Veronica scowls when she sees the bed, her spine stiffening and she says, “You think you can chain me, pup?” There’s humor in her voice and a little smirk on those beautiful full lips.
I love that nickname she’s given me. Pup. The way the word spills from her lips makes my own lift in an asymmetric grin.
With every heavy step I take toward the pair of handcuffs dangling from the headboard, she follows behind me. I push aside the black velvet covering the cuffs so she can see the metal underneath. “They’re silver. You won’t be able to break out of these, babe.” A thump in my chest makes me second-guess what I’m doing as she gasps and then goes still. It’s hard to swallow with the flash of betrayal that lights across her eyes. Only for a moment, though. She needs this. She needs me to be a worthy mate. One who will heal her as much as she’s already healed me.
With her gaze focused on the bright metal, she noticeably swallows. Her dark eyes find mine while she shakes her head slightly.
My tone is soothing and I add a hint of playfulness although that thump in my chest happens again. “Don’t you trust me, baby?”
She hesitates, merely staring at the cuffs in my hand. Eventually she settles on a muttered truth spoken just beneath her breath. “I don’t want to do this.”
I know she doesn’t, but after seeing her triggered and scared again today, I’m not going to wait to show my mate she can trust me.
“How about if I promise to give you the key and do everything you command me to do?” I offer her. Her lips purse and she narrows her eyes. I need to sweeten the deal. “It’s just me, baby. Just me and only for an hour.” Her posture shifts slightly, but she keeps her arms crossed tight over her chest. “Just one hour,” I say softly, taking a step closer to her. My hand rests on her shoulder, but only for a moment before she leaves me.
Her dark eyes find mine again before she clicks her tongue and walks over to trail her fingers along the velvet covering the silver cuffs.
“I tied it up here too, in case you want to grip it. There’s no way it’ll touch your skin, baby.” Her fingers slip inside the cuff. They’re quality, the best I could find, and nicely padded. They won’t hurt her at all.
“Why?” she questions.
“You’re afraid of giving up control … even when it comes to your mate.”
Swallowing thickly, she stares back at me, the truth of my words sinking deep into her.
“I only exist for you. I would die for you. And you don’t trust me.” It fucking kills me to say it out loud. “I have to do something, Veronica.”
“Fine,” she states with an elegance and finality only a woman like her can deliver. “Do it quickly before I change my mind.”
I smirk at her response, even as I see her shoulders rise and fall with her deep intake of breath, the deep red silk shining in the dim light as she does. She doesn’t wait for me to undress her as she sits at the foot of the bed and lies back with her wrists lifted above her head. The thin straps of her nightgown slide down her shoulders and she doesn’t bother to pull them back into place.
She’ll have plenty of slack until I get to her legs.
Any bit of heated excitement turns bitterly cold as I watch her hold her breath and close her eyes when the cuffs snap in place around her dainty wrists. With a heaviness I never imagined I’d feel when it came to my mate, I tug the handcuffs to ensure they’re snug and secure before moving to the cuffs at the foot of the bed.
The room is quiet. So quiet, the click of the last shackle locking around her ankle sounds impossibly loud. A shudder runs through her body as I take her in.
A gorgeous vampire, laid out on my bed clad in only a thin whisper of silk that hides next to nothing from me. My hand gentles on her calf as I prepare to test her restraints, but she beats me to it, yanking against the restraints.
“Key.” She says the single word with authority although a hint of panic lingers.
I give her a tight smile and prepare myself for her wrath with gritted teeth as I slip the key in between her lips. Instantly her eyes widen as she spits the key out. “Give me the key!” Heated anger I’ve never felt from her before radiates off her. So much so, my wolf retreats.
She yells again, the pain and desperation she’s feeling coming through clearly as I pick the key up off the floor and move closer to place it back in her mouth.
Her gorgeous frame struggles against the chains, but her arms don’t move far enough to reach me. Even if she had the key in her hands, she’d be unable to unlock the cuffs. She’s utterly at my mercy and I can see the moment she realizes she needs me to free herself. Sadness and betrayal flash across her face; in that instant I nearly regret my decision.
“You fucking dog!”
“It’s just for one hour.” My voice is soft, but stern. She needs this. She hisses at my simple statement. “I’m still yours, Veronica. I’ll do whatever you say.”
“Untie me!”
“Anything but that.” Her nostrils flare and her face reddens with rage. Her wrists pull against the restraints to no avail.
“If you come near me to do anything else … anything but untie me …” she trails off as I take a deep breath and lean close to kiss her cheek. Close enough for her to strike me with her fist across my jaw, which she does. I pull back, but I’m not far enough away to miss the second swing. The sharp, metallic tang of blood coats my mouth.
Fuck, my mate knows how to fight and make every blow count. The burning heat from her punches jolts me backward. I nearly fall off the bed, but I steady myself. “Babe, that hurt.” I pinch my nose to stop the bleeding and straighten it before it heals crooked. Drops of blood fall to the comforter. As I feel my nose mending, I hear her sobs.
“Vince.” She whimpers my name in between gasps. “Vince, I’m so sorry. Vincent.”
Still hunched over, I wait until the pain of the blows has passed, until physically it no longer exists. It’s only a memory.
I wipe my nose with the back of my hand and lean forward to kiss her on her tearstained cheek.
“Please forgive me. Forgive me, Vince, please. I’m so sorry. I—”
I cut her off, pressing her plump lips to mine and caress her face. “It’s all right, baby. I knew you wouldn’t like this. I knew …”
She shakes her head with her eyes shut tight and her lips pressed together, muting her panicked cries.
“It’s not okay. It’s not okay.” Her words are rushed, a new panic taking over. “Vince, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m not okay.”
I stroke her cheek until she opens her eyes and finds my silver gaze. “I forgive you, baby.”
“I’m scared.” She whispers the words before another tortured sobs erupts from her throat and she pulls against the chains again.
“It’s all right, my love. I’m going to take care of you. I’m going to prove to you that you can trust me.” Leaning in close, I kiss her again. Her mouth parts to grant me entry and I suckle her top lip before running my tongue along her sharp fangs.
“Please, Vince, I can’t.” She shakes her head and her deep brown eyes, rimmed in red, plead with me.
“I’m sorry, I can’t. Not yet.” Her head drops in defeat as she slowly nods and the sobs subside. “Give me a command, Veronica. I’m still yours.”
Her dark eyes filled with red tears find mine and she says, “Hold me.”
I lie down and settle my chest into her side before wrapping my powerful arms around her curves. I’ve never imagined her as this delicate before. I could easily crush her. She struggles against the shackles as another crying jag passes through her body; she trembles under my touch. A small part of me urges me to cave, not liking her reaction. My grip on her tightens. She needs this. She needs to learn to trust me. In time, I know she will.
“What do you want from me, Mistress?” I use her pet name, hoping that will calm her.
“I’m cold.” Her softly uttered words contain a plea, not a command. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I pull the covers over our bodies and kiss the small dip in her throat.
“What else?” I need her to command me. I need her to find her strength.
“Just hold me.” She sobs again and pulls against her chains as I lie back and gently place her head on my chest.
She cries silently. “I got you, babe. I promise.” I barely speak the words, but my vow resonates through her, calming her. It hits me hard that she’s not herself. She’s not the strong, confident woman I know. She’s so damn wounded. “I got you.” I kiss her shiny black hair and let her cry.
Next time will be better. Next time I’ll push her a little more. Until there is nothing between us but trust. Until she doesn’t fear a damn thing in this world. Until she knows I will love her in her worst moments and through it all.