“I just thought it might be nice if you showed me some trust for a change,” she interrupted my thoughts. “I feel like I’ve given you plenty, but I wondered if you’d… You know what? It’s stupid. Just forg—”
“I’ll do it.” I pulled her to straddle my lap. “Anything to prove how much you mean to me.” I pressed my lips against her collarbone, listening to her breathing change. “I mean it, Av. You’re everything to me, and I love you so fucking much. I’ll spend every last one of my goddamn days proving it to you.”
The corners of her lips curled up just slightly. “Okay.”
She bit her lip nervously as she slid off my lap and gestured for me to get in position.
I sat with my back to the headboard and watched her straddle me again. I was totally enamored by her as she placed her fingers on my chest, tracing the inked lines—her brand, the symbols —like she was trying to memorize the picture they painted. Then, her hands moved down one of my arms to wrap around my wrist and bring it up to the cuff.
She buckled the strap then looked at me.
“Is it too tight?” she asked softly, her breath warm on my face.
I shook my head.
My heart was pounding hard enough to leave my chest as she did the same thing to my other wrist. I swallowed hard, resisting the urge to pull away. I remained still, trusting her.
The vulnerability tightening in my chest was unexpected, and I had to focus on breathing steadily. I was giving her something I’d never given anyone, here for the taking. She could do just about anything she wanted, and I was limited as to my options to stop her.
Avery grabbed something from the nightstand and showed it to me.
A blindfold.
Fuck, Av.
She was testing me, and she was right, but giving up control wasn’t me; it didn’t come easy. It didn’t feelright.
But I was trying for her. For us.
If I could give up control for a moment, maybe she’d see past all my demons.
I stared at the black silk blindfold in her hand and nodded, breathing deeper than usual when she slid it over my face, stealing my view, making my heart rate spike.
She must’ve been terrified when I’d restrained her against her will. I was letting her do it willingly, and I was all stressed out for no reason.
Her hands cascaded down to my chest with a soft tickle of her fingers. Her lips grazed my neck, and I tilted toward her, chasing her. I was starving for her, needing her touch, her reassurance.
But she pulled away, and then her weight shifted off me.
“Avery?”
Nothing.
Every muscle in my body tightened. “Avery.”
More silence.
“Avery.” Frustration was rising in my tone.
Still nothing.
The air had shifted to cold and silent. All I could hear was my own breathing, my racing heartbeat. All I could feel was the panic curling in my lower stomach.
Was she leaving?
“I found your box,” she said from somewhere in the room.
Fuck.
