Page 77 of Hard Knot

“Wait, I need those,” I say, my voice sharper than intended.

Elizabeth tilts her head, her lips quirking into a playful smile.

“Nah, you don’t need to see for this special segment of my dance.”

I frown, reaching for the glasses, but she holds them just out of reach.

“Vision is integral to perception,” I argue, falling into the safety of logic as a distraction. “You’re removing a key sensory input, which reduces my ability to?—”

“To what?” she interrupts, arching a brow. “Overthink how hot this is? Because trust me, Felix, you don’t need perfect vision to enjoy this.”

I want to argue further, to point out the philosophical implications of impaired sight during a moment of heightened sensory experience. But as I try to form words, her fingers trail lightly down my jawline, and suddenly, my argument feels less important.

“What was that you said earlier?” she teases, her tone low and sultry. “About perception? Maybe you need to see a little less clearly so you stop thinking so philosophically and start acting on what you want.”

Her words settle in my chest like a challenge, but before I can respond, she leans in, pressing her lips against my neck. Her kiss is soft at first, but it quickly deepens as she sucks gently at the skin, leaving deliberate marks.

Fuck…this feels far too good.

Each pull of her lips sends a shiver down my spine, and I can feel the blood rushing through my veins, spiking through my hardened cock.

I groan involuntarily, my hands gripping her hips as she moves against me.

“Elizabeth…” I manage to say, but it comes out more like a plea than a protest.

She hums against my skin, the vibration sending another wave of heat through my body. Her lips travel lower, her fingers already working on the buttons of my shirt. She takes her time, unfastening each one with maddening slowness, her nails lightly grazing my skin as she goes.

Even without my glasses, I can see her faint silhouette, the golden halo of her hair catching the low light as she moves. My other senses sharpen to compensate for the lack of sight, and suddenly, every touch, every sound, feels magnified.

When she flicks her tongue against one of my nipples, I gasp, the unexpected sensation drawing a low groan from my throat.

My reaction makes her pause, her eyes flicking up to mine as a smirk tugs at her lips.

Her fingers brush against the bare skin of my chest, tracing over the faint indents.

“Oh,” she says, her tone playful and curious. “You have piercings.”

“Had,” I correct her, my voice breathless. “I took them out earlier. The uniform material is cheap, and I was worried they’d show through.”

It’s not something I’ve needed to hide, but I didn’t want anything else fucking up our chances at Knot Academy. We were going to be hit with a potential “disadvantage” —if you can call it that —for being mafia drug lords. Don’t need the word going around that I’m some weakling with pierced nips.

Or I could just be afraid of being a target like when we were in actual highschool all those years ago.

She tsks softly, her lips curling into a pout that’s almost too perfect to be real.

“That’s a no-can-do,” she says, shaking her head. “I don’t give a damn if everyone can see those metal barbells through your shirt. In fact…” She trails off, leaning down to press her lips against one of my nipples.

Her mouth is warm and wet as she sucks deliberately, and I bite back another groan, my head falling back.

“I want to enjoy the sight of them,” she murmurs against my skin, her voice low and teasing. “And I want everyone else to guess what’s underneath. Let them wonder.”

Heat blooms across my face, and I feel the flush creeping down my neck.

“I’m not used to being that...confident,” I admit, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

Elizabeth pulls back slightly, her hands resting against my chest as she tilts her head, studying me. Her expression softens, and for a moment, there’s no teasing, no playful challenge—just something warm and genuine.

“Confidence doesn’t matter,” she says softly, her voice steady. “You didn’t get those piercings to please anyone but yourself, right?”

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