Pushing himself to stand, he grabs the broom and dustpan, gaze averted from mine. “You should go bandage that up. I’ll clean this up.”
My mouth opens but nothing comes out.
Too much, too much, too much.
Overwhelmed, my heart beats too fast in fluttery panic.
So I turn and leave, closing the door to my bedroom behind me. Putting a physical barrier between us instantly makes me feel more secure. My forehead rests against the mottled wood, hand still on the knob. A wave of exhaustion sweeps over me.
Words filter through the door as I catch Kaison presumably speaking to the cat. “I know, I know. I fucked up. Don’t look at me like that. I know. I want to do it again, but I can’t.”
A sigh escapes me.
I know the feeling.
Chapter 17
Climbing the Ladder
CINDER
Prince Charming is naked. Tied to my bed.
Have I entered some alternate—alternateuniverse?
After a day of being forced to learn Midnight's history until my eyes bled from boredom, I was grateful for a night off. But no, I’ve come back to my room to a very nude Charming, rubbing his ass on my fluffy duvet.
It's been weeks since our kiss in my apartment. Since I backed off hard and fast, unable to shake the heebie jeebies at having his fangs near my flesh. In that time, my faux fiancé has been the picture of respectful gentlemanly distance.
Until now.
“Hi there.” Kaison's words are strangely muffled, something white and fluffy pushing under his lips.
“Are those. . . marshmallows on your canines?” Disbelief colors my voice.
“I've been thinking,” he says around the sugary lumps, “you don't do fangs. So I figured these little buffers might make you more comfortable.”
Comfortable. Comfortable?
Is that how I’m supposed to feel right now?
Are fever dreams comfortable?
Despite my knee-jerk reaction to recoil, I take in the nude prince. I follow the lines of his tattoos, terminating at his groin. Of course, he doesn't have any pubic hair. Everything is exposed, fully on display.
Kaison is half-erect, giving me a glimpse of the horizontal barbells climbing up his shaft. A Jacob's ladder. And crowning the top is a reverse Prince Albert, a ring piercing that curves over the head.
The very idea of what that hardware could do makes me dizzy.
My skin flushes hot, my pulse quickening. My clothes are suddenly too tight, my palms tingle with the desire to touch his skin.
Moonlight plays over his sculpted body, making it glisten like carved marble. Each ridge of his abs is on display, the ink complementing his musculature. Even his thighs show striations that beg to be traced with fingers or tongue.
Even strapped down, he manages a shrug. “You can do whatever you want.” His eyes darken, cock jumping as if he already has ideas in mind.
The truth is, having Prince Charming tied up and naked with his little fang bumpers is so indescribably perfect, any resistance inside me dissolves.
I cross over to him. “How did you manage to tie yourself up like this?” My voice is thick.
