Page 129 of Meet Me In The Dark
I exhale through my nose, trying to piece together the right response. “Well, then, we just won’t—”
“Oh, we’re going to.”
“Celeste.”
“I feel ready again. I’m just nervous.” The certainty in her voice throws me.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I nudge her with my elbow. “So you’re just assuming I’m at your beck and call then?”
“Am I wrong?”
I glare.
She smiles.
Fuck.
No, she’s not wrong at all.
“I thought I hurt you, Celeste, and that’s not something I ever want to question.”
Reaching for my hand, she threads her fingers through mine. “You didn’t.”
“I know that now.” I scrub a hand over my facebecause Jesus, how do I say this right? “I need to be able to trust that you’ll tell me when something is wrong.”
“I did.”
“Not soon enough.”
She frowns. “I get why you’re worried. I’ll…” She looks up at me, cheeks flushing. “Use my words.”
I hold her gaze, then give her a slow wink. “Good girl.”
Her chin tips stubbornly. “But I do want to have sex again.”
“When you’re fully recovered. Maybe a couple of weeks.”
“Weeks?” she sputters. “For God’s sake, stop reading the forums. I’ll tell you when I’m ready.” She shoves the chocolates on my lap. “You should try these, by the way.”
I stare at her, deadpan. “Celeste—”
“No, seriously. You’re missing out.” She takes one out and holds it to my lips. “Here, take one.”
I lean forward, slow enough to watch her breath catch, and close my lips over the chocolate and the tip of her fingers. Her eyes lock on mine, all wide challenge and heat, as I let my mouth linger just long enough to make her swallow hard before I pull back.
She watches me with curious eyes. “Well?”
I swallow and lick the taste off my lips. “Tastes like a bribe.”
Forty-One
Celeste
I’m trying to sneak in another episode of trash TV without Julian noticing when I hear the distinct sound of the door opening and a female voice calling, “Julian?”
He throws his head back against the couch, groaning. “Fuck.”
My stomach drops. “What?”
