The fact that he asks nearly breaks me.
“No,” I breathe. “Not too much.”
He watches me for another beat, then nods once, like he heard me and he believes me.
His hand moves again, slower now, thumb stroking the thickness of my thigh like he likes it, like he’s claiming it. Heat blooms between my legs, sudden and sharp.
I suck in a breath and my hips lift toward his hand on instinct.
Wolf’s eyes flare. His mouth finds mine again, swallowing my gasp. His palm slides higher, still outside my dress, still patient, teasing. I can’t stand how careful he’s being.
I break the kiss, panting. “Wolf.”
“What,” he says, low and rough, the word more a growl than a question.
“I want,” I whisper, and then I get stuck because wanting feels dangerous. Like saying it out loud makes it real.
Wolf’s hand moves back to my neck, thumb brushing under my jaw. “Use your words.”
My cheeks burn. My body is trembling and I hate that I’m still shy when I’m the one who asked for this.
“I want you to touch me,” I manage.
His breath leaves him hard, like I punched it out.
“Where,” he says.
The single word turns my insides liquid.
I swallow. “Between my legs.”
Wolf goes still.
His gaze holds mine like a warning. “Tell me to stop and I stop.”
“I won’t tell you to stop,” I whisper.
A rough sound leaves him.
He shifts forward, crowding me, and the heat of him presses into me through my dress. My breath catches at how hard he feels. At how much he wants.
Wolf closes his eyes for a second like he’s steadying himself. Then he lifts me, just a little, moving me deeper onto the couch so my back hits the cushions and my head sinks into the worn fabric.
He climbs over me, bracing on his forearms like he’s trying not to crush me. His body is a shield, warm and heavy and safe.
His eyes search my face again. “You still with me?”
“Yes,” I breathe.
His mouth finds mine once more, and while he kisses me, his hand slides under the hem of my dress.
Skin to skin.
His fingers spread over my thigh, and I shiver hard at the intimacy of it. He strokes once, slow, then slides higher. His hand is warm, rougher than I expected, callused in a way that makes every touch feel real.
His fingertips brush the inside of my thigh and my whole body jolts.
Wolf breaks the kiss and watches my reaction like he’s memorizing it.
