“What changed?” I ask, taking a sip of the wine that’s sweeter and tastier than I expected.
“I realized that you deserve better than that. You are missing out on so many firsts.” He shakes his head and turns his eyes to the stars as he continues. “I want to build a life with you. One that isn’t just filled with bad memories.”
“Sly…” He turns his head to me, and I set down my wine glass so I can clasp his hand between mine. “Every memory I have with you is a good one.”
“Even when you were taken while I was supposed to be protecting you?”
“Okay, well maybe noteverymemory,” I tell him. “But Ichoose not to remember that part. What I remember is how you wouldn’t let me go pee on my own.”
His eyebrows raise in surprise. “And that’s a happy memory for you?”
“Yeah, I—” My voice catches in my throat, and I feel heat creep up my neck, suddenly feeling embarrassed about it.
After setting his own wine glass aside, he cups my cheek, his green eye searching mine. “Tell me.”
I shrug, my eyes avoiding his as I tell him the truth. “I kind of like it when you’re bossy, especially when you’re taking care of me. And what I remember most from that day was what happened in the park behind the tree, the way youtook care of me, then you refused to let me go to the bathroom on my own, to protect me. I was embarrassed that you wouldn’t leave me there on my own, but at the same time… I kind of loved it. That you refused to leave me because you wanted to keep me safe.”
He doesn’t say anything, so I look at him. My tongue glides along my lower lip as I think about all the other times he’s been bossy.
“Remember how you made sure I was taken care of at the zoo?” He nods once, slowly, and I continue. “And when we first met?”
Anger flashes across his face. “You were about to beviolatedby that biker.”
I shrug. “I barely remember him. What I remember about that day is you guys rescuing me, how you didn’t hesitate to swoop in and kill to protect me. You stormed in like my knights in shining armor and carried me off to safety.”
“You’ve been stolen from us twice since we’ve been taking care of you.” Despite his self-deprecating words, histhumb starts to stroke my throat slowly, and his eyes track the motion.
“And you’ve rescued me three times. It might be four or five before we’re done with everything.”
His fingers flex as his brows pinch. “Don’t say that. I can’t bear to lose you again, Wren. Why aren’t you scared?”
“I’m terrified. But I know that being taken isn’t the worst thing in the world, because you’ll always come for me.”
“Always,” he promises, resting his forehead against mine and closing his eyes. He takes a deep breath, then adjusts us so we’re lying down, staring up at the stars, my head on his shoulder with his arm around me, and a blanket draped over us.
“This is nice,” I say, snuggling in closer as I hook my leg over him. He grabs it with his left hand, pulling it right across him as his right arm encircles me, his fingers trailing up and down my arm soothingly.
My fingers play with the buttons on his dress shirt as I stare up at the sky. He hums in agreement, then his left hand starts to move up and down my thigh.
His hand is so large, and his fingers so warm, that the second I realize how close he is to my pussy, I start to grow damp. I begin to imagine his fingers reaching higher and higher, wishing they would touch me where I’m craving him the most.
When he doesn’t push any further, I start to wonder if he’s waiting for me to make the first move, or if he’s holding back for some other reason. I lick my lips as I flick open two buttons on his shirt, giving me enough room to slide my hand in and play with the smattering of hair on his chest, my nails scraping through it.
There’s something about touching him like this thatmakes him feel extra sexy, more manly, and rugged. His outward appearance is so clean cut and put together that you’d expect him to have a shaved chest, and I love that he doesn’t. He doesn’t have a lot of hair, but it’s enough to make my core tighten in arousal when I play with it.
His fingers dig into my thigh, and my hips instinctively roll against his leg, trying to seek the friction I need.
“Wren…” he says in a warning tone.
“Sly?” I ask, grinning against his chest.
“I don’t think we should do this.” My hand freezes, and I pull my head back so I can look him in the eyes.
“Why not?”
“It’s a big step, I’m not sure you’re ready.”
I sit up and turn toward him as he follows suit. “You know, you guys are really starting to hurt my feelings.”
