Page 164 of The Grand Duel
Reaching up, I pull the blindfold down over her eyes, dusting my thumb across her temple as I pull back. I take a steadying breath and lift her chin, my eyes hungry as they trace her lips and nose.
I haven’t kissed a woman in years.
Twelve to be precise.
But the thought of never kissing Lissie Elton—my gut twists—well, I’d rather fucking die.
Leaning in, I bring my nose to her cheek, running it across her skin until I reach her ear, my lips dusting. I’m desperate. Too far gone after everything that’s happened. “I need to be inside of you,” I whisper. “It’s all I’ve needed for weeks.” I swallow, glancing down at the goose bumps pebbling across her chest. “Tell me I can be inside of you, Lis.”
Her lips part, and then her hand runs up my stomach, flattening on my chest as she pushes me back a step.
Panic has my eyes pinned on her, awaiting her next move. “Lis?—”
She reaches up and slips the blindfold over her head, holding it between her fingers. “You think you can fuck me, lie to me, say you’re sorry, and now fuck me again?”
When I don’t say anything, she closes the distance she created with one step.
“Do you, Charles?”
I look down at her, my head tilting as my eyes beg for forgiveness. “Let me take you home,” I say, sensing this is about more than just me and what I’ve done to her.
She shakes her head. “You don’t get off that easily. You fucked me. Right here in this room, you fucked me whilst I couldn’t see you. And then to my face, you lied to me.” Her eyes narrow, and my heart pounds. “Get on your knees,Charlie boy.”
THIRTY
Charlie
Irun my tongue over my teeth, my widened stare locked on her. “I’m not playing games with you. Not here. You’re upset?—”
“Then leave.”
I stare her down, not wanting to give up control and not wanting to do this with her. Not like this, when she’s upset. But then her chin lifts, and I know that I’ll do it, and before I can process that fact—that fucking revelation—the floor is firm beneath my knees.
She looks down her nose at me, soaking up the image.
“Lis—”
She reaches for my tie, unknotting it. “Do you know what the worst part is about not being able to see when you’re having sex?” She doesn’t meet my eyes, her focus on her task as she discards my tie and starts on my shirt. “It’s the unknowing of what’s next…the vulnerability…”
I reach out, grasping her hips. I drop my head to her stomach, halting her. “Lissie, just let me?—”
She pushes out of my grip. “The blind trust you have to have,” she continues. When she’s done unbuttoning my shirt, she finally meets my eyes, hers heavy and savage. “Do you trust me?”
My eyes flick between hers, the question coming from a million different places if what her gaze tells me is true.
I nod.
She twists her neck, brows lifting. “Blindly?”
I swallow in answer, watching as she reaches out and slides the blindfold over my head.
She lets her eyes dart down to mine once before she pulls the silk low to cover my eyes, blacking out the world—and her.
I hear her moving, but the inability to see her makes my mouth go dry.
Her fingers grasp my chin and lift, and then her words pant across my lips. “May I touch you?”
I dip my head knowing she’s close enough and catch her forehead, our noses brushing before she can pull back. When she does, I let out a groan.