Page 102 of Knot Like Other Girls

Bella sits up, her eyes traveling over my exposed torso. I brace myself for the pity, the disgust, the carefully hidden revulsion I've come to expect. Instead, she reaches out and places her palm flat against my chest, right over my heart.

"Thank you," she says simply. "For trusting me."

The words undo me. I capture her hand, pressing it harder against my chest, letting her feel the rapid beating of my heart. "I don't deserve this," I admit roughly. "Don't deserve you."

"That's not for you to decide," she counters, her free hand coming up to cup my scarred cheek. "It's my choice. And I choose you, Cole. Right here, right now."

I close my eyes, overwhelmed by her acceptance, her desire, her gentle insistence that I am worthy of this moment. When I open them again, she's watching me with such tenderness that it steals my breath.

"Your turn," I say, tugging gently at the hem of her shirt.

She smiles and raises her arms, allowing me to pull the garment over her head. Beneath it, she wears a simple cotton bra, practical rather than seductive. But the sight of her—soft curves and smooth skin—makes my mouth go dry.

"Beautiful," I murmur again, and this time there's no argument from her, just a deepening of her blush.

I lower my head to press kisses along her collarbone, then down to the swell of her breasts above the fabric of her bra. She sighs, her head falling back, her hands coming up to tangle in my hair again.

"Can I?" I ask, fingers tracing the edge of her bra.

"Please," she breathes.

I reach behind her, unclasping the garment. The bra falls away, and I'm confronted with the sight of her bare breasts—perfect, pale, tipped with rosy nipples that harden under my gaze.

A growl rises in my throat, possessive and hungry. I capture one nipple in my mouth, sucking firmly, using my teeth just enough to make her gasp and arch into me.

"Yes," she moans, her fingers tightening in my hair. "Just like that."

I lavish attention on both breasts, alternating between them until she's writhing beneath me, her scent thick with arousal. My hands find the waistband of her pants, fingers dipping just beneath the fabric.

"These too?" I ask, my voice rough with desire.

"Yes," she nods eagerly. "Everything off."

I help her shimmy out of her pants and underwear, my movements more urgent now but still controlled. Once she's naked, I sit back to take in the sight of her—all soft curves and smooth skin, her inner thighs already glistening with evidence of her desire.

"You too," she says, tugging at my belt. "Fair's fair."

I stand to remove my remaining clothing, suddenly self-conscious again. The scars continue down my right leg, though less severely, and the right side of my cock wasn't spared either. The scars end just an inch below my crown.

Bella's eyes widen slightly at the sight of me fully naked, her gaze lingering on my erection. "Oh," she breathes, and there's a note of apprehension in her voice that makes me pause.

"We don't have to do anything you're not ready for," I assure her quickly. "We can stop right now."

She shakes her head. "No, I want this. I want you. It's just..." She bites her lip. "You're... big."

Despite everything, I feel a surge of alpha pride at her words. "We'll go slow," I promise. "I won't hurt you."

She nods, trust evident in her eyes. "I know you won't."

I rejoin her on the bed, settling between her spread thighs. The contrast between her perfect, unblemished skin and my ravaged body is almost painful to witness. Like watching someone take a sledgehammer to fine porcelain. But I push the thoughts away, lowering myself to kiss her again, deeply and thoroughly, until she's melting beneath me once more.

My lips trail down her body—neck, collarbone, breasts, stomach—until I reach the apex of her thighs. I look up at her, seeking permission one last time.

"Please," she whispers, her hands fisting in the sheets in anticipation.

I spread her thighs wider, exposing her completely to my gaze. She's beautiful here too—pink and swollen and glistening with desire. For me. The thought is still incomprehensible, but I push it aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.

The first swipe of my tongue makes her cry out, her hips bucking involuntarily. I hold her steady with my hands on her thighs, using my strength to keep her open to me as I explore her with my mouth.

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