Linnea nodded. “Hot bath and stretched like you said. It was better for a while.”
Halsten squinted at her, his chocolate brown eyes glowing in the firelight. “Lie on your stomach on the bed. I can help.”
Linnea wanted to protest. That’s what any proper lady would do. But he had been sitting here with her in her nightgown and never made her feel unsafe. Now that she thought about it, she had never once felt unsafe in Halsten’s presence. If anything, it comforted her more, having him around.
Without a word, but with shaky hands, Linnea laid on her stomach, turning her head to the side so she could see Halsten clearly. He approached the bed and kneeled next to her on the mattress.
“Don’t be afraid. I would never hurt you. If you want me to stop, tell me to stop and I will leave. Understood?”
Linnea let out a breathy “yes,” unsure of what he was about to do.
Halsten gripped her calf with both hands, working his thumbs in circles starting in the middle and working his way outward. It felt amazing, her muscles relaxing more and more with each stroke of his thumbs.
They sat in comfortable silence while Halsten worked her calves and lower thighs. He never dared approach the hem of her nightgown, which ended mid-thigh. He was being as respectable as a person could be, keeping the massage strictly therapeutic, which Linnea appreciated.
“Why do you call me Little Flame?” Linnea blurted before she could stop herself. She needed to know. “Is it because of my hair?”
“Your—your hair? No, of course not.” Halsten’s thumbs worked on a particularly difficult knot in the center of her hamstring. “It’s just that, since the moment I met you, I knew there was more to you than you let on. You act meager and shy, but I know deep down, you’ve seen some shit; been through evenmore. You’re tough. You’ve got a flame in there that you haven’t fueled yet.”
Linnea nodded, speechless. It wasn’t a jest this whole time. She rolled over to her back and looked into his warm eyes, reaching up to rub a thumb over his high cheekbones. He was beautiful.
“Did you mean what you said downstairs?”
“About how irresistible your body is? Yes, Linnea. If we’re being honest, it’s been a damn struggle to ride behind you the last few days where all I had to look at was your perfect shape.”
“I want to try something,” Linnea said. “Be patient with me.”
Halsten nodded, staying silent. Linnea held the back of his head and dragged it down to hers. When their lips were a breath away, she whispered, “Kiss me.”
Halsten did not hesitate. He pressed his mouth to hers and his skin was the softest, most gentle thing she had ever felt. He didn’t rush anything, waiting for Linnea to signal she was okay. Refusing to separate their lips, she nodded mid-kiss.
Her body felt hot all over, a warmth she had never experienced before sweeping over her in waves. Every nerve was hypersensitive, so when a lock of Halsten’s hair slipped from behind his ear and brushed her neck, she gasped.
Halsten lightly swept against her lips with his tongue and when she did not object, he slipped into her mouth, gingerly knocking at her teeth for entry. Linnea opened to let him in, swirling her tongue around his instinctually.
A low grumble rumbled deep in his chest as Linnea reached for his hips, guiding him so he was kneeling over her. It did nothing to satisfy the heat within her. She had kissed before, so this was not her first time, but she had never felt a need like this.
She trusted Halsten. Maybe she was drunk off everything he had said to her. Maybe she needed to do something risky foronce in her life. Maybe, just maybe, he was right—she needed to stoke her fire.
Halsten’s kissing became deeper each time he stroked his tongue over hers. “It’s my turn to try something. Tell me to stop if you need to, okay?”
Linnea nodded.
“Words, Linnea. I need to hear you say it.”
A man being authoritative usually scared Linnea, but Halsten demanding words from her sent pleasant shivers down her spine. “Yes, Halsten. I will stop you if I’m not okay.”
Without speaking another word, Halsten dove for her neck. He planted sweet kisses at first and Linnea squirmed under him, her skin growing taut all over. She felt like she was going to burst.
His chest gingerly grazed hers as he leaned in and she jumped, the sensation completely new to her. Her mind told her she didn’t want it to happen again, because this was far past the point of ladylike behavior, but her body responded to that faint touch by arching. Her chest brushed his again and a small squeak slipped from her throat.
Halsten sat up quickly, surveying her face. When he saw that she was smiling, he smiled as well. “Did you just squeak?”
Linnea playfully slapped his chest. “It wasn’t a squeak. It was a high-pitched moan.”
“It was a squeak,” he said flatly. “But squeak or moan, I want to hear it again.”
Linnea closed her eyes when Halsten dipped back down and latched onto her neck. Linnea squeaked again, this time louder and longer. Halsten laughed against her, causing her to let out a breathy huff of joy with him.
