“I didn’t mean to make it hard on you by telling you about my ex.”
A calloused palm cups my jaw, holding me captive while he studies me like I’m an unfathomable mystery. “You deserve to feel comfortable and heard, Alia.”
“But you’re hesitating,” I complain, feeling like this failure, too, is mine.
“I haven’t been in this situation before so yeah, I’m treading slow. I don’t want to hurt you. Will you trust me?”
“I already do.”
And it’s not a lie. I’ve never trusted another man as easily as Cal. I’ve never felt as safe as I do with him. It’s been this way since the first time we met and that feeling has only deepened with how accepting he’s been tonight. I showed up wanting physical intimacy and derailed it by getting emotional. Yet, he’s been nothing but kind.
Another man might’ve called me a tease. Or, worse, told me this was more effort than I’m worth. But not him.
“I want to be here with you. I won’t break if you touch me, Callum.”
Maybe I’ve finally said something right because his gaze grows less concerned and more focused. His eyes flicker over my face, the tightness in his shoulders draining away.
“Yeah? Can I touch you here?” He bops the tip of my nose, surprising me thoroughly. The anxiety that’d gripped me before disintegrates instantly, the relief causing me to giggle.
“What about here?” He pokes my cheek and my smile widens. His fingers trace my lips, then my jaw, leaving behind tingles. With care and deliberation, he drags the tip of his nail down my neck, stopping right at the U of my scooped neckline, ready to tuck into my cleavage. My nipples are so hard under the light padding of the dress he’d be able to see them if the lights were brighter.
“Why’d you stop?” I eke out breathlessly. His heightened color and unsmiling mouth gives me hope he’s as desperate for me as I am for him.
“Do you want me to continue?”
“Yes.”
He tugs at the tie behind my neck, watching as the gathered material covering my upper body slithers away. A muffled ‘Christ’ tumbles out of his mouth, his eyes locked on my naked chest with such intensity, my legs start to quiver.
“What if I want to touch you with my mouth? Will you let me?”
“O-okay.”
“If I want to put my lips right here,” he asks, drawing a thumb over one stiff nipple in a move that makes my belly swoop low. “That’s okay?”
I shudder, gasping when he pinches me.
“Use your words, Tots, or else neither one of us gets what we want. Is that clear?”
A wave of unabashed desire washes over me at his commanding tone. My lagging brain glitches furiously, trying to make sense of why his bossiness makes me wet. His keen eyes track every expression on my face, making sure I’m comfortable with what he’s doing. And I am. I’ve never craved something this deeply.
“Yes. You can put your mouth there.”
“Good,” he croons, his thumbs swiping under my breasts while his palm molds the sides of my body and pulls me flush against him, fitting me right over the unmistakable evidence of his erection. “You gonna be good for me?”
“Yes,” I promise.
“How do you usually orgasm?”
His question makes me gape at him like he’s grown a third head.
“Fingers? Toys? Does penetration work for you or clitoral stimulation?”
My face goes up in flames. I’ve never discussed such things before.
“Cal.” My voice is lost to shame but his determination to figure me out is as sobering as the realization that this is something I should be aware of.
“How do you make yourself come?” he asks again.