Page 44 of The Charmer's Gambit
“Whoa.” I jerked back, eyes flying open, to find him shaking his head.
“I foresee bondage in our future.”
I ignoredthatparticular comment and focused on his torture bottle.“What the fuck is that?”
“It’s cocoa butter blended with aloe vera. The sting is the moisturizer, which you need right now.” He squirted more onto his hand and cocked an eyebrow. “Now, are you going to stay still, or do I need to tie you to the bed?”
Oh, shit.
This was not going to end well.
16
Taking It Slow
“You can’t be serious.” No way would he really tie me down.
“I’m always serious, darlin’. Now close those gorgeous blue eyes and let me finish. I promise you’ll thank me later.”
“You seem to be confusing the termthankwithkill,” I muttered as I closed my eyes. I only agreed because the soothing sensation had returned and I wanted more.
“No moving.” The command in his voice touched me in all the right places. I had no doubt he really would tie me to the bed, and a depraved part of me wanted to see him try. The rational part of me, however, rolled her eyes.
“Yes, sir,” I replied sarcastically and regretted it immediately. His chuckle filled the air between us as his fingers returned to my face.
“Oh, I do love the way that sounds.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
Sharp teeth sunk into my bottom lip, shocking the hell out of me. “You’ve said those sexy words twice in my bed this week, gorgeous. I will hear them again, and with less sarcasm.”
“Twice?” I repeated, incredulous. “Try once.”
“You said them the first time you were in my bed, after I told you not to move, while we were discussing your adorable stockings.”
“I don’t remember . . .” Okay, actually, I did recall those words coming out of my mouth. “But if it happened, I didn’t mean it.”
“So you say.” His fingers moved to my cheeks where the stinging was less prominent. The burn on my forehead must have been worse. “Are you regretting losing your hat yet?”
My nose scrunched as he applied the lotion there. “It was too hot on my head.”
His chuckle was low and warm. “That’s the city girl in you talkin’, but we’ll get you there.”
I snorted. “Trust me, the cowboy look works much better on you.”
“Does it?” His thumb traced my jaw, massaging the ointment in as he went. I couldn’t tell what I enjoyed more—his touch or the way it soothed my sunburn. When he pulled away, I nearly groaned in disappointment, but then I heard the cap pop again. I peeked up at him through my lashes and found him studying my shoulders.
“Next time I’ll remember sunscreen.” Amusement flirted with his features. “Since you have an aversion to hats.” He squeezed a healthy amount onto his palms and rubbed them together before reaching for my neck. I flinched when his thumb touched my throat, a place I associated with weakness thanks to Ryan. Will lifted his hands, his eyes searching mine intently. He’d obviously felt my reaction. Damn it.
“Too much?”
I swallowed and shook my head. “No, you just caught me off guard.” A truth mingled with a lie. “Sorry.” God, I hated Ryan. He’d trained my body to react to the dumbest movements. I knew Will wouldn’t hurt me.
You used to think that about Ryan too.
But no, that wasn’t exactly true. My ex had swept me off my feet, made me feel like the luckiest woman in the world, but the signs were always there. In the possessive way he handled me, the control he exuded in every situation, the way he alienated me from my friends and family . . . He never let me win arguments and always found a way to place the blame on my shoulders. Will’s dominance felt different.Protective.
He studied me for so long that I worried my emotions were showing on my face. Then, ever so gently, his touch returned. But rather than go for my throat, he started at the back of my neck and massaged the lotion into the base of my scalp. His clever fingers pressed deep, making my jaw go slack.
