Page 142 of Whirlwind

“I already told you about the whole… body thing. But I also… There was an expectation that I would take charge, too, especially since I didn’t want to be touched. And that was stressful, too. So I just didn’t sleep with anyone for a long time.

“When you started flirting with me, I just couldn’t figure out how it would work. But the way you explain it… I mean, if it’s still what you want, I’d like to try it, too. I just, um, want to know if there’s actually something that I like.”

As soon as she said it, her eyes dropped down again. But it felt different this time. Less shy and more submissive.

He tilted her face up again, moving slowly so she could see his intentions. “And you want to explore that with me?”

“Please.”

There was something about that single word that hit him hard. Charlie didn’t always speak a lot, which made each word more precious. This was her asking for what she wanted, even if she didn’t have the words for it yet.

He cupped her face in his hands, noticing her desire and her willingness to be led. Whatever submission meant to her, she was slipping into that place now.

He’d kissed her twice now, once on the cheek and once on the lips. He’d worshiped her elbow, which was sexy as fuck, but more of a demonstration.

He wanted her to remember this kiss forever.

He brushed their lips together, keeping things chaste and slow, though he wanted to devour her.

He explored her face, getting to know the shape of her with his mouth, the scent of her skin.

Her lips parted with another quiet moan and he took that as an invitation. He traced her bottom lip with his tongue, nibbling and sucking along the places he’d wet.

She held completely still, letting him control the kiss, but she was delightfully responsive. Was that uncertainty or a natural submission?

He explored the corner of her mouth and was rewarded with a small “oh!” He wondered if she hadn’t been with anyone before who took the time to kiss her properly. He was looking forward to showing her everything that she’d been missing.

He let his tongue dip into her mouth and her rapid breaths fanned his lips. He brought up his other arm behind her back to pull her closer, and her fingers tightened around his hand. She wanted to be closer, too, but was letting him set the pace.

Everything about her was intoxicating.

She was so courageous but so vulnerable. So capable but so willing to open herself to him. And she was so fucking sexy with those broad shoulders and that no-nonsense haircut.

“Do you want more?” he asked. “This is plenty for me, but if you want to keep going…”

“Yes.”

That was clear.

He swung himself onto her lap, grinding against her and deepening the kiss. He couldn’t get enough of those broad thighs, the way that she moaned underneath him and let him take control.

He tangled his fingers in her short hair, holding her in place. His kiss was commanding and devouring, demanding that she yield to him.

Their tongues battled as they licked and bit, tangling together and then darting apart only to re-engage at a new angle. Their noses bumped together and their teeth clicked, but he couldn’t get enough of the wild dance between them.

He pressed closer to her, pinning her to the couch. And oh, it was good to feel her squirming beneath him and chasing her own pleasure.

He opened his mouth wider to let her in, accommodating angles to let her take the lead for a moment. She sure as fuck knew what she was doing in the kissing department when she was in control.

After a deliciously hungry kiss, however, she started to falter, a silent request for him to step back into the lead.

He cupped his hands around her skull and quieted the kiss, making it long and deep and endless. When he pulled away, her breath was heaving and he could feel his own lungs gasping for air.

“Anytime you want it, babe, I’m yours. We can take as long as you need, or move this to the bedroom now.”

She laughed, already looking more relaxed and more aroused, too. “Like I said, I should have listened to Dakota.”

He liked this confident side of her. This side that was reclaiming her sexuality, even if she was joking around the serious parts of it.

“If you need a cock,” he rubbed against her, “I have plenty of those. And a harness that’s still new in the box.” He leaned in to breathe across her ear. “I’d love to see it on you. I’d love to pull it out of your jeans and make you feel good. Just tell me that you want it.”

“Please.”