Page 27 of Untangled
“Why don’t you take some time and write a list of how you might make your life ten percent bigger, with a goal that feels achievable in the next year. I may not be able to give you a lab or fly us to Europe for a month, but I can give you support—the time, at least—for you to grow. Those other Mollys are still in there, just buried. I think we should find them.”
Now I’m the one blinking away tears, a few of them collecting against my lash line and threatening to fall. How could this man possibly think he isn’t enough for us?
“I’d like that,” I reply.
“We’ll do it, then. And Molls?” he asks.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for telling me. We should do this more often.”
“How about another card tomorrow?” I offer.
“I can’t wait,” he replies.
Day 17
Share an intimate desire or sexual fantasy that your partner doesn’t know.
“Well, won’t this be fun?” Daniel says as he hands me the day’s card. I skim it and heat rises in my blood. The electric blanket I finally put on the bed this morning and have set to eight isn’t helping.
“It saysshare, notindulge, babe. This is anothertalkingcard.”
“What do you want to bet tomorrow’s prompt is the doing?”
“Want to check?” I ask.
“Nah, I like the surprise.” He’s sitting against the headboard, two pillows behind his back, without a shirt. The muscles in his abs flex as he breathes out a soft exhale. I could run my fingers along them and watch goosebumps trail in their wake. Except I can’t, because it’s atalkingday.
“Are you pouting?” he says, his voice capturing the smile on his face.
“Was I? Just distracted by your abs. And now rude it is that I’m not going to get my hands on them tonight.”
“I already know how much you love my abs. You’re supposed to tell me something Idon’tknow.” The smirk he gives is equal parts flirty and infuriating.
Deciding to level the playing field, I peel off my top. Without the threadbare t-shirt I've had for ten years, I’m fully topless. “Now who’s pouting? Or is itpanting? You look short of breath.”
“Nope, I’m fine,” he says as he sucks in a lungful of air before biting down on a fist. “Let’s get started.”
“You go first,” I prompt.
“What if it freaks you out? If you go first, then I’ll know how wild I can be.”
“What ifIfreak you out?” I volley back. “I could be into some really kinky stuff.”
He cocks his head and looks me over, dragging his eyes from my waist, lingering at my tits, and perusing slowly upward before he meets my eyes. I feel it like his fingertips walking up my skin, and a shiver courses through me. “You could be. I believe that now,” he says in response.
“It’s notthatkinky. It’s probably pretty tame by everyone else’s standards.”
“So you have an idea in mind, then?”
Damn. I walked right into his trap to make me share first. I won’t give him the satisfaction of the win, though, so I roll my shoulders back, jut out the girls, and look him right in the eye to say, “Tie me up.”
Daniel chokes on his own saliva and tries to cover it with a cough. A creeping red flush starts on his neck.
“I want you to tie me up and blindfold me,” I continue. “Then, I want you to do whatever you want. Take your time, play with me, surprise me. Use one of my toys or whatever you like. I’d want it to be time-bound though, so I’m not worried about whether you’ll leave me there.”
“Do you really think I’d get you restrained and consenting to whatever I want and thenleave? Absolutely fucking not.” I watch him reach below the comforter to adjust himself, though it doesn’t stop the sheet from tenting above his lap. “Handcuffs, rope, or fabric ties?” he asks.
