Page 43 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

When I opened my mouth to argue, he continued, “You said you trust me with this, so you’re going to let me be in charge.”

Damn, I had said that.

I nodded.

“Take off your pants,” he murmured, his fingers dipping beneath my shirt to skim the waistband of my jeans.

My heart picked up speed, thumping against my breastbone, but I didn’t hesitate. I wanted this so badly. I’d dreamt about having Dax this way. I wasn’t going to give him a chance to change his mind.

My hands shook slightly as I dropped them to the button of my jeans. It popped free and then I lowered the zipper, the sound seemed so loud in the quiet of the house. Then again, so did the beating of my heart.

I shoved my pants down my legs. When I wobbled, Dax grasped my hips to hold me steady and then plucked me off my feet.

I gasped when he released me, and I was falling. I was lying on the edge of the mattress, staring up at him as he shoved my jeans to the side and knelt down. I couldn’t take my eyes off his face as he wrapped his hands around my hips, his thumbs rubbing a spot just inside my hipbones. My nerve endings flared to life, and I shifted restlessly against the comforter.

He flattened his hands on my abdomen and slid them up, gliding beneath my shirt against the skin of my belly. My muscles quivered beneath his fingers as his hands went higher, taking the t-shirt with them.

His fingertips traced the bottom edge of my bra before skating up over my breasts, barely touching me. My t-shirt rose higher.

“Lift your arms,” he whispered.

As I did what he said, he whisked the shirt over my head, leaving me on the bed in nothing but my bra and panties.

When his hands returned to my body, he traced the top edge of my bra with his fingers, his eyes going to my chest. I looked down and shivered again at the sight of his hands on my skin and how his palms barely ghosted over the light pink cups that held my breasts.

His fingertips were just a little rough, as though he had calluses, but not quite. They were almost the texture of stone without the sharpness.

“Take off your bra,” he said, his eyes never leaving my chest.

This time, I did hesitate. I’d never been naked in front of a man before. I wasn’t exactly shy about my body, but this was different. This was Dax.

Dax’s gaze moved up to my face when I didn’t immediately comply. “Do you want to stop?”

I bit my lip and shook my head.

“Then, take off your bra,” he repeated.

I sat up, reaching behind me to unhook it, and tugged the straps down my arms. I tossed it over the edge of the bed, keeping my eyes on Dax’s chin.

He nudged my chin up with his hand until I met his gaze.

“You’re beautiful, Ally.”

I fiddled with the neckline of his shirt as he stared down at me, his eyes trailing from my face to my breasts.

“I want to see you, too.”

The finger he’d used to lift my chin traced the skin of my throat, skating back and forth across my collarbone, and then moved lower. One finger became all five as he followed the upper slope of my breast down. My nipples tightened, anticipating his touch, but his hand moved to trail around the curve on the side of my breast.

“Take your shirt off, Dax,” I demanded, my voice breathy, barely a whisper.

He paused before his hand left my body and he tugged off his shirt. As soon as he pulled the fabric away from his torso, my hands were there. I pressed my palms against his chest, eager to touch as much of him as I could. His skin was hot and smooth. I ran my hands lower, my fingers running over the bumps of his ribs. I felt a rough patch of skin on his side. It was like stone, rough and porous. The light coming in through the blinds was muted, so I couldn’t see what I was touching clearly.

When I tried to look down, Dax grabbed my wrists, taking my hands from his chest and pinning them behind my back.

“Dax—”

He kissed me, cutting off my question and fogging my mind. I leaned into his kiss until my breasts touched his chest. He pulled me closer, plastering my body to his, and all I could think about was the scalding press of his skin against mine and how he tasted.

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