Page 28 of Cheshire

“C’mon, doll, don’t play coy.” Cheshire pulled back just enough to meet my eyes. “You feel this thing between us. The tension. The heat. I’ve seen it in your eyes when you watch me. Can feel it in the air around us.”

He wasn’t wrong. Every interaction with Cheshire was charged, electric, like a live wire ready to spark. It was exhilarating and scary as hell.

“Maybe I did,” I whispered, emboldened by his admission. “But what do we do about it? I’ve never… I mean…”

Cheshire gripped my hip, his touch searing through the denim fabric. “Oh, I have a few ideas.”

His voice was low, laced with sinful promise. My brain short-circuited, desire clouding rational thought. I knew falling for Cheshire was a risk, but with every word, every touch, I found myself caring less about the consequences. I’d already survived so much. Was it wrong to want to live a little? To experience things other women my age had already done?

His lips hovered a hairsbreadth from mine, his eyes dark with want. “Tell me to stop, Eliza,” he murmured. “Tell me you don’t want this.”

I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

“Don’t stop,” I breathed, closing the distance between us.

Our lips met in a searing kiss, hungry and desperate. Cheshire’s hands roamed my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I arched into his touch, craving more.

He backed me up until I was pressed against the wall, his body a solid line of heat against mine. His lips left my mouth to blaze a path along my jaw, down my neck. Despite the aches I still felt, I didn’t want him to stop. If I brought it up now, I knew he’d back off, and that was the last thing I wanted.

“Fuck, Eliza,” he groaned against my skin. “You drive me crazy.”

I tangled my fingers in his hair, holding him close. “The feeling is mutual. It doesn’t make sense. I should be terrified of you, of the feelings I have when I’m around you. But for some reason, I trust you not to hurt me.”

Cheshire nipped at my pulse point, drawing a gasp from my lips. His hands skimmed down my sides, toying with the hem of my shirt.

A distant crash from the main room of the clubhouse broke through the haze of lust. Cheshire pulled back, his breathing ragged.

“We should have taken this somewhere else,” he said, his voice rough with desire.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Cheshire took my hand, lacing our fingers together, and led me down a dimly lit hallway. I wasn’t sure where we were going, and I didn’t care right then. I just wanted more time with him.

He stopped outside one of the bedroom doors, turned the knob, and pushed it open. Inside lay a small, Spartan room.

Cheshire pulled me inside, kicking the door shut behind us. In an instant, his lips were back on mine, his hands sliding beneath my shirt to caress the bare skin on my back.

I lost myself in his touch, in the feel of his body against mine. Fears and doubts faded away, replaced by pure, unadulterated want. Nothing else mattered except this moment, except this man, even though I might regret my decision in the morning.

“Are you sure, Eliza?” he asked, his voice rough and low.

“Yes. I want more.”

One corner of his lips tipped up. “I have a feeling you don’t even know what you’re asking for. Am I right?”

“If you’re asking if I’ve kissed anyone before, or gone on dates, then the answer is no. My father wouldn’t allow it.” I stared up at him. Was he going to tell me to leave? Had I ruined the moment?

“Then if I do anything you don’t like, or you get scared, just tell me. I’ll stop whenever you want me to.” His gaze held mine and I nodded.

“I won’t hurt you, doll.” His voice was husky, and he leaned in.

My heart pounded in my chest as I whispered, “I trust you.”

That seemed to be all the answer Cheshire needed. He pulled me closer, and our lips met again in a searing kiss, full of urgency and barely restrained passion. His hands roamed my body, setting every inch of me ablaze. He was rough but careful, every touch calculated to drive me insane with desire.

I’d never felt anything like it before. I clung to him, losing myself to the pleasure of his lips on mine.

Without breaking the kiss, he lifted me off my feet. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me toward the bed. Setting me down gently, he hovered over me, his blue eyes intense as they raked over me.

“What is it?” I asked breathlessly.

---