I did as he asked. Lay back against the pillows and watched him.
Julian pulled off his hoodie. Then his shirt. Stood there in just jeans looking at me with dark, heated eyes.
"You tried to protect me by controlling me. But what I need from you isn't control. It's trust. Trust that I can make good decisions. Trust that I know my limits. Trust that I can take care of myself and of us." He climbed onto the bed. Straddled my hips. "So tonight, you're going to let me lead. Let me show you that I'm capable. That you can trust me with this. With us."
"Julian—"
"Do you trust me?"
"Completely."
"Then prove it. Let go of control. Let me take care of you for once."
He kissed me slow and thorough. His hands worked at my sweater, pulling it off. Then my shirt. His palms slid over my chest, possessive and certain.
I let him. Resisted every instinct to take over, to flip us, to take control. Just lay there and let Julian explore.
His mouth followed his hands. Kissing down my chest. Finding sensitive spots I hadn't known existed. Taking his time. Learning my body the way I'd learned his.
When he reached my jeans, he looked up at me. "These need to come off."
"Yes."
He stripped me efficiently. Left me bare while he was still half-dressed. The contrast was deliberate. He was in control here. I was giving him that.
"Beautiful," he murmured. Hands sliding up my thighs. "You're always so controlled. So perfect. I want to see you lose that control. Want to make you fall apart."
"You already do. Every time you look at me."
"Then this should be easy." He stripped off his own jeans. Left us both bare. Then reached for supplies from the nightstand. "I'm going to ride you. Set the pace. Take what I need. And you're going to let me. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good."
He prepared himself while I watched. Three fingers working himself open with practiced ease. The visual was almost too much. I gripped the sheets to keep from reaching for him.
When he was ready, he rolled a condom onto me with deliberate slowness. Then positioned himself above me.
"Remember," he said. "I'm in control tonight. You trust me."
"I trust you."
He sank down slowly. Took me inside inch by inch. His expression was intense. Focused. Completely in command.
When he was fully seated, we both groaned.
"God," he breathed. "So full. So perfect."
"Julian—"
"Don't move. Let me do this." He started to move. Slow rolls of his hips. Finding his rhythm. Learning the angle. "Let me show you I can take care of us both."
I gripped his hips. Not controlling. Just holding. Grounding. Letting him lead.
Julian rode me with confidence that took my breath away. He knew what he wanted. Knew how to get it. Adjusted the angle until he found what made him gasp. Then worked that spot with single-minded determination.
"That's it," I said. "Take what you need. Show me how capable you are."
