Page 50 of Touch Me Not: Anniversary Edition

Was he going to kiss her?

Did she want him to?

God, yes, but she was afraid.

“Nik, what are you planning on doing?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Uh…”

His fingertips blazed a trail up her arms then back down, stopping to twine them with hers. He gently tugged her to him until she was standing right in front of him. She swallowed, the sound loud in the suddenly very quiet garage.

“Be easy,dushka,” he whispered. “If it’s too much, tell me to stop, and I will. Promise.”

She knew he would too. He’d never done anything she wasn’t okay with. Lily trusted his word.

He cupped her face with his other hand, his thumb slowly stroking her bottom lip.

“Do you remember how you felt when that night I was going to kiss you?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Did you think about it? What it would feel like to have my lips on yours? To feel my tongue stroke those plump little lips of yours, to slide into your mouth and tangle with yours? Remember how your breath caught and your heartbeat sped up? Do you remember all that, Lily?”

She whimpered and nodded, not trusting her voice.

“Close your eyes, baby.”

She let her eyelids drop, blocking out everything except the feel of his hands and the sound of his voice.

“Good girl,” he purred. “I’m going to pick you up, Lily. Stay calm.”

His arm went under her legs and swung her up. He carried her and sat her down on the small workbench lining the wall. She knew it because the wood bit into the backs of her legs.

His leaned into her, his breath warm on her face.

“Remember when you learned to ride a bike without your training wheels?”

“Yes.”

“This is like that. The training wheels are coming off.”

“What if I’m not ready?”

“You are.” He tilted her face up. “Keep your eyes closed, Lily.”

Nikoli wanted nothing more than to ravage her lips, but that wasn’t going to work. Instead of taking her lips, he nibbled on her jawline, tracing it with his tongue all the way up to her ear. She loved it when he took the lobe in his teeth. Her breath quickened, and he pulled back, smiling.

“Was that so bad,dushka?”

“No,” she said, her voice a little hoarse.

“Good girl.” This time when he went in, he lightly grazed her lips with his but pulled back before she freaked out. “See, slow and easy.”

Her hands were shaking, so he leaned back and took them and put them on his chest. “Hold onto me,dushka.” He covered her hands with his. They were so tiny. It took a moment, but the shaking finally calmed down.

He left her hands on his chest and pushed her hair back, tilting her head up again. “Do you know how beautiful you are, Lily Bells?”

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