Page 53 of Playing With Danger

“That right there, that look you just gave me. So fucking pretty.”

I had no idea what look I just gave him but I needed to know so I could give it to him again—thus giving it to myself—because the way he looked at me was the kind of expression I’d fight tooth and claw to keep forever.

“How am I looking at you?” I asked.

“Like you think I’m worth it.”

I didn’t like the way that sounded.

“You are worth it.”

He abruptly kissed my lips and slowly pulled out. Meaning I lost concentration on our conversation and groaned.

Sue me, he was still hard and the outward glide felt good.

“Fuck, you feel good,” he grunted.

“You feel good,” I corrected.

“Let me toss this condom and start the bath. I’ll be back.”

Valentine shifted, rolled, and was standing beside the bed when I got a good look at his back. It was hard to focus on what I saw, with the acres of muscle my gaze encountered. But now that’d I’d seen them I couldn’t not.

“Holy shit,” I muttered.

I watched in morbid fascination as Valentine froze. Muscle by muscle he stiffened, his back ramrod straight. Woodenly, he looked over his shoulder at me.

“Sophie—”

“Oh my God, Valentine. I drew blood.”

I was out of bed in a flash, stopping at his side long enough for me to tag his hand and pull him toward the bathroom.

“Do you have a first aid kit in here?”

“Sophie—”

“Why didn’t you tell me I was hurting you?” I accused irately.

“Because you didn’t.”

“I drew blood, Valentine.”

Good Lord, I knew I’d dug my nails in but I didn’t know I’d clawed his back to shit.

How had I clawed his back? I’d never done that before. Though I’d never been fucked within an inch of my life.

I flipped on the light, gave him another tug, and tried my best to forget I was naked. I didn’t have any hang-ups about nudity, it was just Valentine was perfect and I was not. Actually, maybe I did have hang-ups because suddenly I became very aware I had a poochy belly and my legs weren’t toned. And while I had large breasts they were too big to be perky. And if all that wasn’t enough, the mortifying no-shave issue reared back up.

Thankfully, Valentine turned to face me and pulled me close so our bodies were almost touching and I had to tip my head back to look at him.

“Listen to me, Sophie. I liked it.”

“I liked it, too, but that doesn’t mean I get to inflict?—”

“No, baby, you’re not hearing me. I liked it.”

You didn’t stop me but I lost control.

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