Page 114 of Chandelier Sin
“You’re luring me in,” he chided.
He probably believed I was luring him into the snake pit.
“My beautiful siren,” he said. “How could anyone harm you?”
A frisson swirled at his soothing, the heat from his body suddenly burning me up.
“Eve, don’t go back.”
I sighed. “It’s complicated.”
He reached up and caressed my cheek. “Birthmark?”
“No.”
He licked his thumb and pressed it beneath my left eye and swiped, smearing the makeup.
My hand shot up to shield the bruise. I was filled with embarrassment and guilt and everything in between. Walls of shame closed in as though he might sense I deserved it.
“A significant update,” he said harshly.
“It’s not—”
“If you say it’s not what it looks like—”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Make it make sense, Eve.”
“It’s not just me who needs to get away from him.”
He considered what that meant. “Okay.”
“Don’t ask me anything else.”
In the mirror reflection, we held each other’s gaze as we settled into the rarest serenity.
With a look, I warned him to back off.
He kissed the top of my head. “Your body has already told me everything I need to know.”
Knowing he was in tune with my body caused me to sway—surrender, a little.
Atticus’ tone of voice changed to one of devotion. “How can someone so exquisite be treated the way he treats you? Or maybe that’s the point. You’re his opposite. A reflection of his ugliness. He can’t bear it.”
“Make me forget he exists.”
“You have to ask for what you need.”
I relaxed in his arms as my trust became a living, breathing light that shimmied through me.
My nod gave him the consent he wanted, demanded even, my desire as easy to share as a stroll along that golden sandy beach. With each metaphorical step, I felt cleansed from my sins.
He whispered, “Want to show me how wet you are?”
I eased the throw open so he could see my body, watching him watching me as his eyes burned with lust for what he saw—the real Eve, the woman whose body unraveled for him like a flower in bloom.
Reaching low, following his command, I ran a fingertip along my pussy, feeling the wetness, and eased my panties aside so he could see.
