The corners of his lips twitched up in a smile. “Yes, Sir.”
Then he was naked, on his knees and looking up at me like I was someone worth admiring.
“Touch me.”
His hands started on my shins, smoothing up over my knees, my thighs. They lingered on my waist, then found the top buttons of my shirt. He looked to me for approval, and I nodded.
When they were unfastened, he slid the fabric down my arms. He was in no rush, taking the time to appreciate every inch of my freshly exposed skin like it was the first and last time he’d ever see it. Touching me like I was worth something.
Benny had called me perfect the last time we were together. I was sure he knew now that I wasn’t. Buthewas.
Far too good for someone like me.
When this was over, he’d be fine. He’d easily find someone who would want him. Who would care for him. Who could be with him in the sunlight, where he deserved to be loved.
You can’t have him.
“Benny?”
“Yes?”
All we had was pretend. It lived in these four walls and disappeared the moment we left them. But we were here now,and I wanted to pretend. I wanted to lie to myself. Just for now, I wanted to pretend Icouldhave him.
“Touch me like you love me.”
seventeen
Harper
LIKE YOU LOVE ME.
His lips worshiped my neck. Reverent. Adoring. Enamored.
It burned me.
I fell back against the pillows, and he followed. His lips claimed mine. Slow. Deep. Certain. My tongue pressed against the seam of his mouth and he opened for me, his tongue eager to meet it.
Even the way he tasted me was unhurried. Deliberate. Like he’d be content just to stay there until I moved him along each time.
“Take off my pants.”
He gave me another kiss before he obeyed, gradually making his way down my body. Lips ran along my collarbones, my chest. His tongue flicked my nipple before doing the same to the other one. Every inch of my skin was met with care and tenderness.
Is this how he touched someone when he loved them?
I’d never had a reason to feel jealous before, but I hated all the people he’d touched like this before me, and all those he’d touch like this after he moved on.
His tongue dipped into my navel and I shivered. My fingers combed through his hair, using the grip to move him faster as he huffed a laugh.
Finally, his fingers worked the button of my pants open, and I was already lifting my hips to get them off before he’d even started pulling at them.
When he eased them down my legs with my underwear, I wondered if he was deliberately teasing me.
“Why are you taking so long?”
He smiled. “Because you told me to touch you like I love you. I take time to appreciate the things I love.”
My heart thumped like it was trying to break out of my chest.
