Carter played with the idea of taking her dessert, but he knew that would only lead to other things. And he felt that she needed a little break. She needed to get her mind straight so that she could admit he was right. He needed her to accept that she belonged to him. If giving her some space was the answer, he'd do what he had to.

Instead, he focused on cleaning the kitchen and washing the dishes. It struck him that the laminate countertops had seen better days. There were spots where the decorative design had worn away to reveal a bland beige base color.

He sighed. At least he could use this as an excuse for going into town tomorrow, a way to put some distance between himself and her. It seemed distance might be what he’d need to refrain from giving into his physical wants.

It wasn't a total excuse. He'd been putting off replacing the countertops for some time now. Having Sloane gave him the push he needed to fix it up. It was going to be her house too.

He realized the flaw in that plan though. He'd have to give her food and water, a makeshift toilet, and put her back to just the one ankle cuff. He wasn't sure that was the answer.

Frustration drove him to the shower as he debated what he'd do. As the towel swiped over his body, he decided he'd leave early to get a new countertop and be back in time for a late breakfast. He'd spend most of the day working in the kitchen, so that would keep him away save for feeding her.

Despite his impatience before, he was sure he could forgo making any more advances toward her. He'd managed during dinner.

Since he was getting up early, he decided to go to bed. Before going to the opposite side of the house, he shot a longing look at the cellar door.

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Sloane found herself wondering if he'd come back again. As usual, she had no sense of the time, but she felt that it was still early. She was sure he'd come back, ready to take her.

So she decided to start with a timid "want" for him. She figured he'd latch onto a shy asking rather than a bold demanding. Ease into things it was.

She lay there, trying to work out what she'd say and how she'd move, what little of her she could, to entice him. She even practiced, unsure how convincing she was.

But after so long, she realized that he wasn’t coming back tonight. Her heart did a weird flip that she wasn't sure was for relief or disappointment.

So she stared at the beam, once again, before falling asleep.

| ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~

He couldn't resist. She was heavy on his mind and he had trouble sleeping. When he was able to drift off, visions of her were all he could see.

He crept to the cellar door and fumbled with the key before getting it open. He took his time going down the stairs, sure she'd be asleep. He needed to at least see her. He told himself all he was going to do was sit beside her and watch.

At the bottom door, he hesitated a second before easing it open.

He wasn't surprised to see that she was sleeping. But it was no peaceful slumber. She moaned and twisted her head. If she hadn't been strapped down, he was sure she'd have been flailing around.

He was beside the bed in seconds, laying a hand over one of hers. "Shh. It's okay." He crooned as he ran his other hand through her hair.

Her eyes fluttered open to lock onto his. There was a second of questioning before her features crumpled, as if she were going to cry.

"You're okay."

She couldn’t tell him what the nightmare had been about. She couldn't tell him he had raped her again and then set her free to chase through the woods with a gun. So she avoided telling him about the dream and asked a question instead, hoping it would help her in tricking him.

"You...you aren't going to leave me?" Her voice shuddered.

"No. Never." He shook his head and slid his hand down to her cheek, caressing with that sweet and caring gentleness she'd come to accept.

"Carter, please. Just hold me."

He repositioned himself to lay beside her, draping an arm across her chest.

She managed to keep her gasp within her as she felt her breasts touch his arm. She tried to keep herself from tensing as he snuggled into her.

After a few seconds of controlling her breathing and telling herself she could do this, Sloane turned her head toward him.

His head sat just below her underarm. He had his eyes clamped shut.

It took every ounce of bravery she had to say his name.

He looked at her at once.

She almost backed down, but she had to go through with it. The sooner she started with her plan, the better. She needed to get out of there.

"I want you." She couldn't believe that she'd been able to get the words out. She couldn't believe she'd been able to do so without stuttering or whimpering.

Carter leaned up, bracing himself on an elbow. He stared into her eyes, looking for something.

She did her best to maintain eye contact. As she licked her lips, she shifted her shoulders just enough to make him aware of her breasts, even letting out a small moan.

"I want you too." His voice was low as he leaned toward her. It was like a lion preparing to lunge on his prey.

Fear gripped her heart, sure he would see through the farce and decide he no longer wanted her. She tried to make the look she gave him one of longing and desire.

He placed his lips on hers, coaxing her mouth open as he slid his tongue in to meet hers. He moved so that he hovered above her, his body just brushing against hers.

She found it much easier than she had expected to roll her tongue with his. It helped that he hadn't put his weight on her, but held himself up instead. It didn't dawn on her that he was withholding for a reason. Or even at all.

After a few more twirls of tongue against tongue, he moved his mouth to her jaw, down to her collarbone, maintaining the small distance between their bodies. This didn't stop her from feeling his manhood bump against her.

As his lips left a wet trail along her, she wasn't able to stop the whimper that escaped. Realizing this, she tried to add onto it, hoping he'd hear it as a moan.

Either her trick worked or he ignored the whimper. He traveled to one of her nipples and teased it to a peak, flicking his tongue against and around it. He felt her move beneath him and knew if the strap hadn't held her in place, she'd have arched her back and pushed herself into him. With that thought, he closed his mouth and began to suck with light pressure.

Her moan came louder. Keeping her nipple in his mouth, he lifted his eyes to see her pulling against the restraints, her head pushed back against the pillow. The sight of her sent more blood to his lower region.

He slid a hand down to her stomach and rested it on her mound. She shuddered beneath his touch, urging him to slip his fingers into her.

Much like the first time, he found a rhythm, but he watched and felt her to decide what worked best. She writhed as much as she could, letting small moans out to further entice him.

And then her eyes shot open as he removed himself from her - fingers, mouth, and body.

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