Page 96 of Dare To Fall

“You’re perfect to me, then.”

She drags on the shorts and t-shirt. The pale pink top strains against her breasts, while the shorts cling to her hips and ass the way I want to. I’ve never been fucking jealous of cotton before.

“Do you want me to light the fire? Are you cold?” My eyes are on her nipples, clearly outlined through her top.

“A little. But I want you to take off your t-shirt first.”

My shoulders stiffen. “Ari—”

“You said anything I want. That’s what I want.”

Her blue eyes meet mine, and there’s awareness there, the knowledge that she knows how I feel about removing my top. I’ve humiliated her, hurt her so many times that she needs to do the same.

I opened the door to this.

I deserve it.

Clenching my jaw, I reach back and pull the shirt over my head.

“Turn around.”

I suck in a deep breath, and turn around, closing my eyes as I present her with my back.

Chapter 64

Arabella

I stare at the crisscross pattern over Eli’s back. His shoulders are stiff, and the tension in his muscles is clear. He hates being exposed. I remember the way he’d reacted when I’d had to take a photo of his scars.

You’re perfect to me.

Does he really believe that, or is he just trying to sweet-talk me?

“Ari.” His voice is hoarse.

“Shh.” Reaching out, I stroke the marks lightly with my fingertips.

He shudders beneath my touch but doesn’t turn around. Slowly, carefully, I trace each one, gliding over the marks with a featherlight touch. I made him take off his t-shirt because I knew he’d be uncomfortable, but the more I stare at the marred flesh, the stronger guilt worms its way through me. Moving closer, I replace my fingers with my lips. Eli sucks in a harsh breath at the first press of my mouth to his skin. I explore the scars all over again, kissing and licking, taking my time to learn them, waiting for him to decide he’s not going to comply anymore and stop me. But he doesn’t and by the time I’m done, his head has dropped forward, and fine tremors are rolling through his body.

“Keep your t-shirt off,” I tell him quietly. “Start a fire.”

It takes a second for Eli to move, as though he’s still lost in whatever headspace my touch sent him to.

I curl up on the couch while he busies himself in front of the fireplace. My gaze greedily takes in every inch of him, his tattooed flesh and the muscles moving fluidly beneath. The scars he has don’t detract from his appeal. If anything, at least for me, they enhance it. Eli isn’t flawless, he’s perfectly imperfect.

The flames leap to life on the wood in the fireplace, spreading over the rest in little rivers of orange. He brushes his hands down the front of his sweatpants and rises to his feet.

When he moves to join me on the couch, I shake my head. “Kneel on the floor.”

“As you wish.” He drops to sit by my feet. His jaw is tight, and he won’t meet my gaze.

Maybe I should let him cover up again? He’s not happy.

I shake off the idea. Pursing my lips, I study him for a moment and then wiggle the toes of one foot toward him. “Massage my feet.”

His hand curls around my ankle and he rests my foot on his thigh. He rubs over my skin, starting at the tip of my big toe, then up to my ankle before returning to my toes. The firm pressure he’s using softens along the arch and down to my heel. One of his thumbs presses a point at the center of my foot, and my pussy throbs in response. A moan of pleasure leaves my lips before I can stop it. When he does it a second time, my eyes roll up into the back of my head.

He chuckles. “Do you like that, Hellcat?”

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