Tied to the Billionaire(84)

He stared into her eyes, his gaze so profound and focused that she actually believed him. She believed he cared for her. She believed he wanted more from her than to adorn his arm. He needed more than a gorgeous woman he could pull out for parties and show off to the reporters. He wanted someone who could submit to him, who could accept each one of his darker urges and enjoy them just as much as he did.

But could that really be enough? Could that be enough to keep him? Enough to build a whole life around?

“I got something for you.” He pulled a long red velvet box from behind his back, holding it out before her.

She lifted her hand, about to reject the gift. She didn’t need treasures from him, she had her own money to buy jewellery. That had never been why she’d been with him. But before she could say a word, he popped open the case and she couldn’t breathe, let alone speak.

“Do you know what this is, pet?” He reached out to stroke along the length of diamonds housed in the box.

She shook her head. She had an idea. At least she hoped she did. But she wanted to hear him say it. She needed to know in his words what the contents meant to him.

“This is a collar. It tells the rest of the world that you are mine.” He pointed to the ruby bird at one end and the small golden stick at the other. “When the two ends are connected, nothing can remove the necklace but a key.” He reached into his shirt collar and pulled a thin golden chain from around his neck, revealing a dangling key, as small and dainty as the bird and its golden perch. “This key.”

“It’s beautiful.” She reached out to touch the necklace. Her fingers shook across the cold hard stones.

“I wanted to give you something special, something no one else had. And I remembered you liked birds. You told me once you based every one of your designs on how nature has engineered them to be the perfect fliers.”

She looked up at him, surprised. “I said that during my interview. That was over five years ago.”

He nodded again. “It’s what made me want to hire you. Your passion.” He took a step closer, and her body sagged, desperate to be in his arms again. If only she could be sure her body was right, she’d jump in his embrace right now.


“It’s also what made me take you to my bed that first night.”

She sighed, remembering that night. The light drunken feeling created by a few too many glasses of champagne as she had talked up the boss about all the ambitions she had for her division, all the ways she wanted to improve their planes, make them faster, stronger, bigger. And then the sensation of floating when the man she’d lusted over for a year had not only taken her to his bed, but shown her a mastery of her body that had made her toes curl.

Even from the first night, from their first kiss, they’d been perfectly matched in every need and desire.

“Can I put it on you?” he asked with such hesitation and concern that it almost broke her heart. She wanted nothing more than to kneel at his feet, press her face to his chest and let him pin that gorgeous collar around her neck. She wanted the whole world to know she was his, to make his ownership of her as official to the world as it had been to her the first time he’d touched her.

But she paused, unsure. This step was a large one, especially considering how limited their relationship had been before. Could they really go from only seeing each other once a year to every day? Was that even possible?

Richard stepped towards her, wrapping his hand around her nape and tipping her gaze up to his. His eyes were fierce. His lips set in a determined line. “I know it won’t be easy. But I’m determined to make this work. I can’t live with only a little bit of you anymore. I want all of you, I need all of you. The rest we’ll work out as we go.”

“Are you sure?” The quiver in her voice gave her away. There was no question in her mind that he was the Master for her. He had been since the first moment she’d met him. The safety and security she’d felt around him had freed her in a way she’d never been before, allowing her to push her boundaries further, knowing he’d always take care of her. But she’d never been as sure of his emotions. And if they tried this and failed—if she failed him, she wasn’t sure she’d survive.

“I want to marry you, pet.” He leaned his forehead against hers. His warm breath on her face and his strong hands on her body filled her with deep calm and security. “Not for the merger, not for a business deal, but because you are the pet for me. Because no other woman can keep me on my toes and submit to me so beautifully at the same time like you do. Because these stolen conference nights are not enough.” Their eyes met, his dark gaze enveloping her from head to toe. All that she was, all she could be, was his. “I want more.”

She nodded, her whole body shaking beneath the elation. “Yes, Master.”

His lips descended on hers, depriving her of the remaining oxygen in her lungs and sending her into oblivion.

He pulled back, his hand still holding the nape of her neck hard enough to keep her in place. He reached behind him, plucking the jewellery from its box. The radiant jewels in his hand filled her vision and her stomach flipped. Everything else vanished besides him and the promise held in his grip. He wouldn’t ask her again, and she didn’t care. She didn’t need him to ask. She wanted his collar. She wanted to be owned by him. Only him.

He wrapped the necklace around her throat. The fit was tight, perfect. The golden perch slid through the robin’s feet and the mechanism clicked, locking shut. Her entire body sagged. Her knees weakened. She leaned into him, needing the support, his warm hard body the only steady space in the room.