“Hi, Princess.”
“Why?” The word comes out breathless. “Why now? Why me?”
Why her? The question softens my heart. “Because Itrust you.” And it’s the truth. There’s so much more to it than that. But I can’t find the words, and I don’t know how she’d react if I said them. So, I swallow down my feelings as I swipe my lips across hers before she can ask me any more questions.
There’s a sweetness on her lips that reminds me of dessert. Something chocolate and decadent. It tastes like she enjoyed my gift after all. Does this mean I’m forgiven in her eyes?
Her arms wrap over my shoulders, her fingers tracing the bottom of my neck and tickling the hairs there.
“I’ve got a present for you,” I mutter into her lips.
“Hm?” The curious noise slips from her throat, but those lush lips never leave mine. Neither of us wants to break this connection, but I have so much planned for tonight that my skin itches with eagerness.
“I think you’ll like it.” I break the kiss enough to lean down and wrap my hands around the backs of her thighs, lifting her until she’s wrapped those soft legs around my hips, locking her ankles in place.
“Don’t.” Her eyes widen in worry as she pulls away. “I’m too heavy. You’ll pull a muscle or something.”
“Too heavy?”Is she serious?
“It’s… It’s happened before.” Her cheeks burn red as she wiggles like she’s trying to get back on the floor.
Instead, I keep my palms flush to the back of her thighs, pinning her against me.
“Someone from Tinder,” she mumbles. “He threw his back out trying to lift me. I told him it was a fantasy to be fucked against a wall, and he thought he could. It didn’t end well.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I don’t know what weaklings you met before, Princess. But you’re not heavy.” I release myright hand and balance our weight as I raise my right hand. “See? One-handed. I’m that fucking good.”
Daphne laughs, and the brightness returns to her eyes. There’s my woman.
“Can’t forget your present.” I squat with her still wrapped around me and retrieve my bag from the floor. I bounded up the stairs into her bedroom before I shut the door.
With my new knife and ropes tucked securely in the bag, I’m so fucking ready to give Daphne Fox a night she will never forget.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
DAPHNE
My back hits the mattress,and my body bounces. Tristan gazes down at me, that smirk playing over lips I’ve fantasized about too many times since we met. Lips kissing me, teasing me, licking, sucking. I’ve come thinking about the wicked things those lips could do ever since he kissed me.
He captures my lips to his as he grips the hem of my t-shirt and yanks it over my head. Heat builds in my core, the smoky smell of his cologne teasing me. I’m intoxicated by this man and the fantasies I’ve had about what his strong body could do to me.
Tristan doesn’t waste time as he grabs the elastic of my leggings in his fist and tugs them down my legs, breaking our kiss again. The fabric glides down my legs, snagging at my ankles before he frees me.
In my cotton bra and mismatched panties, self-doubt rears its ugly head. I should have worn something sexier. Something seductive and lacey. Something pretty.
Without thinking, my hands cross over me in a hug, shielding my ugly bra from view.
Tristan frowns. “None of that, Princess. You’re going toshow me everything tonight.” He grabs my wrists and pins my arms over my head before kissing me again.
He kisses away my self-doubt and awkwardness. He kisses me like what I’m wearing doesn’t matter, like nothing matters but his lips on mine and my body beneath his. His tongue plunges and explores me like a reminder of what else that tongue could do to me tonight.
All too soon, he’s breaking the kiss again.
“Tristan.” His name escapes me in a whimper, beckoning him back to me.
His smirk reflects some satisfaction already. “Patience, Daphne. I’ve got plans for you tonight.” There’s a quiver of menace in his voice, and God, that shouldn’t turn me on.
But when he retrieves a length of rope from his backpack, my core goes molten. Is he going to tie me up again? Is that his plan?
