Rule's Obsession(19)

Scalding fury dripped from his eyes. "You fucking somebody else?"

Her breath hitched. "No."

"You expect me to believe that? You've been on the pill for what, a couple of months now? We don't use 'em anymore. Why the fuck would you need condoms?"

The expression on his face was malevolent and it sent a chill through her bloodstream. But she admitted, the box of condoms looked suspicious. Abruptly, she knew she had two choices. She could lose him, or she could tell him the truth. What good would covering for his mother do? The woman was an adult and could do as she pleased. She certainly shouldn't have to answer to her son. If Angie continued to be evasive, nothing good could come from it. He wouldn't believe her, he'd think she was lying, which she was, and there were only two possible outcomes. Either he'd walk out the door and she'd never see him again, or their relationship would become contentious. Horribly so.

She didn't think she could face either outcome right now. She didn't want to lose him this soon; she wasn't ready. She could feel her palms sweating as she made the only mature decision possible. "I can explain, but . . . you're not going to like it."

At the tremor in her voice, he asked again, "Are you fucking someone else?" She shook her head, violently, back and forth. "You planning on fucking someone else?" When she shook her head again, his set features relaxed somewhat, but only minutely.

He walked more fully into the room, leaned back against the table, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Explain."

"They're not mine. I mean . . . I bought them for someone else."

He raised one eyebrow in obvious disbelief, dipped his head, and waited for her to go on.

Her words stalled in her throat as she thought about how pissed he was going to be. Sure, his anger would change, it wouldn't be directed at her in such a catastrophic way, but he'd still be pissed. When she didn't answer, he said, "You expect me to believe that someone in this day and age is embarrassed to buy condoms? Do you have a fifteen year old brother you haven't told me about?" He snarled sarcastically.

"Damian," she tried to soothe. "They're just condoms. It's not a big deal."

"I want a name. I want you to try to convince me you're telling me the truth," he snapped, all patience gone.

She sucked in a breath. "They're for your mother."

His expression turned to one of a boxer in a ring who'd just had his bell rung. He actually shook his head, as if trying to clear it. "What?"

Instead of answering his question, Angie shook her head and told him how she was feeling. "I feel like I just left your mother out to dry." She took a deep breath. "Like I just threw her under the bus."

"My mother?"

Angie shrugged. "I'm pretty sure that you weren't supposed to find out."

"This is bullshit. You're making it up. You know damn good and well I can't corroborate your story." He turned away before zeroing in on her once again. "My mother. You really want to go with that?"

He continued to watch her for a few seconds with a withering stare while Angie remained quiet.

His expression changed to one of indecision, and Angie could tell that he was actually pondering whether it could be true or not. She didn't want to push the truth on him, but it was the truth. "I get that she's your mother, but she's a grown woman. Your father has been dead for seven years, and she's finally ready to move on. She's still vital, still vibrant--"

"Holy fuck," he hissed in amazement, "You're telling the truth."

Angie took a deep breath and nodded her head.

"My mother is having sex with somebody?"

Angie relaxed a tiny bit and her lips quirked. "Well, not quite yet, but--"

She stopped speaking when he held up his hand with an abrupt movement. "Don't say anymore. I don't want to know."

Her small grin turned into a smile. "I get what you're saying. But think about me! I had to have a sex talk with her!"

"Stop!" His eyes narrowed as he held up a hand. "Not another word. I don't want to know about it. I don't even want to think about it."

Angie nodded, thankful his fury had abated. She still felt some unease about the way he'd acted and the things he'd said the night before, but she had to cross one bridge at a time.

They watched each other in silence for a few seconds. "You still want to get out for a while?" he asked. "This has fucked me up. I need a drink. Have you eaten?"

"I could use a drink," she offered.

"Let's go."



An hour later¸ they'd eaten and were finishing up. As they waited for the bill to arrive, Damian reached over and picked up her hand. He'd had only one drink with his meal, but still, the alcohol had mellowed him just a bit and Angie could feel the heat of his palm searing into hers as he laced their fingers together. His mouth tightened as he watched her and his voice rumbled across the table, "Seeing those condoms fall from that bag almost decimated me."

His words were so low and contained such an edge of vulnerability that Angie felt a trace of tempting heat. A vulnerable Damian was new. It made her forget about his callous attitude from the night before. And it was making her heart beat more quickly. "I'm sorry," she offered, not knowing exactly what to say.

His thumb dragged back and forth across her skin. "I'm just saying, I didn't like the feeling--the thought of you in bed with another man."

"You don't have to worry about that," she whispered.

His eyes glinted and refused to release her from their hold. "Are you sure?"

She dipped her head. "Yes."

"Is it something you worry about, too?" His brows drew together with a frown. "I mean, do you think I'm still screwing other women, or do you even care?"

Her pulse went into overdrive. "Of course I care. But I know you're not. I know you wouldn't do that. I'd thought we'd agreed on that when I got on the pill."

He shook his head. "We tiptoed around the subject. Maybe we need to say it out loud. Maybe I want to hear you say loud and clear that it's just you and me." He examined her closely, his gaze focused. "Because that's the way I feel. I haven't looked at another woman since you. I haven't wanted to."

She smiled at that. "You haven't had time. It's been pretty steady almost every night, you know?"

Heat lit his eyes at the reminder and his fingers tightened over hers. "I know. And I'd like to keep it that way. I'd like you to tell me that it's just you and me. I want to hear it."

She ran her fingers over his hand. "It's just you and me."

His expression didn't change, but he began nodding his head, as if it were something he'd already known, but now had the verification that pleased him. His voice deepened as he spoke, "I want you to know, as long as we're together, you don't have to worry about anything. I'll take care of you . . . anything you need. Anything you want." She swallowed and nodded her head, and tried not to think about what it would be like if they weren't together. Her eyes remained glued to his as he continued, "There are only two things I want from you . . . two things I need really." Her pulse pounded as she waited with bated breath for him to go on. "Nobody else touches you . . . and I want your total compliance in bed."

At his words, the breath slipped from her lungs in a dizzy rush. "I thought . . . I thought I'd already given you that."

His eyes held hers prisoner. "Maybe--maybe not. From this moment going forward, I want your complete surrender, I want certain rights over your body."

Angie felt a jolt of hysteria at what he might be implying. She attempted to swallow her alarm and asked, "Are you talking about hurting me in the name of pleasure?"

His eyes narrowed into slits and he immediately began shaking his head. "Absolutely not."

Even with his denial, the blood continued to pound through her veins in sheer freight. "Are you sure? I can't do that."

He shook his head more vigorously this time. "There's absolutely nothing inside of me that wants to hurt you. The image of you feeling any kind of pain, but particularly at my hands, horrifies me. It doesn't get me off at all. If it's any comfort, you can take that to the bank."

She felt a ribbon of relief, but was still confused. "I don't understand what you're asking me for that you're not already getting."

"I want you to do what I say, Angie. In bed . . . that's what I'm talking about. When we're in bed together, I want you to relinquish control to me. I want your total acquiescence."

"Are you saying . . . are you saying that you don't want to have to stop if I tell you to stop?"

Tension lit his features as he chewed into his bottom lip until the blood was gone and it showed white. "That's not what I'm saying. I'll always stop if you ask me to."

She shook her head slowly, in confusion. "I'm not getting it."

He picked up her other hand and spread his fingers through hers, until both of their palms were touching. "I don't know how to explain this to you, because I've never felt a need like this before I met you. This isn't something I've ever wanted with another woman." A primal look of heat infiltrated the lines of his face as he attempted an explanation. "I'll always stop if you tell me to. What I'm saying is that I don't want you to tell me to stop."