“I will — every day if I have to — until you believe it.”

“God.” She smiles, but it’s not exactly joyful. The pain still lingers there like a ghost ready to pounce. “You’re nothing like how you were in the past.”

“How was I in the past?”

“I don’t know. When I first met you at the wedding, I thought you were too distant and too untouchable. You still are, in a way.”

“The wedding wasn’t the first time I met you.”

“What do you mean the wedding wasn’t the first time we met? I didn’t even live in London.”

I could tell her about that time in the cemetery, but that will only bring on Alicia’s memory and I don’t want her sad, so I change the subject. “You didn’t. You had a Yorkshire accent.”

Nostalgia covers her features. “I did.”

“You lost it. Why?”

“I…” She clears her throat. “I had to so I wouldn’t be identified. It was so hard at first.”

I can imagine her struggling to lose her accent. She was always a proud northerner, but because she needed to shed everything that had to do with Maxim, she ditched that part of herself, too.

Aurora’s head seems to be heading in that direction, considering how her gaze gets lost in the distance.

I won’t allow that to happen.

“Bend over.” My order, though calmly spoken, gets her immediate attention.

Heat blossoms in her cheeks. “Why?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself, Aurora. I hate it and you’ll get spanked more for it.” My hand trails down and I grab her arse, causing her to yelp. “But you like that, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her voice is breathy.

“Are you going to do as you’re told?”

She lifts her chin, that challenging streak rushing back in. “Make. Me.”

Tugging on her wrist, I flip her so her chest meets the desk and her arse is in the air right in front of me as I stand.

I yank her dress up to her waist and my cock strains against my trousers when I find her naked. Completely, utterly naked and splayed out for me.

She came prepared. Aurora rarely goes commando, and when she does, it’s because she wants me to have easy access. She confessed that herself after our swim at the beach.

Her porcelain flesh is reddened by my handprints from last night. I don’t spank her hard enough to cause a bruise, but I always leave my mark.

My hand comes down on her flesh and Aurora gets on her tippy-toes, her moan echoing in the air.

“When I say bend over, you bend the fuck over.” My fingers caress her skin, admiring my handprint on her, then I spank her a few more times until she’s whimpering and begging for more.

“J-Jonathan…”

“Stay still.” I part her arse cheeks and she tenses up when my thumb connects with the black plug in her butt. “You put it in.”

“Mmm.”

“Was it hard? Did you struggle like the first time?” I fucked her then to make her aroused enough for the toy to fit inside her.

“N-no. But I liked the first time better.”

“Why was that, wild one?” My hand wraps around her nape. “Because your cunt was filled in the process?”

She releases a needy sound but says nothing.

“Answer me and you might get a redo.”

“Yes.” Her voice is barely audible, but it’s the only answer I need.

I use my other hand to unbuckle my belt and don’t bother undressing. As soon as my dick is out, I drive balls-deep inside her, making her shift against the desk. Even though I take it easy, I know I’m too big for her, considering how she strangles me every time.

“Holy shit,” she moans, her body moving in synergy with mine.

For someone who was dead for so long, her body comes undone around me in no time.

My hand keeps her caged against the wood as I thrust into her. My free fingers tease the plug in her arse, pulling it out the slightest bit before driving it back in. The movements of my dick match that of the toy, causing her to writhe against the table

“Oh, Jonathan… Aahh!”

She falls apart all around me, her tight cunt strangling my dick and wrenching out my own release.

I empty inside her with a grunt, my seed filling her pussy and dripping between her thighs.

A wave of possessiveness hits me at the way she continues clenching around me, milking me until there’s nothing left.

She’s mine.

Fucking mine.

And always will be.

I’ll keep owning her until I put a fucking baby inside her.

In the past, Aiden was the only offspring I needed, but now, I’m chaining Aurora to me, and if a baby is what it’ll take, then that’s what it will be.

22

Aurora

“I’m not bored at all, mate. I get to be with Daddy.”

I laugh at Layla’s tone. She almost sounds offended that I suggested she might be bored out of her mind at Ethan’s place. Since it’s been more than a week, I’m starting to get restless, so I thought she might feel the same.

“Besides, there’s also Agnus,” she whispers. “And he’s, like, totally Daddy material, too. I’m going to collect them all.”

“You need help, Lay.”

“Shut up. You’ve got your Daddy-in-practice.”

“I do not.” My cheeks heat as I say the words. Jonathan is sitting on the sofa opposite me, and even though his attention is on the tablet, I have no doubt that he’s also focused on the conversation.

There’s no way in shit I can ask Layla about the state of things in England. He won’t hesitate to snatch the phone away and end the call.

He’s a tyrant about that — amongst other things.

I tuck my hair behind my ears. “So is everything else good? Are you comfortable?”

“Absolutely. This is like a holiday and Daddy’s mansion is the best.”

“It is?”

“Totally. He’s taking good care of us.”

“I’m so glad. Thank Ethan on my behalf.”

“He’s right outside. Do you want to talk to him?”

“Yeah, sure.” I’ve barely finished the sentence when Jonathan stands up and towers over me, extending his hand.