Page 60 of The Cost of Silence

Her entire body jolts.

She slips off the stool slowly, eyes locked on mine the whole time. No argument. No teasing. Just breathless obedience wrapped in anticipation.

Good girl.

I watch her pad toward the stairs, that stolen zip-up hoodie hanging off her shoulder, exposing the line of her neck. She disappears around the corner, and I let out a slow, ragged exhale, forcing my control into place.

Fuck, this woman is going to ruin me and I don’t fucking care. One taste is all it took, now I’m hooked on her like a junky jonesing for crack.

When I finally move, I take my time, grappling the edges of my control into place.

I remove my jacket. Loosen my tie. Roll my sleeves up my forearms, slow enough to feel the tension coil through my muscles.

Then I head to my room.

The door is open just an inch. An invitation, tempting me to indulge. I push it wider.

And there she is.

Lying in the center of my bed, hair loose around her shoulders, nothing covering her skin but the flush rising over her chest. She’s beautiful, even with the bruises on her delicate skin, she’s a siren. High, full tits with rose pink nipples just begging for my mouth. A soft, flat tummy that leads to a bare pussy that makes my cock ache to feel it. But my gaze is glued to the hand she has between her legs, the low whimpers coming from her as she circles her clit. And her eyes are on me as she does it. Fuck, that’s so hot, her quiet quest for her own pleasure. I can see the wet desire glisten on her lips from here.

Fuck.

I close the door behind me without a sound. Every instinct I have roars awake.

She swallows hard. “N-Nico?”

“I’m here,” I say, and my voice comes out low, rough, barely human. “And you did exactly what I asked, didn’t you?”

She nods.

“Good girl. Although you did start without me, and that’s naughty.” Her breath shudders at my words. I walk slowly around the bed, circling her, taking in every curve, every tremor, every inch of bare skin she’s offering me. She turns her head slightly to follow my movement, her hand still moving between her legs.

“Open your legs wider,” I murmur. “Let me look at you.”

She obeys.

I drag the back of my fingers up the line of her ribs, slow enough that she arches into the touch. Goosebumps rise across her skin. She lets out a small, helpless sound that hits me straight in the chest.

“You’re beautiful,” I murmur above her. “Did you know that?”

She gives the tiniest shake of her head.

I lean down, lips grazing her shoulder. “You will.”

I move to the foot of the bed, grip her ankles gently but firmly, and guide her forward until she’s at the edge. She gasps, her hands falling from her soaked pussy, chest rising.

“Stay just like that,” I say, lowering myself to my knees.

Her breath catches so sharply it’s almost a sob.

I look up at her, hands sliding slowly, purposefully, up the backs of her thighs.

“You offered yourself to me, Belle,” I say softly. “You sure you can handle what that means?”

She nods, dazed. “Yes.”

“Say it.”