Page 94 of Taking Chances

Reason prevails, so I break our kiss. Her eyes are a mirror as she stares at me. One could get lost in them if not careful.How could anyone ever think she wasn’t enough?

She’s perfection. And no matter how much I try to muss her up, she’s still perfection.

I can’t stand it.

But fuck, I can’t let her go.

I clear my throat from the lump that formed. “Come on, we’ll get you cleaned up.”

She follows me religiously to the adjacent bathroom, still too deep in subspace to do much else. In the shower, I take my time cleaning every inch of her body. My hands lather her in soapsuds, the shower head washing it off. My mouth follows behind, kissing every place I’ve cleaned.

Her breaths are heavy, her lids closed, and I can’t keep my hands off her.

“So incredible, baby. You’re a work of fucking art.” I shake my head.

Suddenly, she starts giggling, the sound hitting me straight in the sternum.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“I don’t think there’s a way to wash off what we just did, no matter how hard you scrub.” She bursts out laughing and I join her.

“Yeah, I guess you were a dirty, dirty girl.” I slap her ass, making her squeal.

Grabbing a giant towel, I wrap her in it, both of us still laughing. We get back to the room and I use the phone on the bedside table to order us some food.

“Do they have food here?” She shoots me a puzzled look.

“They have a deal with a nearby hotel. I heard they made the contract after a client arranged a delivery on his own and they realized more people would probably be interested in it.”

“Makes sense.” She shrugs.

While we wait for our food, I grab the oil for treating rope marks and get to work on massaging them. My mind fills with images of her tied up.

“Fuck, you looked good tied up like that.”

Her face stretches into a giant grin. “You liked it?”

“I fucking loved it. You?”

“It was surreal. Honestly, that scene was hot in the books, but I never imagined it happening in real life.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief.

“And? Did it live up to the fantasy?”

“It lived up to everything I never even dared to fantasize.” She smiles that sweet smile. “Thank you. It may sound stupid, but it’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

Her words bleed into me, filling me with air, but I only manage to nod. I’m not used to praise.

Yeah, just like that. You have an amazing cock.OrThat was a great savewhile I was playing hockey. I’m used to that.

But not actual, honest praise. Actual thanks that I’ve made a difference in someone’s life. The feeling is unusual inside my chest. And I have no idea what the hell to do with it.

37

ANNE

My bed is too hot and uncomfortable as the screen of my phone shows it’s 3:30 a.m. and scenes from tonight replay in my mind. Everything—from the dirty scenes (which are plenty to choose from), the eye contact he held once I realized which one was him, the way he kissed me after, to the way he cleaned my body and rubbed oil to care for my chafed skin.

The skin that feels weird now. It could be the aftereffects of the ropes, but I think it’s missing something. His touch. His warmth.

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