One to Keep (One to Hold 2)

“I think you do like it.” My mouth returned to her body, I kissed her, sliding my tongue down the center of her stomach.

“I want to be untied,” she said, her voice a little more strained. “Please, Patrick.”

“Please what?” I whispered, kissing her navel then tonguing it lightly.

“Please untie me,” she gasped.

I paused then. My lips hovered just above her skin, and my brow pulled together. Her expression seemed anxious, but her body, at least judging by what I felt, was into it. I leaned up and swirled my tongue around her nipple. She let out another little whimper, and I realized, we’d just made love. What I was feeling could be residual…

Quickly I flew to the headboard and jerked the gold tie loose, then I snatched the green blindfold off her eyes, pulling her up to me and wrapping my arms tightly around her.

“Are you okay?” I whispered, kissing her cheek, her lips.

She leaned back to face me, eyes round. I wasn’t sure what she was about to do. My throat tightened. Would she cry? Would she be angry?

“Why did you stop?” she said, voice high. “I was just playing along.”

“What?” My shoulders dropped.

“I was being your captive, begging to be set free…”

I frowned, but the side of her mouth twitched. “You were worried?” The twitch was turning to a tiny grin as she placed her hands on my cheeks. I was getting pissed. “I’m sorry.”

“Dammit, Elaine.” I started to get up, releasing her altogether. But she was on me, grabbing me fast by the shoulders.

“Don’t be mad!” she cried.

I stood at the bedside, and she was on her knees, holding me, her face struggling between laughter and worry.

I exhaled deeply. “You have no idea how it goes against all my instincts to hear you beg me to stop and ignore it.”

She rested her head on my shoulder still holding her arms tight around my neck. “I love you so much.”

It was impossible to stay mad when she said that. I wrapped my arms around her waist and gave in completely, pulling her close.

Her head popped up then, that glimmer back in her eyes. “This is why we need a safe word.”

“Motherfu—,” my hands went back to her waist, but she shook my shoulders.

“I’m serious! Then we know for sure if one of us needs to stop.”

“A safe word.”

“Something you’d never say during sex.”

“Like what?” I was sure my expression was as skeptical as I felt because her eyebrow arched like she was fixing to tease me.

“Bubblegum.”

“What?”

“Yes!” She hopped off the bed and picked up the gold tie. “Wow. You really messed this one up.”

I took it from her and went into the closet, hanging it back on the peg. “One of my hundred-dollar ties, no less.”

She was right behind me, slipping those cool, slim hands around my waist. Her bare breasts pressed against my back as her fingers spread out over my stomach. I took one of her hands and lifted it to my lips. My erection had only cooled a little.

“So bubblegum,” I repeated, walking out of the closet and pulling her with me.