Page 134 of Stay Scared

“I want you to hold me.”

His stare sharpens.

I see the question forming and cut it off. “The way I tell you.”

Cade’s eyes drop to my mouth. “Tell me.”

My fingers find the belt at his waist and pull it free.

His breathing changes when I put the leather in his hand. “Wrists in front.”

The pipe above the bench is exposed where an old shelf used to hang. I point toward it. “Loop it over that. Leave enough slack for me to bring my arms down.”

Cade stands and tests the pipe hard enough to make the metal creak, then looks at the belt. His thumb moves across the buckle.

He wants this badly enough to distrust himself with it.

“Cade.”

His eyes lift.

“I said do it.”

Something dark flashes through his face.

He loops the belt over the pipe.

I put my wrists together.

The leather closes around them, cool against my skin until his fingers warm it while he works the buckle. He leaves enough space for me to rotate my hands and lower my arms.

His thumb catches my pulse.

Cade stares at the place where leather meets skin, then steps back abruptly.

“You can stop looking at my wrists like that.”

“I’m looking at the belt.”

“You’re the one who put it there.”

His eyes rise to mine. “Because you told me to.”

The words come low enough to feel like contact.

I lift my bound hands and catch his face between them. “Come here.”

Cade moves immediately.

I hook my arms around his neck and pull his mouth onto mine. The first kiss is restrained until I bite him.

Then restraint disappears.

His mouth opens against mine. The belt drags over the pipe as I pull him closer, leather tightening across my wrists. Cade’s hand lands hard at my waist and holds there while his fingers flex against my side.

I move onto his lap, settling my knees around his hips while staying clear of the fresh dressing. One hand tightens at my waist while the other stays fisted beside his thigh.

“You are allowed to use both hands.”