“I said, look at me.”
I spread my fingers and peek through the gap.
“Arianna.” He chuckles. “Take your hands away.”
“I can’t,” I mumble and screw my eyes tight shut.
Peeling my fingers back one by one, he takes my hands in his, then rests them gently on either side of my head as he tangles his fingers with mine. There’s no getting out of the firm grip he has me in.
“Open your eyes,” he demands softly. I open them slowly and I’m met with his golden gaze. He has soft creases in the corners of his eyes that make his face more handsome somehow. “You want to look at me?”
Oh, god…Yes, I want to look at him but I don’t know how to say yes. “Denham,” I protest and turn my head to the side in total embarrassment.
“Arianna, I don’t know who taught you that you should be embarrassed, but whoever did it is an asshole.” I turn my headslowly, making sure to look just at his face. “Don’t be ashamed of your desires. If you want to look, then look. I work damn hard to keep in shape and I like that you want to look at me.”
My eyes want to travel. They want to explore every inch. I don’t even know why I’m protesting so much. Sex has always just been sex. Even with Aaron it was just sex between two people. There was no mutual appreciation. I think we did it just because that’s what couples do. Don’t get me wrong, it was good at the time…I think. I didn’t really have anything positive to compare it to. It was a physical exchange. Not one I craved or needed. There wasn’t this electric charge I can feel thrumming through my body every time I even so much as think about Denham.
“Don’t zone out on me, Stunner. It’s me and you right now. Don’t let it be anything else. No past. No demons. Just us.”
For a moment, it crosses my mind that the knocking has stopped, but Denham distracts me again. He takes our entwined hands and places my palms flat on his chest. I feel his pulse accelerating under my touch and mine speeds to catch up.
“Close your eyes,” he says softly. I hesitate for a moment. “Trust me.”
I let my lids fall shut.
He covers my hands with his and guides them slowly over his skin…over the curve of his pecs…down the planes of his torso…Silky, soft skin covers hard, granite muscle and every sense is heightened as the pads of my fingers tingle with sensation, feeling every bump and ripple. I let him guide my hands over his body, each second getting easier.
I want it. I crave it.
I hold my breath as he traces his V with the tips of my index fingers and a soft growl escapes from his lips. He stops, holding my hands still and breathes deep when we reach the band of his pants. I don’t know if he’s bracing himself to continue or willing himself to stop. I slowly open my eyes to look up into hisface. His eyes are pools of inky black, pupils dilated so I can’t see the gold flecks in his eyes. I watch his chest rapidly rise and fall as I wait on his next move, guided by him and not my embarrassment.
“So beautiful,” he whispers. “It’s gonna be so sweet, Stunner, and worth every second that we wait.” He groans huskily.
“Still set on that waiting idea, huh?” I joke.
“It might take every ounce of my self-restraint, but yes. We’re waiting until your mind is healthy and your heart is healed.” He kisses me hard on the mouth and climbs off the bed. “So what would you like to do today?”
“You wind me up, tighter than a coiled spring, then you ask me what I’d like to do?”
Nervous tension.
Sexual tension.
Allthe tension from the past few days is building inside of me and it’s starting to make me irritable.
“What’s up? You don’t have any self-restraint?” He snickers.
“You think this is funny?” I reply, my voice raising an octave. I hop off the bed and stomp toward him, poking him in the chest. “I asked you a question. Do you think that it’s funny to frustrate me then make me wait?” I dig him hard in the center of the chest with my index finger a second time.
“Well …”
I place a hand on my cocked hip and wait for his reply. His demeanor changes and the air suddenly feels chilly. I feel my skin prickle across my shoulders as his eyes hold mine in a hard gaze, then he takes a step closer to me, causing me to shuffle backwards until the back of my legs touch the bed.
“You think I would take pleasure in giving you any discomfort?” He snatches up my hand, making me jump. “You think I take pleasure in this?” He pushes my hand into his crotchand holds me there as I curl my fingers around him—thick, hot and hard.
Waves of pleasure push through my body and settle in my core. I don’t think I’ve ever felt sensations in my body like this. I’m turned on and wishing there were none of his stupid rules, wishing there were no layers of clothing between us.
He lets go of my hand, dropping his head and taking a deep breath.
