Her fingers run over my pecs in a featherlight touch that sends a rush of blood straight to my cock. If she keeps touching me, she’s going to see the clear evidence of how badly I want her. There’s no way I can hide it. My cock is already starting to swell and press against my pajama bottoms. Soon I’ll be straining at the fabric and tenting the damn sheet.
She traces the large bear head covering my chest before running her fingers over all the scars I’ve accumulated since I was a teenager.
“What happened?” she whispers. Her breaths are coming faster as she dips her fingers lower, grazing my abs.
“Too many injuries to name,zolotse. I’ve been shot, stabbed, sliced open. Many people have tried to kill me,” I say with a laugh.
“I’m glad they all failed.”
I smile at her and reach up to run a finger down her blushing cheek. “Me too.”
She laughs and then parts her lips when she drags her finger along the thin strip of hair that runs from my navel to beneath my pants. As soon as she sees the fabric start to rise, her fingers freeze and she starts to pull away.
“Zolotse, wait,” I say, gently grabbing her hand. “Look at me, baby.”
She turns her eyes to mine, but I can tell she’s still tense and uncomfortable. “I need you to trust me, okay?”
“I do trust you,” she whispers.
Gently squeezing her hand, I bring it to my cock. Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t pull away. “You don’t ever need to fear this, sweetheart. I’m hard because I’m attracted to you, and I want you. I can’t change that, so I’m going to be hard a lot, but we’re taking things at your pace, and I won’t ever push you to do anything that you’re not ready to do.”
“But won’t you be miserable? What if I’m not ready for a long time?”
I drag my finger along her jaw again. “Then we’ll wait a long time. Don’t worry about me. I’m not seventeen,zolotse. I can handle my cock.”
She surprises me by letting out a soft laugh. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh.”
“Did you think I was making a masturbation joke?” I ask, giving her a wink.
She blushes deeper. “I’m sorry. I feel terrible about the way things are.”
“Stop apologizing, Nina. I’ll wait as long as you need.”
Her hand is still under mine, resting on my cock, and the urge to slide her up and down my length is insanely strong, but I keep still, not wanting to scare her off.
“Can I ask you something?”
When she nods, I ask, “What all had you done before you went to Ruby’s?”
I’ve never seen her look so uncomfortable and immediately regret the question. I squeeze her hand without thinking, which just forces her hand tighter against my cock.
“Shit, I’m sorry.” I loosen my hand but don’t move it. “Forget I asked. You don’t need to tell me anything you don’t want to.”
“There’s just not a lot to tell. It’s kind of embarrassing.”
“Please don’t be embarrassed,zolotse.”
“I’ve had boyfriends, but I didn’t really do anything beyond some heavy kissing.”
I don’t like the images that pop in my head. I already think of her as mine. I want to erase every memory she has of other men, good and bad, until all she has are memories of us.
“I never wanted to take things further with them,” she admits. “There was always something missing for me, and I didn’t want to give them any more of myself. I don’t think I fully trusted them.”
She surprises me by leaning closer so our faces are only inches apart. “Do you think it would be okay if we kissed again?”
Chapter 9
Nina
