Page 61 of Heart Strings
“Some things never change, do they?”
But they do. I’ve learned that I can yearn for someone more than I ever thought possible. I’ve learned that I was wrong about Aidan.
“You wanna get off your knees before someone sees us and people start to talk?”
“Let ’em.” He rests his hands on my lap, one on top of the other and drops his chin on them. He’s a sight to behold. Large aquamarine eyes twinkling with mischief and cheeks flushed from dance, drink, and a dash of subjugation.
I grip his undone collar to ensure his full attention. “Meet me in my room in five minutes. Don’t make me wait.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Aidan lifts his fingers to his temple in the same mortifyingly dorky salute I gave the shepherd, and I roll my eyes.
My body thrums with anticipation as I sneak away from thereception and upstairs to my room. I pull the flowers from my hair and rake my fingers through it, frowning at the singed ends.
The candle-like sconces bathe the historically inspired room in a soft amber light. It’s a far more romantic environment than the hearse. I prop the door and leave my bridesmaid dress on, leaning back on my elbows on the bed as I breathlessly wait for Aidan’s knock.
It’s not long until it comes.
The door clicks shut behind Aidan and he leans against it, hugging a champagne bucket to his chest with an expression of pure trouble. “Hey.”
He sets the ice bucket on the nightstand and picks up the ribbon there.
“I was thinking…” Aidan’s dimples deepen as he rolls the bolt back and forth between his palms. “It feels good to let someone else take the reins for a bit. You might like it.”
I sit up straight. “Are you asking to tie me up?”
“Yes. Let me take care of you. Let go.”
Allowing myself to be passive goes against my every instinct—but ever since this wedding began, I’ve spent so much energy worrying over the smallest things just to feel like I have some control. And what has it really accomplished?
“I don’t know if I can let go,” I admit. “Even the thought of doing bondage ‘wrong’ makes me anxious. What if I feel trapped? What if I panic?”
“We’ll stop. I don’t want to do anything you’re not into,” Aidan says. “Think you can you trust me enough to try?”
“I do.” The words come out before I realize, and I feel the truth of them. I do trust Aidan. I rise from the bed and stand in front of him. “I want to try.”
An understanding passes between us. My mouth goes dry as his nimble fingers deftly undo the buttons of his shirt. Inked skin on display in the low lamplight, he lays it across a chair and slips off his dress shoes.
Satin slides across my skin as Aidan brushes the straps of my gown off my shoulders. I draw in a shaky gasp as he slowly pulls my zipper down. Strong hands waste no time stripping me of my bra and panties. Cool air hits my skin and pebbles my nipples. Reverence burns in his eyes as he caresses my bare skin with a maddeningly light touch.
He leads me back to the bed and positions me to kneel on the mattress, supported by my knees with hands in front of my sternum in a prayer position. It looks like I’m pleading—I probably will by the time Aidan’s done. He grabs the bolt of ribbon and scissors, unspooling it slowly before clipping a length and winding it around my wrists. “Is this still okay?”
I nod.
“Close your eyes, Lo. Tell me what you feel.” Aidan’s voice is smooth and composed as he crisscrosses the strip of satin back and forth and tightens the ends.
I swallow and let my eyes drift shut. “Pressure…”
“What else?” His index finger gently tucks my hair behind my ear and lingers at my temple. “Tell me what’s going on up here?”
“Vulnerability…anticipation.”
“Perfect.” Warm breath fans across my ear.
I gasp and my eyes snap open to find Aidan’s hand on an ice cube pressed to my neck.
Dimples bracket his mouth as he watches my response. Oh, he’s going to torture me. I should’ve seen this coming.
A sharp hiss escapes my lips as he presses the melting ice cube to my chest and sucks the drips off. The juxtaposition of his hot tongue and the ice water sets my senses alight. I squirm as he pulls my nipple into his mouth with a groan. Everything feels heightened.
