Page 54 of Take It Offline

This is what I wanted. He’s directing me. Taking control. I need to lie back and do what he says. He’s not here for himself.

“You’re thinking too hard.” He leans down, places a gentle kiss on my knee, then the other one. “Relax.” He runs his hands down my calves gingerly, soothing me. His palms are soft and warm. “Do I need to distract you?”

Yes.“Please.”

It’s simultaneously too quiet and too loud.

The bed dips again as he stands. I reach out to stop him, but quickly pull my hand back. Christ, he’s right. I need to relax.

Then he places a small black speaker on the bureau, and music fills the room.

“Of course you have a sex playlist,” I say, but I’m smiling.

“I’m a man of many talents.”

I sure hope so.

“Close your eyes,” he says as he lowers himself back to the mattress and lies beside me.

I obey.

Our soft breaths mingle in the quiet, and then tingles flood my skin as he starts to touch me.

Starting at my shoulder, he runs his hand along my arm, down to my hand, before guiding it and the toy between my legs.

This probably won’t even work, and isn’t that more embarrassing?

Even the smooth bass and seductive tones of the music aren’t enough to drown out the pounding of my racing heart.

“Relax, I’ve got you,” he says, his voice a low caress. “Show me what you like.”

With a deep breath, I turn it on.

The buzzing is suddenly louder than it’s ever been. Has it always been this deafening? I hold the vibe against my clit, but I’m too aware of the air hitting my skin and Charlie next to me, watching.

Maybe this was a mistake.

“I feel like I’m watching a medical exam,” he says.

I’m so frustrated it shocks a laugh out of me. “Fuck you,” I say, but I’m smiling too hard to sell it. The tension begins to bleed out of my shoulders.

With a click, I turn the toy off and look at him.

He’s smiling back. “Maybe next time. I’ve got a better idea.”

Then he’s sitting up and undoing his tie, slipping it off slow and sexy. He looks so damn good like this I think he just rebooted my nervous system.

“You know, you’re not as subtle as you think you are,” he says, straddling me, his tie wrapped around one hand. “I’ve seen you looking. You like the red ones especially.” He touches the inside of my elbows, trails his fingertips to my wrists, leaving goose bumps like breadcrumbs along his path. “Have you’ve pictured it?” he asks, trapping my wrists above my head, clamped in his grip. Charlie leans down, so close he could kiss me.

So close.

But he doesn’t.

“You have, haven’t you?” He wraps the tie loosely around my wrists. “Tied up, completely at my mercy.” Still holding tight, he drags his lips along my jaw. “I bet you’re getting wet just thinking about it.”

I’m lucky to remember my own name right now, with his low growl in my ear, the heat of him blanketing me.

I want him. I’ve done everything I could to ignore it, but I can’t. Not now.

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