The Favor

by Suzanne Wright

He squeezed my nape again. “Good girl.” Oh, he shouldn’t have said that.

Each time he touched me, whispered in my ear, or played his fingers through my loose hair, I came that much closer to melting into him. My body practically throbbed with need.

“You’d choose her over me and your brothers?” He looked her square in the eye. “In a fucking heartbeat.”

He’s still here. He hadn’t left me.

“Don’t threaten to walk out on me again, Vienna. Ever.”

“But for now,” he added, pitching his voice lower, “you’re here with me, wearing my rings, living in my home, using my surname.” The note of possession in his tone made my nape prickle. “Essentially, you’re mine for the time being, Vienna. And I’ll let you go when I’m good and ready.”

“Ever notice how women always get the blame for men being dicks? Their mom didn’t hug them enough, the girls at school made fun of them, their adult ex-girlfriends jilted them, their ex-wives used to nag at them. And if you reject a guy, it can’t possibly mean you simply don’t like him—no, it means you’re stuck up or a frigid bitch or something.”

I stood. “Dane, he’s not worth it.” “No, he’s not. But you are.”

“You should have known better than to think I’d so easily let you go,” he whispered, the words so low and soft I barely caught them.

For as long as you wear these rings, you’re mine; no other man has the right to touch you. I’d never fucking allow it.”

“I’m a very selfish being. If you keep being so sweet, I’ll get used to it, and I might not want to lose it. Then we’ll both be in trouble.”

“Love you, baby girl,” he said, his voice low and soft. “You told me you don’t need the words, but you deserve to hear them. I don’t want you to ever be unsure of what I feel for you. I need you to know deep down to your bones that you’re the most important thing in my world. I need you to know I could never love anything or anyone the way I love you.”

“You just laughed. Sort of.” He nuzzled my neck. “It was a cough.” “It was not. Don’t worry; I’ll keep it between you and me.”