Tease Me Once by W. Winters
Declan
“I won’t stay long,” I tell Nate as I shrug my jacket over my shoulders. As I’m checking my watch, I add, “Just keep the door open for her, she has plenty of files to sort while she waits.”
“I’m sure your brothers will be happy to see you and if anything comes up, let me know.”
Slipping my wallet into my back jean pockets, I tell him I will. Home is a good forty minutes away, which is one of the reasons I stay here at night. Too much quiet, too much downtime driving in a car for that long. If I leave now, I’ll be there right on time.
I can’t help the way my lips pull up at the thought of family dinner. My brother is right, it has been too long.
“I may call her on the way,” I say absently, as if I’d need Nate to tell her that. My good little pet always answers when I message her.
“I’ll handle everything here and the pickup from Joshua,” Nate says and nods, his hands folded in front of him. It’s the first time I’ve really noticed him all night. He’s got a fresh cut and shave, new shoes it looks like too.
“Sharp suit,” I compliment him, gesturing toward it with my phone.
Just as he cracks a smile, loosening up to say something, there’s a knock on the door, chaotic and demanding, followed by a troubled tone, “Declan.”
Before I can answer, my blood chilling, Braelynn barrels into the room. The door wasn’t locked. The sight of her is something I didn’t expect. It’s not time for her to be in and she’s dressed in worn jeans and a burgundy sweater that’s far too large on her.
Most disturbing, she seems out of breath, her skin drained of color.
“Did you kill Travis?” she whispers with wide eyes before I can say a damn word.
In my periphery, Nate is the one who moves as both Braelynn and I stand perfectly still. The air is tense and each passing second threatens to suffocate me.
“Boss—” Nate attempts to break the tension and I don’t spare him a glance as I dismiss him.
He hesitates a half second too long and I speak deathly low, “Get out.” My gaze is still pinned on my little pet who stares back at me, caught and unable to move.
Nate is silent as he leaves, his pace quick enough for me this time. He gives Braelynn a wide berth and as the door closes, she asks again, “Did you … did you?”
“Did I what?”
The door closes with a harsh click signaling we’re alone, and it’s Braelynn’s undoing. Tears brim in her eyes as she shakes her head in denial. She knew who I was and what I was capable of.
“Do not ask questions I’m unable to answer. I dislike that behavior greatly.” Taking a single step forward, she takes one back. There’s not much room for her in the least and with one more step, her back hits the door.
I gentle my tone, attempting to comfort her as I near closer, each step careful. “I don’t like men who hit women.”
“It was years ago,” she protests.
“You think you were the last? Men don’t change. All they do is wait to show themselves again.”
With a harsh swallow, her tears fall, slipping down her cheeks. Her body sags slightly and she looks anywhere but at me.
“This isn’t what I wanted,” I confess to her, an anxiousness I’m not used to overwhelming me. “What do you need from me?”
She answers me quickly enough, “I don't know.”
“I need you to think of something because I don’t think you’re going to enjoy my response if you don’t give me something to do right now.” The floor creaks as I stop in front of her, my faces inches from hers as I grip her chin and bring her dark brown eyes back to mine.
They beg me, but I don’t know what for.
“I don’t know,” she says just beneath her breath.
“Come here,” I command, opening up my arms. I don’t know what she mourns for. The loss of a former lover, or the knowledge that her current is a murderer, either way, she seeks comfort in my grasp.
My arms fold around her as she buries her head into my chest. Kissing her hair, I murmur to her that she’s a good girl for obeying.
Her body trembles and I rock her slightly as she calms herself.
“Are you scared?” I ask her the moment her breaths are even.
“I don’t know.”
“You’re going to need to know something, my little pet.” Pulling away just slightly, I force her to look up at me. “You're smarter than this,” I tell her.
“More shocked than scared.” Her gaze drops before coming back up to confide in me, “But yes, you scare me.” I can barely breathe at her admission.
“Will you miss him?” My hand cups her cheek and with her answer, her small hand lays against mine.
“No.”
“Did you think I should have let him live after hurting you?” With my question her hand drops, and I hate it.
“You can’t go around killing—”
“Yes I can. And I will.” My tone is brutal and it seems to strike her. Again, I hate it. Anger brims. She didn’t even need to find out the man was dead. He was meant to disappear and be gone forever. My declaration is final. “Any man who hurts you, won’t live to do it again.”
She doesn’t cry, she doesn’t object. She doesn’t even appear to hold on to fear as my words register.
“If we’re going to do this, my little pet, you’re going to have to get very comfortable with a number of very uncomfortable things. I’m not changing and you knew who I was. I know you did. So let that sink in. If you’re mine, then what I am is yours. There’s no compromise there. I thought we already covered this.”
“Braelynn, do you know who I am?” I ask her and she merely nods, her eyes still searching mine.
“And do you know who are you to me?”
“Your pet,” she whispers.
“You are mine to take care of, and I will do that in the way I know how. Do you understand?”
With her eyes still reddened, but the tears long gone, she answers, “Yes.”
“Now come here, or walk away. This is the last time I offer you that. Is that also understood?” I can’t explain why the invitation to leave me slipped out. I wish I could take it back. Nervousness pricks at the back of my neck as she answers, “Yes.”
I take a half step back, unwilling to turn around. I’m all too aware that I’m scared if I were to turn my back, she could run.
“I will not hurt you or chase you if you decide to—”
“I’m not leaving you.” She swallows thickly, her hands closing into fists before opening again. She looks back up at me, “I knew who you were.” Her voice tightens and she clears it.
“You were stunned.”
“I didn’t know,” she says and closes her eyes, her shoulders sagging slightly and she doesn’t finish the thought.
“I don’t want you to mention things like you just did, unless you must.”
She nods without peering up at me.
My phone goes off, a text from my brother.
Fuck.
Glancing between my phone and a very lost Braelynn, I text my brother I won’t be making it tonight.
There’s no fucking way I could sit still ruminating over what just happened.
Her softly spoken question catches me off guard as my brother’s incoming text comes in. “Was it quick?”
“Does it matter?”
She blinks once before shaking her head. “I guess not,” she whispers, her voice tight. Again she seems out of place standing there, absorbing not only what I’ve done, but also what she won’t be leaving.
I’ll be damned if she can walk away after this. I gave her a chance. One more than I should have.
After tossing my phone that pings and vibrates with another unread message, onto the corner chair, I loosen my tie.
“Strip down and lie on the desk.”
Peering up at me, she gives a short nod before obeying. Her movements are slow, but steady.
My tie falls to the floor as she passes me, and every small sound is exaggerated. My blood rushes in my ear as my hand slips to the small of her back. She leans into the touch, glancing over her shoulder. Her dark eyes meet mine and I can’t wait for her to strip down and lay out how I like her. My arm wraps around her waist and I pull her into me, crashing my lips against hers.
Her hands grip my shoulders, pulling me in close. Thank fuck.
“Declan.” She whispers my name but in only moments she’ll be moaning, screaming it even. I tear at her clothes and she clings to me.
When I finally plunge deep inside of her, I groan, “Mine,” and her legs wrap around my hips, keeping me there as she kisses me. She kisses me. Finding my lips, devouring them, and loving me how she should.
