Page 34 of Echoes of Desire

I feel my cheeks flush, heat spreading up my neck. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Jasper steps closer, his gaze sharp but kind. “You know exactly what we mean, Pet. You’ve been watching, curious. We’ve seen it in your eyes. In the way your body reacts.”

My breath catches, and I look down, unable to meet their eyes. “That doesn’t mean I... I don’t know what to do with that.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Jaxon says, his tone steady and calm. “To help you. To guide you. If you’ll let us.”

I glance between them, my chest tight with uncertainty. “And if I don’t want to?”

Jasper crouches in front of me, his voice soft. “Then we stop. This is about you, baby. About what you want, what you need. No pressure. No judgment.”

The weight of his words sinks in, and I bite my lip, my mind racing. The idea of letting them take control, of letting myself surrender to whatever this is, terrifies me. But there’s another part of me, a small, desperate part, that’s drawn to it. To them.

“I’ll try,” I whisper, my voice trembling.

Jaxon’s smile is gentle but approving. “That’s all we ask, sweetheart.”

Jasper stands, offering his hand again. “Come here.”

I take his hand, letting him guide me to my feet. My pulse races as he steps back, giving me space.

“Strip,” Jasper says, his voice calm but commanding.

My breath catches, and for a moment, I freeze. But their eyes stay locked on me, patient and unyielding. I’ve never known if I have a pretty face. People have told me that I do, but they could have been lying. My body, however, is sexy as sin. Sure, I have curves, but I happen to love the shape of me. Maybe they will, too.

Slowly, I reach for the hem of my shirt.

Regardless of my self-confidence, my hands shake as I lift my shirt over my head.

The cool air brushes against my skin, making me acutely aware of how much of myself is now exposed. My heart pounds so hard I feel it in my throat, but neither of them speaks. They simply watch.

Jaxon’s eyes roam over me, steady and assessing, while Jasper remains calm, his expression unreadable. It’s not judgment I see in their faces. It’s something else. Something that feels heavier, more significant.

I fumble with the button on my jeans, slipping them down and stepping out of them, kicking my shoes off in the process. My legs feel unsteady as I stand here, vulnerable. But I let my arms hang, refusing to cover even an inch of my body. When I glance up, Jasper’s gaze meets mine, and there’s warmth there, a quiet reassurance that steadies me more than I’d like to admit.

“Good girl,” he murmurs, his voice low and approving.

I’m left standing in my bra and panties, the urge to cover myself overwhelming, but I don’t move. My hands twitch at my sides as Jaxon steps closer, his voice gentle yet firm. His smile predatory. “All of it, sweetheart.”

I hesitate, my cheeks burning as I reach behind to unhook my bra. My arms shake slightly as I let it fall, and I hear Jaxon’s soft intake of breath. With one final act of courage, I push my panties down, stepping out of them and standing fully exposed before them.

“Perfect,” Jaxon says, his tone carrying a weight that makes my skin prickle.

Jasper gestures to the chair behind him, his voice soft but commanding. “Come here, Pet. Sit on Blaze’s lap.”

Blaze. Jaxon. I struggle to keep the names clear in my mind as I step forward, my movements stiff and uncertain. Jaxon sits in the chair, his eyes never leaving mine, and he pats his thigh. “Come, sweetheart. Trust us.”

I turn and sit on his lap before I can talk myself out of it, my pulse racing as I settle awkwardly against him. His hands are warm and firm on my hips, guiding me into position. “Relax,” he whispers, his breath brushing against my ear. “We’ve got you.”

He adjusts me slightly, placing my legs on either side of his before using his own legs to spread mine wide open. The position leaves me completely open and exposed, and I fight the urge to close my legs. Jaxon pulls me flat against his chest with his hand pressing gently on my thigh, keeping me still.

“Stay just like this,” he says, his voice a mix of authority and reassurance.

Jasper steps forward, his green eyes locking onto mine as he crouches between my legs. The intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch, and I feel heat pooling low in my belly.

“You’re beautiful, Raven,” he says, his voice steady and calm. “So perfect. So needy. Don’t worry, Pet. We’re going to take care of you. But first, we’re going to make you overflow with need. It’s called edge-play. It’s what you were so closely watching earlier.”

Jaxon’s hands grip my hips, holding me steady as Jasper leans closer. His fingers trace a featherlight path along the inside of my thigh, and I feel a shiver race through me. My body tenses, every nerve ending sparking to life.

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