With a growl like an old bear, Maxime moved to hover over me, closing my chatter down with his proximity. Every single muscle in his arms fired in glorious harmony, his dark hairtrailing over his face. I pulled in a breath, revelling in the familiar sweet scent of his cologne. I should ask him what he wore. Maybe I could douse myself in it when he went out fishing. Then I’d never be without him.
As he moved above me, I ran my fingertips up his sides and over his shoulders.
He pulled in a breath. “Are you ready? Or…” He moved one of his solid thighs between my legs, pressing against my heat. “Do you need something to warm you up?”
Oh, hell no. I could safely say that my entire body was ready, willing, and perfectly able to take him on. But I wanted it to happen on my terms. I reached up to run my fingers through his hair. “Has anyone ever told you how pretty you are?”
He quirked a brow.
“Well, you are. And if I’m down here, I won’t be able to take advantage.”
Maxime blinked, and I ran my hand over his jaw.
“I want to watch you. I want to see the momentyou break. When you can’t bear how good it feels to be inside me, and you come apart.” I ran my nails over his chest. “It’s what I’ve wanted since the day we met. Let me show you how good we can feel together.”
His eyes searched mine for a long beat—curious, maybe a little amused. Then, without a word, he dipped to kiss the corner of my mouth and shifted his weight.
In one smooth motion, he rolled us over, guiding me with him like it was the easiest thing in the world. His hands were still on my waist when I landed on top, knees tucked either side of his ribs, my hair falling forward in a curtain across his chest.
Holy hell, did he have wrestling training, too?
“Better?” he asked, curling his fingers through my hair.
“Oh, absolutely,” I murmured. “Only…” I reached over, retrieving his tie that lay abandoned on the mattress. “I think weneed to pull this sucker out of retirement.” With a smile, I tugged the tie taut, snapping it between my hands.
Maxime looked wary, but then when I wound the fabric around my fists, his face darkened.
“What are your rules?” he asked.
My inner dominatrix perked up. “I think it’s only fair that I impose the same rules you had for me.”
Maxime tilted his head, and I took one of his hands, bringing it to my breast. The second I did, he closed his fingers around me, and I pulled in a thin breath.
“No touching.”
He dragged his calloused thumb over my nipple. “Does this count?”
“This is prep. But I need to know you agree.”
He paused. “No touching? Fine. What else?”
I took a breath. “Let me be in control.”
His face dropped and something flashed in his eyes.
“It’s important. I know you haven’t always had the luxury, but if we’re going to have any sort of relationship, you need to know that giving up control doesn’t have to feel like losing. It’s not a weakness when you give your power to someone who’d never use it against you. And Maxime, I wouldn’t. I’d never hurt you.”
He considered my words, the muscle in his jaw ticking, before finally presenting me with his wrists.
Warmth burgeoned in my chest. Despite all the crazy desire stuff, I wanted him to trust me. To see that I wasn’t like Valerie or his parents or whoever else had ever made him feel small. I wanted him to feel the same way about himself that I did. He was incredible and deserved the best.
I leaned down and gently kissed him on the lips, and he stirred beneath me. Crap! I’d been so deep in the feelings, having my personal Kumbaya moment, that I forgot he had an erection that needed maintaining.
I slid my wrapped hands down his chest, slow and deliberate, until they met his. Taking hold of his wrists, I guided them upward—like he was about to dive—and looped the silk around his skin. He didn’t look away, watching me the whole time. Not my technique—me.
Finally, when I finished, I pulled on the tie. “I hope you’ll forgive the terrible knot. I suppose it’s more symbolic than effective. But if I’ve made a mess of it, there are some good scissors in the kitchen. I’ll replace the tie, of course.”
Maxime grinned, and I blinked. I’d only seen it a few times, but it wasn’t something I ever wanted to lose from my lie.
