Chapter 30: Tethered (Claire's POV)
He kissed me again and then bit down on my lip once more. Yeah, I'm definitely in trouble. "I'm going to kill you," he growled.
"Leo, I-"
"What the hell were you thinking? Pulling something like that?"
"It got you talking," I shrugged. He glared at me. "But I-"
"I don't want to hear it," he shook his head, turning around to leave.
"Leo, wait!" I grabbed his wrist but he tugged it away. "Please!" He halted and turned around to face me, arms folded across his chest. "You weren't talking to me, you weren't kissing me, you weren't even cuddling or hugging me. You avoided me, actually like the fucking plague. You weren't going to tell me unless you had something to lose. I know you well enough now to know that."
"Claire, you can't use my tether to you against me and take advantage of it," he scoffed.
"Tether?" I asked in confusion.
"I'm tethered to you. You should know that by now. I'm not only stuck and tied down to you, you're my weakness. Don't ever use that against me. I swear to god, I'll kill you."
He's so hot, I can't think straight when he's like this.
I nodded absentmindedly. "You're not even listening to me," he rolled his eyes before walking over to me and grabbing the back of my neck, pulling me closer. "What did I just say to you?"
I think I'm having a heart attack.
"Not to use your weakness against you," I breathed out.
"And who's my weakness?" He arched an eyebrow at me.
"Me," I exhaled.
He stared down at me before his eyes went to his hand. He almost pulled it away but then looked at me. He seemed amused at my reaction and tightened his grip, making me wince. "You're fucked in the head," he chuckled.
"Just like you then," I smirked, pushing him further over the edge.
"You like it bad," he whispered, leaning in.
"Maybe. Can you give it to me?" He seemed taken aback when I said that. So was I. Where the fuck did that confidence come from? I've always listened to him, never questioned him, always obeyed him. Now, I'm challenging him.
"What do you want from me, Claire?" he whispered.
"Whatever you have to give," I retorted.
"That's a little vague," he smirked. He wanted me to say it. He wanted me to say that I wanted him. I'm not going to be the one to cave.
"I won't say what you want to hear," I smirked back at him.
"I have other ways to make you say it," he replied.
"Enlighten me," I shrugged.
"You'll regret it," he said, sounding genuinely worried.
"Then that's my problem, not yours." He has to say it first. "Oh wait, all my problems are your problems. Isn't that how important I've become?" I looked him in the eye. "So important, that your life is starting to revolve around me."
"Is that a problem for you?" he questioned.
"Not at all," I replied, "You?"
"Not at all," he said mockingly. His hand left my neck and his finger traced the dip in my neck, to my shoulder with a feather's touch. "You'll say it, Claire," he nodded, his fingers lightly wrapping around my throat.
"You're gonna have to do better than that." I threw his hand off.
"I'm not saying it first," I glared at him.
"You will," he nodded.
"You'll have to make me," I smiled.
I walked past him but he grabbed my wrist and jerked me back. "You know, Flynn isn't always staying out at night, this might be our only shot for a while," he whispered.
"I'll take my chances," I replied, "Try again." He glared at me. "Be a little more convincing," I teased.
"I'm not gonna beg," he grunted.
I stood on my toes and leaned forward by his ear. "But you will," I mumbled. I placed a kiss on his neck before leaving. "Breathe, breathe, breathe," I told myself while walking into my room. I closed the door calmly before grabbing a pillow and screaming into it. "What the fuck are you doing, Claire? You're messing with the wrong guy," I said, leaning against my door.
The door that was pushed open seconds later. "What are you-" He didn't let me finish. He grabbed my wrist and yanked me out of there and back into his room. "I thought I told you I'm sleeping in my own room tonight."
"No," he huffed.
"You said 'okay' last I checked," I smirked.
"Now I'm saying no," he huffed.
"I'm not a dog. I won't always obey," I retorted.
"Yet you normally do," he smirked, taking a step closer.
I instinctively took one back and then another one until my back collided with the door. "You're normally a lot nicer than this. You usually ask," I smiled.
"I won't ask tonight."
"Barking orders now, are we?" I taunted.
"Don't play dumb, this is exactly what you want." He rolled his eyes before stepping back and throwing his shirt over his head. "Go to sleep," he smirked, lying down. Tonight he wants to sleep half-naked? Now he's just teasing me. As always, tit for tat I presume. I would take my shirt off if I was wearing a bra.
I pursed my lips while falling into thought. My eyes landed on the shirt he tossed onto his desk chair and I walked over to it. "What are you doing?" he asked. My back faced him while I threw my hair up in a bun.
"Changing," I replied before taking my shirt off and tossing it on the ground.
"Claire," he grunted.
I grabbed his shirt and pulled it over my head before turning to face him. "What?" I asked, feigning innocence, "I'm just getting comfortable," I shrugged before taking my sweatpants off and putting them on the chair with my shirt.
"You don't sleep half-naked," he said.
"Neither do you," I replied while lying down beside him, not pulling the covers over my legs tonight.
"I did until you came here," he answered smugly.
"So did I," I lied, "Until I came here."
He rolled his eyes before throwing the covers over my legs but I kicked them off. And then went on for a couple of minutes until he caved in. "What do you think you're doing?"
"It's hot in here," I shrugged.
"Then go to the thermostat, pull the covers up," he demanded.
"No thanks, I'll pass," I replied, lying on my side so my back faced him. I heard him groan under his breath and smiled to myself while staring out his window.
"I should have killed you when we brought you here," he said.
"You still can. Wanna try?" I asked.
"Shut your mouth."
"You can do that for me," I chuckled.
"Claire, I mean it."
"Okay, I'll shut up. See how long you can take the silence," I sighed. He lasted two minutes. I counted.
He grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. "I like you better in my shirt," he said, pulling me against him.
"That's interesting, funny you didn't mention that earlier," I smirked.
"Stop talking."
"No, I think I'll-"
"Just stop talking." Then he kissed me. I put my hands on his chest to push him away. He doesn't get that until he says he wants me. But he grabbed my wrists and held them in his hands. "Stop fighting it," he said breathlessly.
"Then say you want it," I mumbled. He huffed in agitation. "Say you want me." He chuckled airily. "Say it and I'm yours, Leo." He turned and looked at me. "I promise," I whispered.
He stared at my eyes for a long time, probably trying to read me. I could see the gears turning in his head while he contemplated it. I don't understand why it was so hard for him to admit.
"Of course, I want you. That's not just it," he let out an irritated sigh. Then it clicked.
He didn't just want me, he needed me. And he hated saying that out loud because it makes it true. And he hates needing someone. He hates being vulnerable. I'll have to say it first. If I don't, he won't think it's true. He'll think I don't feel the same way. He needed reassuring and I was happy to give it.
"I know you want me, but I need you, Leo. Do you need me?" I lay flat on my back and turned my head to look at him. He was already looking at me. "Do you need me?" I repeated. He nodded silently. "Say it," I whispered.
"I fucking need you, Claire," he finally caved in, admitting it out loud.
"Then I'm all yours," I grinned.
"You might wanna take your chances not being home alone with me," he sighed, turning around and hovering over me, "But I don't."
I raised an amused eyebrow at him. He'll bark orders and as I always I'll obey. I don't have much of a choice with him.
"Take it off." He glanced at the shirt.
I rolled my eyes, "As you wish."
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Chapter thirty
As usual, if you know me then piss off. I mean it, like fr.
You didn't read this.
If you don't know me and you're just a reader, then enjoy
next chapter: Flames