Page 22 of Duke's Daring Bookworm
“Pterodactyl.”
“What?” I exclaimed. His voice jarred me out of another spiral. I couldn’t even remember what we were talking about.
“My safe word is pterodactyl, but if you think we are diving into the deep end here, you can think again. We have thirty days and today we can just take things slow.”
Slow. I nodded. I can do slow.
“Do you want” —I swallowed— “a blow job?”
Duke closed his eyes and muttered something I couldn’t quite catch.
“I’m sure I’m not good at it?—”
“Lily.”
“who is their first time?—”
“Lily.”
“but isn’t that kinda how this go?—”
I didn’t get to finish my sentence because Duke’s lips covered mine, stealing my words, my breath, my thoughts. I moaned and leaned into him, but he pulled back before either of us could deepen the kiss.
“I know you’re nervous. Use your safe word. Just tell me to stop. Say no. Call the whole thing off. But trust me to take care of you, please.”
He held my face in his large hands. How had I never noticed just how big his hands were? I don’t know where he put his phone, and it didn’t matter anymore.
I nodded with the limited space his grasping hands gave me.
“Did I cross a boundary there? Kissing you like that?”
I shook my head, staring at his lips, wanting more. I always expected a man’s lips would be… hard, uncompromising, thin, but his were so soft and warm and inviting. I wanted another taste.
He didn’t hold me back as I moved in closer and kissed him again. Slowly, I took his lips with mine, tasting them, savoring the mint and whiskey taste of him. It soothed and excited me all at once.
“Did you have a drink before you came?” I asked when we parted.
He snorted before answering.
“Yes. You aren’t the only nervous one.” His hands were still on my face, one of his thumbs moved to my mouth and traced my lips, like he was as obsessed with mine as I was with his.
I liked that. Not his thumb—well, I liked that, too—but that he was nervous, that he was obsessed with something about me. It made me feel less… alone in this, in life, in how I felt and what I wanted.
“Can we… Would you like to move this to my bedroom?” I asked, my voice breathy and unrecognizable.
His answering smile came slowly, and my breath stuttered in response. I brought my hands up to his where they cupped my cheeks and kissed each one.
He didn’t fight me, but let me lead him to my bedroom. I let go of his hand when we walked through the door and stepped to the lamps at my bedside to turn one on.
He closed the door behind him, and then turned and leaned back against it.
“Come here,” he said in a gruff voice that sent shivers down my spine.
I walked over to him, my bare feet landing softly on the rug and wood flooring, the only sound in the room. He watched me, but I didn’t feel self-conscious about it. Instead, I felt… free, beautiful, like a Morpho butterfly emerging from my cocoon, ready to fly into a brand-new world.
I stopped before him and looked at him. Actually, looked for the first time… ever, probably. He’d grown into his feet and ears, and I could see why women fell for his charms. He’d let his dirty blonde hair grow out enough to show its wave without seeming unprofessional. He was tall and broad. I felt dainty next to him despite being tall myself.
His hazel eyes were intense on me as he pulled me the last few steps toward him, and I couldn’t tear my eyes from him.
