Chapter 53
fifty-three
CILLIAN
Briar’s shoulders drop, her hands falling limp at her sides.
But that hot spark I love so much glows in her green depths. She narrows her gaze at me, gorgeously pissy. “Now you ask?” she demands, her voice wavering to reveal her true feelings. She touches the lock resting over her sternum with reverence. “After you put a literal collar on me?”
I can’t help but drift closer, falling into her orbit. My mouth ghosts into a smirk as I reach out to touch the glittering black diamonds along the sides of the gold padlock. “Is it still a collar if it’s Cartier?”
For the first time ever, Briar laughs for me. The sound is more like a dry huff than the giggles she gives to Dane and the wicked smirks Rhys receives, but it still strikes my heart like a dart.
I used to watch her rehearsals, rapt to any details of what made her smile or snort. Filing her wry, sarcastic humor away. Planning all the ways I could put this glorious eye-rolling grin on her face.
She doesn’t give in entirely, of course. Her thin arms still cross under her slight breasts. The crimson robe wrapped around her shifts, gaping to reveal the matching blood-red teddy underneath.
I picked it out last year, I think. One of my favorites—so much so I couldn’t bring myself to hide it in my own closet with the bulk of the things I’ve picked out for her. And with good reason.
She looks fucking incredible.
My scent must be oppressive to her by now. Or perhaps overwhelming in a good way, since she visibly presses her thighs together, working that glassy gaze down my body and lingering on the outline of my half-hard knot. Tart cherries—dark and sweet—have my canines aching.
My lips quirk again as I snag her focus. “You can just ask me, you know.”
Indignance and lust sparkle in her eyes. “What?”
I trace the locket again, slowly. Then fist it, pulling hard enough to tug her forward a step and tighten the warm links around her blank throat.
“You could ask me,” I half-growl, savoring the slide of her body against mine, “to fuck you. Surely, you have that right. You are my wife.”
My perfect little wife. A blend of confident seductress and guileless inexperience. The latter wins out when she stammers, “You—I—?”
“I said,” I husk, running my other hand along her side. “My wife can ask me to fuck her. She doesn’t have to be a brat.” Heat spirals down my spine. “Unless, of course, she wants to be punished before she gets on my cock.”
Briar shivers, perfume rising off her skin, turning her reply into a lie. “I… don’t?”
“Mm.” I lean over her, nuzzling a scent-mark into her temple. Reassuring her Omega that I love her, no matter what we do tonight. “Trying to start a fight, then lying to yourself about what you want? That’s two strikes, rosebud. Shall we go for three?”
She opens and closes her mouth, unable to deny the truth. Finally, she offers a breathless chuckle. “Will I still be punished if I give in now?”
My lips twitch, revealing the deep well of fondness at my middle. “You won’t.”
In all the months I spent learning about her, Briar’s dignity was the one thing that never wavered. I knew it would make her a beautiful brat in bed. And a prized partner everywhere else.
I straighten to my full height. “You won’t,” I say again, “because you value integrity over your own comfort.”
She freezes, absorbing the words. Realizing, maybe, that I do know her after all. I brush a kiss over her forehead, murmuring a confession of my own. “It’s one of the things I admire most about you.”
Fucking hell, she loves that statement. Her scent soars, so sweet and mouth-wateringly tart, my teeth ache. Her eyes widen, confusion blending with her arousal and happiness.
Sweet rosebud. Her deeply rooted desire for praise—for approval—is new to her. But it’s so palpable, my Alpha automatically purrs. She doesn’t understand the other side of this coin yet, but I’ll teach her. Tonight.
“You—” she starts, swallowing the rest of her words and tossing her hair back before she can give too much away. Or so she thinks.
My smile comes easier, this time. “Yes,” I answer. “I admire many things about you. I’ll give you a list. After.”
After I show her what being my wife really means. All the things I’ll provide for her.
If she behaves.
And maybe more, if she doesn’t.