Page 82 of Silver Secrets

“No, Sloane.”

“No?”

“Only my real name when we’re touching each other like this. I only want to hear my name on those pretty pale pink lips of yours.”

“But you get to call me ‘Red’?”

“Yes. Red. Baby. Beautiful. Sweetheart. I see the way you blush when I call you those names. But I only want my real name when we’re connecting like this.”

She wanted to argue, to tease him about how unfair that was, but her mind went fuzzy as his hand moved from her waist to her belly. His thumb reached up to graze the underside of her bra and her breath hitched. There was no way she wouldn’t be an absolute puddle if his hands just happened to move a little closer to her core…

In the next breath, his hands were off of her, being held up by his face.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“You went quiet. Held your breath. I thought you were?—”

Her hands reached out, capturing his so that she could place them back on her hips. Did she intentionally arch her back, pressing his hands lower than where they’d originally been so he’d have to drag his fingertips across her ass to get them back on her hips? Yes. And she didn’t regret it for a single second.

“It felt so good, Gage. Please, keep touching me.”

“If any of this is too much?—”

Sloane leaned forward, pressing her lips to Gage’s. “I’m good right now. So good. Keep going. Please.”

His hand traced back around her waist, a familiar path of sensation burning hot throughout her body. His touch was gentle, and kind, and his face was filled with a look that was so fiercely possessive and yet deeply awed that it made emotion stick heavy in her throat.

“You are so incredible, Red. Is this okay? If I touch you here, like this?” His fingers dipped under the collar of the shirt she was wearing, lightly tracing the lace strap of her bra.

“Yes. More.” Her reply was nearly breathless.

“What about here?” he asked as his head came to rest near her ear. His warm breath sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine. One that exploded into an inferno as his thumb brushed in between the cup of her bra and her skin, lightly touching her peaked nipple.

She moaned as her hands wrapped around his back, sliding up his neck and into his hair.

“You’re fucking perfect, baby. Absolutely fucking perfect.”

Memories flooded back. Of all the times she’d tried to move past what had happened. All the times she’d tried to take back her power. To bring pleasure to herself. All the times she failed.

His hand cupped her jaw, pressing his lips down on hers. For a moment the worry drifted away, lost in the pleasure-filled waves of his gentle exploration. But the minute his lips pulled away from hers, the fears flooded back.

* * *

He froze. The sounds that he’d been pulling from Sloane were incredible. Passionate. Breathy. All pointing out that she was comfortable under his touch. But that last sound, filled with fear, cut him right to the bone.

“We’re not going any further. I won’t touch you any more. You’re safe. Just try to breathe.”

His hands were off her the instant he’d heard her distress, but she wasn’t moving to get away from him. Should he help her off his lap? Was she so lost to panic that she couldn’t move on her own?

Her eyes were focused on him, but her head just shook side to side.

“I’m okay,” she said, finally breaking the silence.

“You’re not. I heard you. We’re not doing anything else tonight.”

“No, please. I want this, Gage. I want to take the next step. I need to. But I’m not sure?—”

“I’m not going to touch you if it’s not one-thousand percent what you want, Red. I can’t.”

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