Page 167 of Us Defiant Few

She moved to take it off, but he stopped her.

“Not yet.” He chuckled, trailing kisses down her neck as his fingers traced her collarbone.

Khalani was on the verge of melting under his soft caresses.

“You don’t want to see me?” she huffed, teasing him.

“I’m going to see everything,” he said confidently, turning her around to face him. Pure love reflected in his eyes as he stared at her. But the shred of darkness that permanently lived in those spheres turned her on more than anything. “But first, I want you to lie on the bed.”

“What if I say no?”

“I’m not above begging, Mrs. Steele.”

She froze, heart stalling in her chest. Takeshi had never called her that before, and he’d said it with such confidence, like it was the absolute truth.

“Need I remind you that we’re not married?”

“Yet,” he stated. “Now get your ass on the bed, Kanes.”

Khalani sputtered, cheeks fully red as her body hummed with anticipation. But it didn’t mean that she couldn’t toy with his pulse as well.

She turned away, unhooking the towel as she strolled to the bed, slowly letting it slide down her body. She calmly sat and faced him, her expression innocent as the rest of the towel pooled to the floor.

Takeshi’s pitch-black eyes seemed to grow a shade darker. His gaze roved over her like she was the purpose for his insanity. He licked his lips as his gaze went lower, his hands clenched at his sides as he stayed motionless.

“You gonna stand there the whole time?” she asked.

“I’m thinking.”

“About?”

“All the ways I’m going to devour you.”

Her core pulsed at the wicked gleam in his eyes, and she leaned back, faking calm.

“Sounds dangerous.”

“Exceedingly.” He took a step forward.

“Should I run away?”

“You wouldn’t get very far.”

Another step.

“I’m good at hide-and-seek.”

“That so?” He crouched down, level with her face. “Then close your eyes.”

“What happens then?” She swallowed, her fingers twitching.

“Don’t you trust me?”

Khalani trusted him with her life. She knew with one hundred percent certainty that if she said no and asked Takeshi to leave, he would. Without hesitation.

She felt safer with him than anyone else in the world.

“Yes.”