I gaped at him, holding back a laugh. “You’re blamingme?”
He kissed the underside of my jaw. “That’s a resounding yes.”
“Well, that’s fine,” I said, “because I actually find it quite distinguished and very sexy. Like really, super sexy.”
“Supersexy, huh?” He moaned against my skin and continued trailing kisses wherever he could reach. Being restrained by his body, all I could do was squirm—and bite my bottom lip, which I instantly released since it was tender. I’d almost forgotten I’d made it bleed during our bedroom adventures the night before. “What’s with all the flannel?” he asked, rising onto his hands and knees, tenting the comforter.
“It’s winter, and you weren’t here to keep me warm,” I said defensively.
He began unbuttoning my pajama top, smiling like the scoundrel he was. His eyes grew hungry as he muttered to himself, “It’s like opening a present.”
I sighed happily and let my lids fall shut as my nipples hardened, anticipating David’s mouth on them.
Until David’s voice boomed through the room. “Fuck.”
My eyes flew open. “What?” I followed his gaze to a dark purple bruise forming on my chest in the spot where he’d bitten me the day before.
He sat back, and the comforter slid off his back. David pushed up my shirt, then yanked down my pants. “What the fuck?” His fingers gently spread my thighs, and I moved up on my elbows to see what he was looking at. He ran his hands over my hip and ushered me onto my side. “You are covered,” he paused to inhale, “inbruises.”
Ah. I hadn’t even noticed, but it wasn’t all that surprising. David and I had been going at it hard ever since we’d returned from Dallas. “They’re no big deal,” I said. “I can’t even feel them.”
“I was too rough with you yesterday,” he said, staring at my legs.
“And Ilovedit,” I said, looking him in the eye so he wouldn’t get weird about this.
He raked a hand through his hair and looked away, clearly distraught.
“Hey,” I said, trying to catch his gaze. “Look at me. I’mfine.”
“Fine?” he asked, and I silently cursed myself for using what had apparently become a trigger word for us.
“Yes, I am,” I said. “And I’m not just saying that. Frankly, I’ve never been happier.”
It was an honest and big confession, but David didn’t even hear it. His jawline flexed as he muttered something about Bill.
I instantly recoiled. “David, the marks he left behind came from anger. This is completely different. Remember what you said about us? It’s all love.”
He blinked his eyes to me then. “I’m so sorry. Seeing what Mark and Bill did to you, I lost my mind.” He shook his head. “And now this? It won’t happen again. You have my word.”
Wait, what? That was the exact opposite answer I’d been hoping for. I scrambled to my knees and took his face in my hands. “You didn’t hurt me,” I said emphatically. “Sometimes we’re loving. Sometimes we’re rough. I would tell you if it was too much.”
“You didn’t last night, though.” His eyes fell to my mouth. “You bit your lip bloody instead.”
“I didn’t stop you because I liked it,” I said gently. “I trust you.”
When he didn’t respond, I hoped it was because he understood I meant every word. I fell back onto the bed and playfully nudged his thigh with my foot. “Now, come back here. We—”
“I can’t.” He pulled my pants back up. “Not tonight.”
“David, sweetie,” I said, putting my hand over his to stop him. “Don’t do this. I want you.”
“It’s late,” he murmured, doing up the buttons of my top. “You should sleep.”
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“Office,” he said, jumping off the bed and pulling on his sweatpants.
“What?” I asked. “You’re going to leave me here, horny and alone? And cold?”
