Page 48 of Forbidden Vows

It feels wonderful.

Self-doubt threatens to creep in and ruin this magical moment, and before I can stop myself, I’m standing here naked, asking him, “Do you really think I’m beautiful?” Then I attempt to lighten my tone, saying, “Or do you say that to all the girls?”

He looks down at me with dark brows knitted together. “But you are beautiful. Don’t you know that?”

“It’s just…hard. When you get cheated on, it takes a toll on your self-esteem.”

His jaw tightens for a moment. “And for that, I wish you had let me kill him.”

He’s so serious, I give a nervous giggle. I think he would like to do away with Keith for the pain he caused me. “It’s not that bad.”

“I wish you knew,” he says, pulling me close.

My response is barely a whisper as his face reaches mine. “What?”

“How stunning you are.” One hand brushes the back of my arm, sending tingling sensations, while the other reaches up to cup my cheek. “You have your own special kind of beauty. When you walk into a room, I can’t look away.”

His words leave me speechless. I stand there, stunned. He means every word. This is my moment. This is where I tell him that while we can have all the sexy fun we want, enjoy the feel of one another’s admiration, and warm body, this thing between us has an expiration date.

But the words don’t come.

"You're trembling.” He gently kisses my lips before pulling back to meet my eye. "Don't be nervous. Not with me."

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I'm not nervous," I lie. "Just...well…nervous-excited."

A slow smile spreads across his face as he releases me, trailing his fingers down my sides, leaving me even more trembly. "Good," he says. "Because I have big mafia lair type plans for you."

He steps back, his eyes never leaving mine as he begins to undress. His shirt comes off first, revealing the hard planes of his chest and the defined muscles of his abdomen. I can't help but stare, my breath hitching as he unbuttons his jeans, the tease of his skin beneath making my heart pound.

He pushes them down, stepping out of them with an effortless grace, now standing before me in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs, every inch of him chiseled and perfect. I stand there in awe. How can a man this beautiful think I’m attractive, too?

I don’t know how, but he does.

He steps closer, his body radiating heat as he reaches up, cupping my face. His lips find mine in a searing kiss, his tongue sweeping in to claim me. He breaks the kiss, hisbreath ragged as he whispers against my lips, "Trust me?" I nod, my heart pounding wildly.

I follow him to the corner of the room, where the peculiar device hangs from the ceiling. Its leather straps sway gently as we approach it. I stand beneath the apparatus, acutely aware of the exhilarating weight of his focused gaze on me, observing my naïve innocence.

A small vanilla bean poised to be enjoyed by a man who has savored every kind of chocolate available.

His hands, unexpectedly gentle, lift me in the air. I settle my bottom into the swing, the leather soft against my skin. Gently, he maneuvers me into place with precision, deftly adjusting the leather straps that cradle my form. "Trust me," he murmurs, repeating his mantra for the moment, his breath warm against my neck, as he aligns my body with the suspended harness.

He grasps my wrists with a firm yet calming touch, securing them into the plush cuffs that dangle above my head. I wrap my fingers around the leather strap above the cuffs. The cupping of the harness is firm and reassuring.

I don’t feel I’ll fall, even as I sway in the air. What I feel is very exposed. Breathless, I am engulfed by the intoxicating blend of thrill and the hint of what’s to come.

His hands slide down my arms, over my shoulders, and down to my waist, his touch firm and possessive. "You look incredible," he murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear. I can feel him, hard and ready against my backside. His fingers trail lower, tracing the curve of my hips, the line of my thighs. I gasp as he slips a finger inside my vagina already slick and eager. He groans softly, his finger movingin and out with a deliberate slowness that makes me squirm.

"So responsive," he murmurs, his other hand cupping my breast, teasing the nipple until it's stiff and aching. "I love how your body reacts to me."

He adds another finger, his pace increasing as he builds a rhythm that has me panting and writhing in the harness. His thumb finds my clit, circling it with the perfect amount of pressure. I can feel the tension building, my body coiling tighter and tighter with each stroke.

"That's it, Cutie," he encourages, his voice a low growl in my ear. "Come for me. Let me feel you."

His words send me over the edge, my body convulsing around his fingers as waves of pleasure crash over me. Gripping the straps, the cuffs around my wrists, I cry out, my head falling back against his shoulder, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

He holds me there, his fingers still moving gently inside me, drawing out every last shudder of ecstasy. His lips press against my neck, soft and tender, a stark contrast to the intense orgasm that just tore through me.

"Beautiful," he murmurs, his voice warm with approval. "Absolutely beautiful."

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