“Yes. I think—I think it would be hot. I want you to feel good, too. Since we’re in this together.”
Another long silence.
“Gabriel, if you don’t want to, I won’t be—”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“We can try.”
Wow.That’sa turn-on. I’m instantly overheated, my heart racing. It’s not just Gabriel agreeing to experiment. It’s not just his obvious trust, which is a huge deal. It’s the idea of making him feel as good as he makes me feel.
“Switch places with me, then. Your ribs must be sore.” I hop off the bed, and Gabriel moves up to the pillows. “What do you think about…getting tied up?”
He hesitates. “We could try.”
“Okay. Just—one second.”
I go into the bathroom and whisper-scream into my hands. This is the most important sex of my life. I love himsomuch. I’m not going to screw this up.
One of Gabriel’s ties hangs from the towel rack on the door. I pull it down and take it with me. He closes the drawer on his bedside table, puts a small bottle of lube near the lamp, and settles back on the pillows.
I’m surprised to feel…shy. Vulnerable. I’m the one with a tie in my hands, but his energy in the room is strong. He could take control at any time.
I shuffle onto the bed, on my knees, and kiss him until I feel him relax. Then he reaches for me. I could let him take over. It would be easy.
But no. This is for him.
I sit back on my heels. “I think, because of your ribs, your hands should be in front of you.”
“I agree.”
I take one of his hands from my waist and hold it in front of me. “Is this okay?”
Gabriel nods.
I drop the tie over his wrist and start to loop it around.
“No.” Gabriel yanks his arm away so hard that it twists his torso. He lets out a pained groan, his other hand moving to cover his wrist. “No. I thought—no.”
I hurl the tie into a corner of the room. Stroke his face, and his hair. “We don’t have to. I’m sorry. It’s okay, Gabriel. We don’t have to.”
Wide, panicked eyes search my face. “I don’t want to stop. I just can’t—”
“It’s okay. It’s fine. I just—you know. I thought it would be hot if you tiedmeup, and—I’m sorry.”
“Elise. I’ll tie you up any fucking time. Don’t be sorry. We tried.” He lifts a hand to my hair and runs his fingers through it. Gabriel’s shaking. “Just not yet.”
“Can I make out with you some more?”
“Pleasemake out with me.”
I do. I kiss him like nothing matters more than the kiss. Like nothing matters more than he does. Both things are true.
It takes him several minutes of making out to settle.
I move my mouth to his ear. “I’m sorry.”