I pressed closer to him and cupped his cheeks, forcing him to look at me. Vince didn’t fight my hold, but a tinge of panic sparked in his thoughts. Remaining utterly still, I waited—I would let go if needed—but he relaxed after only a couple of breaths.
I said, voice deep, “There is absolutely nothing wrong or dirty about you. Do you understand?”
“You don’t care that I was a whore?”
“I care that you were forced to do things you didn’t want to, but I do not find consensual sex work reprehensible. If chosen, I find no reason why someone cannot do that line of work. You did not choose it, Vince. Your hurt is what I care about.”
A tear slid down his cheek, but his jaw clenched and his eyes flicked away to the side, refusing to meet my gaze.
I brushed the tip of my nose against his and whispered, “I want all of you.”
He swallowed. “Then take me.”
Chapter 22
Sometimes desire is not enough.
I could feel the tension in Vince’s entire body and mind, but he pressed his shaking lips against mine. I returned the kiss, keeping the pressure soft. I didn’t understand why he insisted on us doing this when he was so uncomfortable. I was perfectly content not to have sex until he was ready, even if that was for the rest of our time together. But this wasn’t about me or us; this was about his need to overcome what had happened to him.
Which hurt, even if it should not.
However, the desire for this moment to truly be about us together and sharing an intimacy remained.
Vince moaned, pushing me back to climb on my lap. I whimpered, opening my mouth for him. I wanted Vince in everysingle way possible, but I needed more from this moment. His tongue slicked and swirled around mine as hot arousal flooded his mind, though it didn’t outweigh the severe discomfort pulsing inside of him.
Cupping his hips, I pulled him more securely against me, my hard cock pressing against his butt. Vince stilled, and the shaking plaguing his body increased. I ran a hand down his back to comfort him, but he didn’t calm, though also didn’t move away.
“We don’t have to,” I whispered against his lips, my breath harsh with desire.
“I’m fine,” he bit out, crashing his lips into mine in a feral kiss. “I want you, and you sure as hell want me.”
Groaning, I returned his kiss and lost myself into the softness of his plush lips and his smooth tongue. Vince fisted my hair, and I winced at the tight hold but didn’t remark on it. I wished we’d had more, or ratheranyconversation about sex permissions. If we had, he would’ve known I didn’t enjoy any pain. But this was about him, not me, not us.
To soften and slow the harsh kiss, I brushed my fingertips along his back and rocked beneath him. Vince broke away from me, gasping. One of his hands gripped my hair even harder while the other dug into my shoulder.
“Is that nice?” I asked, rocking up into him.
His teeth sank into his bottom lip, and he nodded. His hard cock was rubbing against me while I rolled and rutted into him. Vince closed his eyes and held onto me. He was enjoying it. I felt that in his mind as well as saw it from his hard cock that was pushing against his trousers. But the tension and discomfort didn’t dissipate no matter how much he liked it.
I wanted to stop. His discomfort was making it difficult for me to continue and it was hurting me. I could put an end to this by simply telling Vince I no longer wished to continue, buthe might think I was rejecting him, which I wasn’t. Hurting him was destroying me, and that was what I was doing. I was injuring Vince, even though he’d asked for it.
Vince grasped the hem of my shirt and tugged; I leaned forward so he could remove it before claiming his mouth once more. His trembling fingers roved my chest, tracing my scales. He brushed one of my nipples, and I grunted. My nipples weren’t that sensitive, but it felt nice to have his fingertips circling the nubs.
He continued his exploration over my chest and down my sides, and I ripped my mouth from his, then swallowed the high-pitched cry that attempted to escape.
“There?” he asked.
“Yes,” I panted. “It’s where my scent glands are.”
His fingers returned, rubbing the spots perfectly until I was wiggling and nearly strangling myself to stay silent.
Shifting back, he yanked his shirt off. I dragged my hands over his fair skin, not able to get over how beautiful he was. His nipples were a lovely pink against his light skin and the nubs were hard peaks. His chest was heaving, showing off his ribs, which practically poked through his skin. Vince truly needed to gain weight, but getting him to eat anything was a feat.
I nuzzled his neck, attempting to calm the rapidly growing panic. Vince cupped the back of my head and tugged me closer. I trailed kisses down his neck to his collarbone, sucking on it. He groaned, gripping me tight. When I moved back, his skin now bore a mark—my mark. Something primal inside of me flared at the sight of Vince’s skin carrying my mark while my scent filled the air from his earlier attention to my scent glands.
“Take these off,” Vince ordered, pulling on my trousers.
I helped Vince off my lap and stripped bare in front of him. He didn’t look at me as he removed his own clothes, and even then, he refused to glance in my direction. I, though, couldn’t lookaway from him. Vince was so delicate and slight. His bones were more prominent around his hips, but he was so soft-looking. His cock was hard and a drop of liquid beaded on his round crown. His shaft was much thinner and shorter than mine, and there was a slight curve. I wanted to drop to my knees and worship him, but I didn’t move.
