have her the way he did. “I want everything. Will you let me have it?”
She turned, her head tilting up. Sleepy, sexy eyes gazed up at him. “Be gentle, baby, but everything I have is yours.”
That got his cock really humming again. It swelled against the curve of her ass like it knew exactly where it wanted to go. “Let me dry you off, and we’ll go to the bed.” He kissed her nose. “I’m going to take care of you, you know? I’ll keep you safe.”
He was talking about so much more than the sex. He was talking about her life and her heart. She would be safe with him. Always.
Tears filled her eyes. “You’re safe with me, too.” She put a hand to his chest. “I’ll keep you safe.”
Her strength was quiet, but fierce. She would fight for him. It was what she did. She fought and she won. She’d taught him a whole new way to fight.
He turned the shower off and led her out, grabbing a towel. She was his to take care of. He hadn’t understood what it meant before. He wrapped her up and took his time drying her off. He lifted her arms, running the towel along every inch, making sure she was warm. All the while, he kissed her, his lips adoring her fingers and her elbows, her shoulders and her neck. He rubbed the towel along her hair, pushing it up so he could find that place on the back of her neck that made her shiver and shake. He ran his tongue along her spine and kissed the scars at the small of her back.
“Go and get on the bed. Wait for me.” He deepened his voice. This was the place where he was in control. In their bed, he was the Master. He’d always been Sir. Avery was the only one who would ever call him Master.
She winked at him. She’d come so far from the shy girl she’d been when he’d met her. “Yes, Master.”
She turned and walked away, that naughty wink letting him know that he only thought he was in control. He was really her slave, but he was going to take command tonight. In a little under an hour, they would be on the run, but he had a little time to show her how much she meant to him. Adam and Jake were watching the building. They were as safe as they could be. He could relax just a bit.