safe.
She lifted her hand and slid her fingers underneath the black lace of her underwear, touching the slick flesh between her thighs. Gently she eased a finger over her aching clit, gasping as the sensation struck sparks through her body. She arched back in the chair, stroking herself, pleasure pulling tight inside her.
And then strong fingers circled her wrist. Ellie whimpered in protest but even as one hand pulled hers away, another touched her, pushing aside the wet lace to touch her sex. Spreading her open, stroking her. She groaned as a finger pushed gently inside her, then another.
Her head fell back, her hips lifting. White light burst behind her eyes as his fingers slid in deep then out again. Oh God…this was too much. Too intense. Would it be like this every time he touched her? She’d fall apart.
“Don’t speak,” Hunter whispered, keeping up the gentle movement of his hand. “Don’t move.”
She began to shudder then gasped as she felt him cover one breast with his palm. He pinched her nipple, at first softly, then harder, the pleasure sharp and bright as a shard of glass.
A light pressure on her clit at first, growing more firm, his thumb stroking, circling. Ellie groaned, unable to keep quiet. Unable to keep still.
“Ellie,” he said and the darkness in his voice, the quiet dominance of it, spoke to something inside her. Calling something from her.
She cried out, the climax crashing over her so suddenly and unexpectedly she couldn’t do anything but shake, sobs gathering in her throat.
Hunter’s fingers slipped out of her, the withdrawal making her nearly forget the rules and reach for him.
Don’t go. Don’t go. Don’t go. Don’t leave me.
He didn’t, his hand coming to rest on her thigh. Stroking in a lazy, unhurried movement.
“Can I open my eyes?” she asked, a thousand cracks running through her voice.
“Not yet, sweetness.”
“I want to. I want to see you.”
“No.” And then, quieter. “I did warn you this wouldn’t be easy.”
She swallowed, her mouth dry, her heartbeat still out of control. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Aren’t you going to…?” Unaccustomed shyness gripped her and she could feel herself blushing like an idiot. “Uh…have sex with me? Or something?”
“No,” he said again.
“No? Just like that? No?”
“Yeah, just like that.”
“But…but why? I thought…I thought you wanted me.”
“I told you no questions.”
“Hunter.”
She heard him shift. “I’m not having sex with you and I’m not discussing it. That’s the way it is, sweetness.”
“Is this some kind of weird protective thing again? Are you—” The pressure of his finger on her mouth, stopping the words in her throat.
“Shut up, Ellie,” he said softly, without heat. His breath whispered beside her ear, the warmth of it chasing across her skin. “And stop pushing me.” His finger fell away.
“But it’s not only about me, Hunter.” It had to be said. “It’s about you too. I don’t want to just take.”
“No, that’s my job, and believe me, I’ve taken, sweetheart. But I’m not taking anymore today.”
She heard him shift again and felt cold suddenly as he moved away. Like he was taking all the heat with him. “You didn’t come,” she said starkly. “You didn’t get off.”
“I got what I wanted. And so did you. That’s enough.”
She stared into the space where she thought he was standing. Stared into the blackness behind her closed lids. “I don’t understand. How can it be for you?”
He didn’t reply. And it was only when the silence lengthened for far longer than it should have that she realised she was alone.
Hunter walked down the hallway then swiftly up the stairs to his bedroom. The only thought in his head was to get away. Away from the woman sitting in his office. Away from the desire hammering in his skull and turning his body inside out.
Yeah, he’d promised her he wouldn’t walk out on her
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