Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Consciousness slips back in tiny pieces but the weight of sleep is still heavy in my bones.
Soft, warm sheets cocoon around me, feeling like silk against my skin.
My head turns to the side, feeling the cool pillow case against my cheek and I smile.
For one stupid second, I forget where I am, and then my eyes slowly open.
The room is quiet. My heart picks up in my chest, my body becoming tense.
Slowly, I look around the room, taking in my surroundings.
My breathing comes in shallow, quiet breaths as I turn to look at the space beside me.
It’s empty, the space cold, still made and untouched.
Exhaling, my muscles relax before my heart twists a little.
He left.
I should have known better.
Not able to bring myself to get out of the bed just yet, I shift a little in the mattress, my muscles aching in protest. My thighs feel like I just ran a marathon.
I’m pretty sure my shoulders are bruised, but that’s not what causes my breath to hitch.
The space between my legs is sore, almost burning, but it’s not painful.
I rub my thighs together, the memory of him sliding in and out of me flashes in front of my eyes.
I bury my head into my shoulder as embarrassment claws at my throat.
Karson’s tee shirt brushes against my chin, and I stare at it as if it’s going to bite me.
“Perfect,” I groan.
No more running.
Okay.
I feel like an idiot.
A door softly clicks, but in the moment the sound is louder than an explosion, and I freeze.
My heart launches into my throat as I slowly lift my head.
Karson steps out of the walk-in closet already dressed, sleeves rolled up his ink covered arms to his elbows.
He adjusts the hem at his waist, then his gray eyes trail over to me.
“Morning, doll.” A slow smirk spreads across his face, the rumble in his voice raising the hair on my arms.
Dropping my head back to the pillow, I let out a huff as I squeeze my eyes shut. I hear him step across the room, each one has my heart hammering harder, threatening to jump out of my chest and take off.
His arms cage me around either side of my head, then two fingers graze my cheek, bringing my focus toward him. His gray eyes, normally flat, glitter in the light that streams through the opened curtains.
“Don’t,” I whisper, though I’m not really sure what I want to say.
Look at me? Remind me? Leave?
All of it.
His mouth tips at the corner, as if he heard what I refuse to say out loud.
“You’re awake, and you’re still here,” he muses.
Heat floods my face and I try to look away from him. “Unfortunately.”
A quiet huff of amusement leaves him. “You want to run. I told you…no more running.”
His fingers skate along my jawline before trailing down my neck. Stopping at the collar of his shirt. He rubs the material between his fingers.
“You did,” I try to snap, but the bite falters in my throat.
He chuckles. “I did no such thing.”
Rolling my eyes, I attempt to sit up. He steps back, stuffing his hands in his pockets, watching me with an amused grin.
My shoulders lift from the mattress, but only a little before something bites around my wrists under the blanket.
I attempt to swing my legs over the side, but the same feeling happens in my ankles.
My eyes widen, my heart stutters in my chest, and my eyes snap to him.
“What-” I start, the word breaking in my throat.
Karson doesn’t rush to answer, doesn’t move toward the bed. His head tilts slightly, watching the understanding as it crawls across my features.
“I told you,” he reminds me again, voice controlled and smooth. “No more running. I meant it.”
He steps forward, then pulls the covers down to my stomach.
Anxiety claws at me from the inside of my chest. Both of my wrists are bound, black nylon straps wrapping around them.
My eyes trail to where they curl around the edge of the mattress and secure to what I assume is the bed frame.
I try to pull myself out, but they only tighten with the movement.
I hiss in a breath as my panicked stare lands on him again.
“Same with your legs,” he tells me.
“Karson let me go.”
He clicks his tongue, lowering himself to the mattress. It dips under his weight.
“Can’t.” The word lands heavy between us. His hand reaches up, brushing some hair off my forehead, almost gentle. It makes the restraints feel worse.
“Not until I know you won’t bolt the second I turn my back.”
I shake my head the best I can to escape his touch.
“Let. Me. Go,” I demand, my throat closing on each word. Angry tears build in my eyes.
He shakes his head.
“I’ll only be gone a couple of hours. When I get back, I’ll get you out of the restraints. But you’re done running from me.”
A tear slips from the corner of my eye.
“I hate you,” I croak.
A sadistic look slowly appears on his face, making my skin break out in goosebumps.
“Okay, doll,” he growls. He stands from the bed, pushing the covers off of me the rest of the way, the cold air sending a chill throughout my body. Climbing on top of the mattress, he settles on his haunches between my legs.
“What are you doing?” Panic slams into me as he pushes the hem of his shirt up to my hips.
He says nothing as I try to lift my head to stare at him, but the straps tug at my wrists again.
Watching as best I can down my front, I watch as he lowers himself and his fingers grip my thighs.
My body jerks, all four restraints biting into me.
“Karson-,” I croak.
His warm lips press to the inside of my thigh. My entire body begins to vibrate at the heady sensation, and he bites down before doing the same to the other one. His lips trail possessive kisses up my thighs until he reaches my core.
“Mmmm,” he groans. His hot breath lands on my pussy, and I stifle a moan that’s threatening to escape my lips. Another tear falls down the side of my face, heavy, making an audible pat as it lands on the mattress.
What is happening? Get up.
Karson’s warm, wet tongue lands on my pussy, causing me to jerk. It trails from my opening slowly up to my clit before he sucks it into his mouth. My eyes roll into the back of my head and the thought of leaving quickly vanishes.
He releases my clit before his tongue begins moving in slow, deliberate circles around it. My thighs tremble as he moves back to my opening, then thrusts his tongue inside of me. Throwing my head back, the nylon bites into my wrists again. My hands curl into fists, my nails biting into my palms.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
His tongue lashes at my core, relentless and all consuming. Karson’s hands travel to my thighs, pushing them further apart. The straps dig into my skin, sure to leave a bruise. But the bite mixed with the sensation of his tongue fucking my pussy is too delicious for me to care.
He continues lapping at my pussy, fingers digging into my thighs until they begin to quake. My neck arches, white and black spots creep into my vision as my orgasm slams into me. I cry out into the room, my chest that’s now beaded in sweat heaves as I try to control it, to stop it, but I can’t.
I let go.
Karson continues as I ride out the high, only slowing to a stop when my muscles relax and the mattress swallows me whole. My heavy eyes try to focus as he crawls up my body, then grips my cheeks. His fingers dig in, forcing my mouth open.
“Taste how much you hate me,” he growls.
He leans down, closer to my face and spits. My orgasm mixed with his saliva lands on my tongue, thick and tangy. I gasp, and he lets go of my cheeks once he’s sure I have every last drop. Gently, he pushes my chin with two fingers, closing my mouth.
“Swallow,” he orders, and all too quickly I do.
“Good girl,” he tells me then stands from the bed. My head swims, trying to play catch up.
“Take a nap, terror,” he says from somewhere beside me, my vision still blurry. The blankets cocoon me once more, warm and inviting.
“I’ll be back soon,” he caresses my cheek as my eyes begin to close. The warmth of his hand leaves, the bedroom door softly clicks shut, and I listen.
I fall asleep.