“Consider it your personal playground. Do with it whatever you want.”
“Um . . . I’ll keep that in mind.” In fact, it’s the only thing on my mind as I barely register my next play, wondering if the metal nipple ring is cool to the touch.
When I lose another round, Chaz looks pointedly at my top.
But with a combination of wanting to torment him and stay covered for as long as possible, I reach under my hoodie and maneuver my bra off. Then, with a ta-da flourish, I pull it through the neck of my top and drop it on the table.
Cursing beneath his breath, his gaze toggles between the cotton garment with tiny blue flowers and my offending hoodie. “That’s quite a party trick.”
“Just playing the game,” I say, batting my lashes. “Your turn.”
Scraping by with ten points, he manages to keep his pants on—unfortunately—but I only haveItto play.
“Lex,” he drawls, thick with warning. “If you pull another article of clothing out of your top, I’m going to lose it.”
I laugh to cover my nerves. I’ve filled out since being the tall, gangly girl, but I’m still not very curvy. Richard, who expressed very little interest in me sexually, said I had the type of body that wasbest displayed in designer clothes. He thought it was a compliment. It wasn’t.
I’m fine with how I look. But getting naked in front of a virile man I really like creates a breeding ground for anxiety to feed on.
If I told Chaz I changed my mind, he would never make me feel bad about it. But I don’t want to change my mind. I need to stop overthinking and just do it.
With a deep breath, I cross my arms in front of me and reach for the bottom of my hoodie. I see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows, and his eyes track the slide of the soft fabric up my torso and over my head. Despite the heat from the fireplace, tiny goosebumps prickle my arms, and my nipples bead to hard points.
“Christ,” he hisses. His large chest moves in and out with quickened breaths. “Even better than I imagined.”
“You’re not disappointed then.”
“I’m nowhere near disappointed. Screw the game. I can’t fucking think.” He tosses his letters on the table. “Come here, Blue.”
Flutters swarm my stomach. The anticipation feels like the chaotic flap of butterfly wings. This is not a man who thinks I look best in designer clothes or any clothes at all. I rise in nothing but my cotton panties, the matching bra already on the table, and walk toward him. My steps grow steadier, along with my confidence. His gaze follows my every motion, the twist of my hips, the sway of my breasts.
“You’re exquisite.”
“So are you.” I reach out, taking him up on his open invitation, and run my fingers over his shoulders, tracing the inked lines. I marvel at the warmth radiating off his smooth skin, wanting to bathe in it.
“Do I get to touch too?”
“Yes,” I murmur, tingles skittering down my spine when his hands cup the backs of my thighs. He pulls me into the V of his parted legs and then strokes upward to splay his palms over my panty-clad behind. He stares at me beneath heavy eyelids as his thumbs tease along the cotton edge to the apex of my thighs.
“You’re already wet.” He groans, pressing his lips against my lower belly.
“Chaz?” My heart pounds.
“Hm?” His fingers pause, and he looks up, searching my face. “What is it, baby?”
“I just…I’m not ready to go all the way tonight.”
“No problem with that, Blue. You tell me how far.”
Trusting him the way I do makes it easier to express myself. “Upper body only.” I’d rather not face thewill-I-won’t-Iorgasm so soon after the last time. “Is that okay?”
“Mm-hm. I love second base,” he hums happily, moving his hands to my ribs. “It means I get to play with everything northof here.” He licks an imaginary line above the waistband of my underwear. “Suck on your nipples and drench your panties.”
I clutch his shoulders to steady myself. “God, Chaz.”
“Every time you moan my name like that,” he murmurs, pulling back with a sinful grin, “I want you even more.”
“I want you too,” I say, staring into his lust-dark eyes. “Can I touch you first?”
