Page 80 of Depraved

Three Months Later

“Ifinally have you all to myself,” Brandon says with smug satisfaction. “What should I do with you now, kitten?”

I lick my lips. “You know what I want.”

Now that Logan has returned to America, we don’t have to worry about disrupting his rest with our lovemaking. I don’t know how he managed to survive that gunshot wound, but he pulled through with the help of Brandon’s private physician.

Just like I did. My shoulder has finally healed. I’m more than ready to be with him again after long months of cautious caresses.

And now, we’re safe. We don’t have to worry about anyone assaulting the manor ever again. No one will disturb our perfect happily-ever-after.

Brandon made sure Logan and I stayed in the safe room every time he left the estate to hunt his surviving enemies. He didn’t give me the details of what he did to them, but he’s assured me that the situation is handled for good.

He’ll never have to kill again, and neither will I.

He captures my lips in a fierce kiss. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

I nod. “I want you to mark me. I’m yours.”

His euphoric grin hits me like a beam of summer sunlight, warming me all the way down to my toes. “You make me the happiest man in the world.”

He traces the curve of my hip, stroking my naked body as he cuddles me close in our bed. I languor in his kiss for a long while, but I start getting impatient.

I press my finger to his lips to stop him. “We can kiss more after.”

“Alright,” he agrees. “But this won’t be quick. You’ll have to wait a while.”

“Does it take a long time? I’ve never gotten a tattoo before.”

“I’m going to make sure it feels good for you.” He brushes my hair back from my brow. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You said you know what you’re doing.” I caress my own face where it’s inked into his forearm. “You did some of these yourself, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but I’m going to make sure you experience more pleasure than pain when I brand you with my name.”

“I trust you,” I promise.

“You don’t know what that means to me.”

There was a time when I thought I’d never be able to trust him again.

Quite a few times, actually. As I worked through all the layers of his deception, the extent of his lies rocked me to my core.

But we’ve healed from that now. He was ready to sacrifice his life for mine. And I would’ve done the same for him.

“You earned my trust,” I assure him.

He kisses my forehead. “I’ll never betray it again. I’ll never lie to you, I swear.”

“I believe you.”

He won’t risk pushing me away with further duplicity. I’m confident that we’ll have complete honesty from now on.

“Give me your wrists.” It’s a gentle command, and I comply without hesitation.

He reaches into the nightstand drawer and retrieves a pair of supple leather cuffs. For a moment, the terrible memory of being suspended from my wrists in the warehouse flashes across my mind, and I can’t help flinching.

He strokes my hair. “I’ve got you. You’re safe. Can you handle this?”