Page 117 of Conflicted

I could almost hear Nox’s shrug. “Probably because I’m not sorry. But that’s okay, you’re not sorry either. You love that I wind you up a bit. Everyone else in your life bends and scrapes to you. You like that I challenge you.”

I thought about Theo and Nate’s fights and how Ez liked to debate every issue with me. “Remind me to introduce you to the rest of the Seraphim properly. Once you get to know them you’ll understand why that’s so funny.”

“I like that,” Nox said softly.

“What?”

“When you talk about our future.”

I exhaled slowly. “I told you, I haven’t given up yet.”

“But you’re also not holding out much hope.”

My silence was the only answer Nox was going to get.

“How did we get off track?” Nox said eventually, a low heat in his words that made my skin warm. “I believe I was supposed to be distracting you.”

“You’re many things, Nox. One of them isalwaysdistracting.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment. Now, I don’t want you to think. You’re not to do anything unless I explicitly say so. Understand?”

I groaned, the weight already lifting off me. “Yes.”

“Good,” Nox said huskily. “I want you to imagine I’m there in front of you right now. I’m kneeling on the floor between your legs. I don’t care that it’s dirty, and neither do you. All we care about is how fucking hard we are. As far as we’re concerned, nothing else exists except for you, me, and this moment.”

My chest rose and fell faster. I could picture him so easily. His cocky smirk. The candlelight glinting off his piercings. Eyes that burned brighter than the torches. The tight vee of his abs, pointing down to a place I wished I could taste again.

“I’m running my hands up your thighs,” he continued. “Tracing the cords of your muscles. I don’t touch your cock. Not yet. Instead I map out the grooves and crevices of your abdomen. I start by tracing up your happy trail, dipping into your navel before continuing.”

My eyes drifted shut as my fingers followed the path Nox was guiding me along. I pretended it was his touch I was feeling.

“I cover every inch of your abs. I haven’t had a chance to do that yet, so I’m taking my time with you now, making sure I don’t miss a single spot.”

An ache formed in the bond. I wasn’t even sure who it was from, because Nox was right, he hadn’t had a chance to explore me. Not really. I’d kept my shirt on during all but our last time together. That hadn’t been the moment for the slow exploration Nox was leading me through now.

But it wasn’t him touching me. Even now, when nothing could tear us apart, we couldn’t be together. Wasthis how it would always be? Something between us, stopping us from finding happiness?

No,I told myself.We’ll find a way out of this.

“Thoughts on me,” Nox said.

“They’re always on you, Nox. Even when I didn’t want them to be.”

“As it should be. Stay with me now, let me take care of you.”

I forced my mind back to what we were doing, staying in the present rather than fearing for the future.

“My fingers are working their way north now,” Nox said. “I’m touching your left nipple. Softly at first, testing how you respond. Are you shivering for me, little angel?”

“Yes,” I gasped, the pad of my finger stroking the puckered pink flesh gently.

“Good,” Nox purred. “Now I’m applying more pressure. Pinching and kneading the tiny button until its hard beneath my touch.”

I bit my lip, doing exactly what he described. My nerve endings were on fire, anticipating what he’d have me do next.

He didn’t make me wait long. After giving my other nipple the same treatment, he walked me through playing with both at the same time, tugging on them until my panting breaths were filling the cell.

“Nox,” I gasped, writhing against the wall. “Please, baby.”

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