I have to be the one to calm him down.
I have togivehim something.
“I try not to think about them. To remember the agony. So, I need for you not to think about them either. I need you to keep your promise.” I’m proud of my voice for not shaking with the remembered fear of those days.
“My promise,” he mutters, doing his best to look away.
I notice the struggle, the fight in his eyes. He wants to get justice for me while still taking care of me. “You promised. All pleasure.”
“I did.”
“But you want answers.”
“I do.”
“Will you wait?” I don’t think I can be intimate with him after talking about Mason, about the things he did to me.
“As long as you need me to.” Could he be more perfect?
“Thank you.” Choking on the words, I take shallow breaths before getting myself under control again.
“Do you always have these sexy little panties on?” I’m so grateful for his playful tone as I glance down to see what I’m wearing.
Navy blue underwear with little gold stars. Shrugging, I smile as I look up at him. “I like cute things.”
“Not complaining.” Crawling onto the bed, I drag my hair across one shoulder so it’s out of the way and rest on my heels next to him.
“What do I do now?” I know my innocent questions do something to him. The evidence is in front of my face. His eyes grow heavy, his breathing gets shallow, and the swollen member behind his boxers jumps with each question I ask.
“Touch me. Anywhere, everywhere, however, you like. Just please, fucking touch me.” He sounds pained.
Chewing on my lip, I swing a leg across his hips and sit down on him. Right where our most intimate parts meet. His hips thrust up, nearly throwing me off. Dropping my hands on his chest for balance, I feel the pinch of pleasure from his move, and I want more.
I want everything.
The trouble is, I don’t know how to get it.
“Explore, Laken. Move, touch, kiss, lick, bite, do whatever you want, and you’ll find exactly what you like.” He’s read my mind.
“Anything?” He affirms the question as his muscles strain and tense, wanting to touch me. Which gives me an idea. “What do you want to do to me?”
His hungry groan as he stares up at me is nearly overwhelming as I slide back and forth across his pelvis, enjoying the sweet burn that ripples through my body. “I want to lick you. It’s fucking dirty and weird, but all I want is your flavor exploding on my tongue all the damn time.”
Leaning forward, I boldly keep hold of his gaze as I flick my tongue out and graze across his pec, running it over his piqued nipple and up to his collarbone. “Fucking hell, Laken.” He strains against his binds, and I realize he could escape if he genuinely wanted to, but Hale gives me this. Gives me something I’ve never had.
Control.
The way he makes me feel loved, cherished,wanted. I’ve never had that feeling with a man before. I wish this night could last forever so that when I go back to my reality, I can think of him and know that, for a fleeting moment, I was someone’s everything. That I meant the world to him, and I am saddened that I’ll never feel this way again.
Reaching back as I move to the other side of his chest, I unhook my bra and remove it. His eyes are closed, so I know he can’t see. Yet. Feeling braver, I do what I think I’d like him to do to me and wrap my lips around his nipple, flicking my tongue back and forth before using my teeth and biting down gently.
“Laken.” His voice holds a warning that brings me joy.
“Do you like it?” I glance up to see him watching me, and when he nods, I do it again. Hale buries his teeth into his lip, holding back what I believe is likely a command he wants to issue me.
Sitting up, I use my hair as cover until I’m ready to reveal my nudity. I’ve always thought I had a nice body, but Mason ruined that. Hale is helping build back that belief. “Sweet Mary, Mother, and Joseph.”
I open my eyes slowly to find him tightening the ties further around his wrists so he doesn’t break free, while the pulse in his neck beats so rapidly I’m worried it’s about to give out. “I’m nothing special,” I murmur, playing with my hair as I push it over my shoulders.