With a dramatic flair, she lets go and it drops to the floor, puddled at her feet in a whoosh. She steps out, kicking it out of the way and standing before me in her bra and panties.
I take a mental snapshot. “So fucking beautiful, Elise. Take it all off. Show me everything.”
She reaches to unclasp her bra and slips her panties down her legs. She stands still, hands at her sides, confident in herself as she should be. She’s a work of art and I’m a lucky fucker to get to see her this way. No falsity, no pretense, just bare and exposed and vulnerable.
It’s a gift she’s bestowing on me and I know it. I walk around her, memorizing her full beauty, trailing a finger along her arm, across the back of her shoulders, around to her collarbone, down between her cleavage, and along her hips.
“Michelangelo himself could not have created a creature more beautiful than you,” I murmur as I trace my finger across her stomach, dipping into her shallow belly button and continuing across to the other side.
She is virtually vibrating with need by the time I stand in front of her again. I undo my belt, dropping my jeans and then my boxer briefs to stand nude in front of her too, letting her see me just as bare, just as vulnerable. “Keith . . .”
My cock is rock-hard, straining to get closer to Elise as I hold back, needing to do this right, wanting more than just the gift of her body. I take a half step back and speak from the depths of my soul.
“Elise, there’s nothing to hide behind right now,” I reply softly, my voice intense with emotion that fuels every syllable. “Just you and me, naked physically and emotionally. I told you before that I felt it too, but that I wanted to be able to claim you, mark you as mine when I said it.”
Her eyes, which had been roving over my form, are now locked on mine, her lips parted in anticipation. “I didn’t think this was ever going to happen to me, but you came in and crashed my world in more ways than one. You challenge me, you make me wish for things I never thought I would. Elise . . . I love you.”
I can see the glitter of tears in the corners of her eyes, but she doesn’t let them fall. Instead, she takes a deep breath and puts her hands behind her back, not only offering herself to me but making her look even more beautiful. “I didn’t see this coming either . . . any of it. I want more with you, with Carsen, than I have any right to want. I love you too, Keith.”
It feels like vows, like we’re making promises beyond this moment, the gravity of the situation pulling us together. I close the distance between us, wrapping my arms around Elise and taking her wrists in my hand as our lips meet in a passionate kiss, sealing our words with our actions.
Our tongues tangle, the fire burning hotter, brighter as we press against each other, moans and skin melding into one being.
“Take me, Keith,” Elise begs breathlessly when our lips part. “Claim me, mark me as yours.”
My whole body starts to tremble at her request, knowing this is more than we’ve done before, physically, emotionally and spiritually, because she is giving herself up to me all the way to her soul, the way I am hers.
Turning, I lead her over to the bed, still keeping my hands on her wrists, as if by encircling them I’m closing the circle that’s between us, forging our bond stronger even though I don’t have to ‘command’ her at all. “I need to worship you. Every inch of your fucking delicious body is mine. Lie down.”
I release her and she lies down, her arms and legs splayed out like she’s making a snow angel in the white sheets, and it gives me a dirty idea.
Stepping into the closet, I grab a few of my rarely used ties and make my way over to her. Slowly, methodically, I tie her to the bedposts, forcing her to spread even wider, her body open and available.
“You okay?” I ask, running a finger down one silk tie to her wrist, tracing her skin all the way to the inside of her elbow. “Not too tight?”
Elise smiles, but she’s writhing, trying but unable to get more contact between us. “No, I need you. Fuck, Keith . . .”
“No, my love,” I rumble, leaning down and kissing her lips softly. “Not fucking. Loving.”
Elise mewls as our lips brush against each other so softly that only the electricity between us guarantees that we’re actually making contact. “Mmm . . .” I murmur against her skin as I kiss down her neck to nibble at the hollow of her throat. “You look fucking stunning like this, all tied up for me, your eyes just as open as your long legs are. Is this what you want, Elise?”