He stalks towards me, his stormy gaze holding mine in the mirror. His big strong hands find their way to my waist as he steps up behind me. “Tell me what really happened just now.”

I stare at him in the immaculately polished glass, forcing myself to take a deep breath. “I guess I’m finding it hard to understand why you want me when you know girls like… like Lauren.”

There, I said it.

I watch him in the mirror, gauging his expression.

But Elliot’s face remains an impenetrable mask as he brushes the hair off my shoulder and strokes the skin there.

“How many times do I have to say it? It’s you, Abi. You.”

He drops his head to my neck, pressing a soft kiss there. My breath catches again, my stomach swimming with nervous anticipation as I tilt to the side a little to give him better access and he begins a slow, torturous path with his tongue. Dragging it over my pulse point.

“Elliot,” I whimper, clutching onto his arm. The one moving south, towards the hem of my dress.

He shoves his hand underneath, his fingers dancing over my thighs. I tremble, his touch like wildfire across my skin.

“Relax,” he breathes as I tense against him. “Let me show you just how beautiful you are when you come for me.”

My head drops back against his shoulder as his fingers find the waistband of my underwear and slip inside.

The first pass of his fingers makes me shiver. The second glide makes me cry out. And the moment he presses two inside me makes me melt.

“Elliot,” I cry softly.

“Shh, I got you, Red.” His eyes lock on mine in the mirror.

It’s so obscene, so dirty, I want to look away. But I’m a prisoner to his hungry gaze. Slave to the intense feelings he evokes in me.

He presses another kiss to the side of my throat, keeping his eyes right on me.

My eyelids flutter as his thumb circles my clit and desire and lust and red-hot pleasure pool low in my stomach.

“God, it’s… Oh God,”

“Do you believe me yet?” he whispers, pressing in closer behind me so that I feel the hard bulge in his jeans. “It’s you, Abigail. Only you.”

“I…” I inhale a shuddering breath as my control slips.

“The things I want to do to you… with you,” he murmurs the words onto my skin, chasing them with his tongue, his lips. “You’re all I see, all I think about. The only girl I want to bury myself deep inside. The only girl I want to bare myself to.

“You, Abigail. Only ever you.”

Oh God.

I can’t handle it.

His honest words, his searing touch.

I’m burning from the inside out and I’m terrified I might not survive the fire.

“Elliot…” I pant, arching into his touch.

“Tell me what you want, Red?”

“I… I…” My legs tremble, my heart pounding in my chest as the wave builds inside me.

“Words, Abigail. Use your words.” His free hand coasts up my chest and settles around my throat.