Bonds of Desire by Lynda Aicher Page B

fingers through the Dom’s long hair and see if the rusty-brown strands were as soft as Allie’s.
    Shit. He shouldn’t do this. But he did.
    In a move that showed only what he wanted the Dom to see, Tyler closed his eyes and lowered his head. “Yes, sir.”
    The sharp suck of air hissed through the silence to slither around Tyler, anchoring him in place. His groin ached, his cock hardening enough to tent his loose, cotton pants. The rapid beat of his pulse ticked off in his head, chest and dick—a hat trick of desperation.
    He wanted to look, to open his eyes and see what the Dom was doing, thinking. But he didn’t. It was Seth’s move and for once in his life, Tyler wanted to submit.
    What would it be like to truly, honestly, surrender and trust this man before him?
    It was risky, but he had to do it.
    “Damn.” The whispered curse was exhaled next to Tyler’s ear, the word flowing down his spine ahead of the goose bumps that followed. The urge to turn toward the warmth, to open his eyes and see Seth’s expression was impossibly strong. But he held still. His need to please the Dom was stronger than his need for conformation.
    Tyler flinched, a quick tensing of muscles, when Seth’s warm palms cradled his jaw. There it was again, that touch that took away his worries and smoothed over his anxieties.
    Seth brushed his thumbs over Tyler’s cheekbones, the touch so light that Tyler gasped at what felt like a pledge of kindness. It only took a little pressure for him to lift his chin, but he couldn’t open his eyes.
    “Look at me.” The order was low, firm, yet held a small thread of something else. It was that something that made Tyler comply more than anything.
    He raised his eyelids and was held captive by the intensity in the Dom’s eyes. Tyler wanted to breathe, he really did, but his lungs were as frozen as the rest of him. No one had ever looked at him with that much...compassion.
    “You’re sure?”
    No. Absolutely fucking not. “Yes, sir.”
    Seth frowned, his brows drawing together. “I don’t need that.”
    Confused, Tyler struggled to figure out what he’d done wrong. Usually he didn’t care, but with this man it mattered. “What, sir?”
    “That. The ‘sir.’ It’s not what I want.”
    “Why?” The question was out before Tyler thought to stop it.
    Now Seth smiled, the action easing the lines between his brows. “Because that doesn’t belong with this.”
    Before Tyler could react, Seth kissed him, his lips so warm and gentle Tyler almost whimpered. Oh fucking hell, it was incredible. The touch of moist lips over his, the pass of tongue swiping across but not entering his mouth, the firm grip that held him grounded as his head was tilted for better access—it was all beyond amazing.
    Seth owned the moment, and that was right. Tyler leaned into the Dom but didn’t press for more. Seth nipped his lip, and the sting blended with the warmth that funneled through him. He moaned and parted his lips, opening to the man who could so easily own him.
    Seth explored Tyler’s mouth with a lazy slowness that missed nothing. He played with Tyler’s tongue, leaving behind the sugary taste of the soda and something that was just Seth. Sweet, yet hard like a candy Tyler wanted to suck on forever.
    He clenched his hand tighter, resisted the urge to forget his position and grab the Dom’s hips to yank him closer. He didn’t want to fight this man, didn’t want to disappoint or push him just to see what would happen. Seth slid his hand around the side of Tyler’s head until it once again rested on Tyler’s nape. It was like the Dom sensed his struggle and knew just what to do to calm him.
    The hard knock on the door thundered through the loft. Tyler jerked back and winced, startled out of the kiss. He hissed through the flash of pain as he stared at Seth, loving how the Dom returned his look without hesitation.
    “You’re sure?” Seth asked that half smile returning.
    Tyler was pretty certain