Page 140 of Chosen Road

“I missed you,” I murmured. “I always miss you when we’re apart.”

She gave me a small nod.

“We had fun, too.”

Her eyes opened a crack.

“George is good. Really good. Vander isn’t treating him any different than usual. Ruby started berating them for being late as soon as they walked in the door. Vander shut her up, and George laughed.”

Amber smiled. “He’s good at shutting her up.”

I grinned back at her. “He is. She doesn’t seem to mind. Called him a steamroller. Threatened the boys with floral tuxedos.”

“She’s going to be so surprised,” Amber whispered, her smile blooming.

“She is,” I agreed. “Vander knows how to take care of her.” I changed my tone. “I know how to take care of you.”

Her eyes flew wide, and again I wondered at the instincts of self-preservation that did everything but. Thank, God, her eyes were so expressive. Uncertainty mixed with desire. Acquiescence and denial. Joy and pain.

I retrieved her floating pillow. “Lie back so I can do your front.”

“Um…”

I frowned at her as I waited for her to comply.

She sighed in resignation and slowly lowered her legs, though she kept her breasts covered with her arms.

I positioned her pillow behind her head. “Are you comfortable, sweet baby?”

The tension drained from her limbs, and she nodded, her closed lids and crossed arms the only barriers between us.

Taking the loofah, I ministered to her arms and collarbone. Pushing it under the water, I drifted over her pelvis, and she spread her legs reflexively before snapping them closed again.

Her eyes snapped open and flew to mine.

I was ready for her. “That’s right. Eyes on me.”

Holding her gaze, I issued my instructions firmly. “Eyes stay on me. Relax your arms into the water.”

Desire burned away the last remnants of denial, and she lay open and obedient before me.

I ran the loofah over her breasts gently, watched her eyes flicker with the pleasure, then dropped the loofah and continued with my hand. “No matter where I look, you keep your eyes on me. I want you to watch me as I take care of you. I want you to see the pleasure your body gives me.”

My eyes followed my hand’s trail across her small, pale breasts, stopping to cup the precious mounds, run the rough pad of my thumb over her nipples, watch them tighten and furl. Continuing over her ribcage, I palmed her softly rounded tummy. I gave it a little shake. “I like this.”

She snorted and looked away.

“Eyes. On. Me.”

Meeting her gaze, my lips tight, I gave her tummy another little shake. “I like this.”

She nodded, her mouth softening.

I grunted my approval, and she laughed.

Ah, getting there. Quickly, I dipped my fingers between her thighs to find her hot and wet and ready.

She gasped, and I groaned, as I slid my fingers across her clit and dipped inside her tight channel. With my other hand, I cupped the back of her neck and met her halfway, my lips a breath from hers as I drew my fingers slowly in and out, stroking her clit, rubbing her walls.

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