Page 60 of Holy Hearts
The weight of his words lands between us, an open invitation wrapped in shadows. I feel a thrill that’s equal parts excitement and apprehension, and I can tell by Julian’s silent, encouraging smile that he feels it too.
Kai leans back again, his eyes on us both, and he lets out a low chuckle. “I imagine my tastes might be… darker than yours,” he says, almost teasing. “But then, I never thought I’d find myself with two people who might actually understand.”
“You’d be surprised,” I say quickly, shifting in my seat. “Julian and I have experimented with a lot of things, though none of it ever really stuck besides some basic bondage.”
Kai’s gaze sharpens, and his eyes lock on to mine as his voice drops to almost a whisper. “Have you ever had someone push you to the edge of your comfort zone? To that place where you lose control, leaving you with no choice but to surrender?”
I swallow hard, my heart racing, but Kai presses on. He leans closer, his voice low and steady.
“Have you ever had someone bring you to the edge of pleasure and pain, hold you there, and make you beg to go further, knowing they could either pull you back or let you fall?”
Julian’s hand squeezes my thigh, and I feel his pulse quicken against my skin. There’s a silent exchange between him and Kai, as if Julian understands exactly what he’s asking—perhaps even finds himself drawn to it, as I am.
Kai lets the silence stretch, savoring my reaction. His lips curve into a slight smile. “That’s what I mean by edge play,” he murmurs, his voice like a dark promise. “It’s about trust, Sophie. Trusting that someone knows exactly how far to take you. And trusting that they know just how much to hold back.”
I realize I’m holding my breath, and I let it out slowly, my mind reeling with the weight of his words.
I’m so turned on that every breath has my hard nipples brushing against the soft cotton of my dress. Looking at Julian, he nods once—and then squeezes my thigh three times.
His signal—again.
I know what he’s thinking. He doesn’t have to say it. He’s just waiting for me to make the first move.
I shift in my seat as arousal works through me. It sounds wild when I think about what’s hanging in the air between us. Ihavebeen drinking.
Or maybe… I’ve had just enough alcohol to lower my inhibitions.
Glancing between Kai and Julian, it’s like we can all sense the unspoken question that hangs heavily between us. I feel an undeniable pull—the potential of what could happen if we were to step over this invisible line together. I look at Julian and find his gaze steady, yet tinged with something I rarely see—anticipation. He doesn’t look surprised, just… intrigued. He turns to Kai, a glint of mischief in his eye, and finally speaks.
He knows I’m too modest to say anything outright—toaskKai to join one of our games.
“Hypothetically,” Julian says, his voice smooth but tinged with something darker, “how would this work?”
Kai’s expression softens just a touch, but there’s still that edge, that delicious darkness in his gaze. “Hypothetically?” he echoes, leaning back, his hands clasping thoughtfully in front of him. “Well, hypothetically, I’d take my time with her. We’d build that trust together. Allthreeof us.”
I feel Julian’s hand squeeze mine, and a shiver of excitement runs through me as Kai’s gaze travels slowly between us.
“Julian,” he continues, his tone low and deliberate, “if I were to guide her… it would mean surrendering control to me. Trusting me to lead her where she’s never gone, but only as far as she’s willing to go.” His eyes flick to me, his gaze softening as headds, “It would mean trusting me to hold you both in the places that scare you and excite you, and knowing that I’d bring you safely back.”
I feel a swell of emotion, a mixture of anticipation, nerves, and an aching curiosity. Julian’s voice comes again, calm but laced with a hint of eagerness.
He looks at me, and I nod once, the only signal I outwardly give him that I want this.
“And if we were ready?”
Kai lets a small smile curve his lips, finally breaking the focus with a hint of warmth. “Then, we’d start slow. A night just for us to explore, to see where things feel right. To set boundaries and understand each other.”
He leans forward again, his gaze steady on both of us. “But,” he adds, voice softening, “only if this is what you both truly want. Only if you’re both willing to take that step… together.”
“No expectations, only a willingness to trust and explore,” I add, looking between the two of them.
There’s a part of me that already knows Julian and I are both ready. This moment has been building for a while now, though I didn’t fully realize it until this very moment.
“So?” Kai asks, looking between us. Somehow, despite everything, he’s become the facilitator. “Are we going to do this?”
I look at Julian one last time, but he just smirks at me. “It’s not up to me.”
Swallowing, I look at Kai. “I would like that.”
