And I turned, slowly, my eyes closed. Dolly’s little fingers rubbed soothing strokes down my cheek. “Rabbit.” At Dolly’s whisper of my name, I let my eyes open. She took a deep breath.
I knew then that she was just as nervous as me.
“I don’t know if I can do this . . . like you want,” I admitted, my head twitching at the thought of taking her slowly. Gently. No blood. No biting or scratches down my back.
“Neither am I.” She let out a pained laugh. With shining eyes, she whispered, “But we can try.”
I sighed, tensing as Dolly’s deft fingers began to unbutton my vest. My hands dropped to my sides as she pushed the vest off my shoulders. She untied my cravat, removing the pin that had, only few hours ago, freed her from the room of doors. The black silk fluttered to the ground as she released it from my neck. My shirt came next, and I stood before her, shirtless, and still tense.
Dolly took a deep breath, and her eyes fell to my bare chest. Her hands rested on my pecs, then they started to slowly explore. My jaw clenched as she ran her fingers over the many clocks I had tattooed on my skin. Tattoos that Chapel had painstakingly drawn with a needle and ink. Tattoos that had said goodbye to Heathan, and in his place had birthed Rabbit. She circled me, stopping at my back. I knew she was looking at her face staring back at her. Then I felt her lips kiss that spot. Her lips were like the butterflies I would catch and kill as a child. Tickling the skin.
Dolly moved around. She laid a kiss over my heart.
It beat faster in response.
I hissed as she broke away. I stared down at the black headband in her hair. That was always there—constant, familiar . . . Dolly.
This was my Dolly before me. The only person I had ever let in. The only person who had ever wanted me for me.
The killer by my side.
I could do this.
Or at least I had to try.
Dolly was a statue as I reached out and pushed her hair from her shoulder. She closed her eyes. By the time she had opened them, I was pressed against her, chest against breasts. I let my hands drop from her shoulders to her back. Dolly’s breath fanned against my neck. I gritted my teeth as I pulled her zipper down. My fingertips grazed her bare skin as the zipper exposed her back. Taking a deep breath, I stepped back, and the dress that had been resting against my body fell slowly to the floor. I swallowed a lump in my throat as Dolly stood before me, naked and vulnerable.
She lifted her chin. She moved forward and placed her hand at my waist. Her fingers crept lower until they had taken possession of my button. Dolly opened it and gently pulled down my zipper. My pants slid into a heap on the ground.
I was just as exposed as her.
Dolly sighed as she glanced down. More tattoos. More clocks. No square inch left unmarked. Dolly looked at me, waiting for instruction. I took her hand in mine and led her to the blanket.
We lay opposite one another, no words being said, just air being shared. I shifted closer, my attention dropping to her lips. I moved in. I kissed her, and Dolly kissed me back. I wrapped my hand in her hair, but I did not pull. Didn’t try to dominate, just let it happen; no aggression, simply feeling.
Dolly sighed against my mouth. The sound hit my chest.
She liked it like this.
I fought back my need to take her hard, and rolled her onto her back. I braced over her naked body. I stared into her eyes. She stared right back. Then I let my gaze fall. I crawled down her body, placing soft kisses on her neck, her breasts, her stomach and her thighs. Dolly slipped her hands into my hair as I moved back north. She searched my face, and then said, “Take me, Rabbit.” I held back my urge to seize control. “Make love to me.” A smile played on her lips. “Like they did in the movie. Under the stars. Just her and him, and their making of love.”
Closing my eyes, I talked myself into doing as she asked. I felt Dolly’s legs shift and open under me. I groaned when her fingers wrapped around my cock. I opened my eyes and tore them away from the vein in her neck. Instead I looked into her eyes. I kept my focus on them as she placed me at her entrance.
Dolly nodded. She was giving me permission. Dolly was giving her permission . . . to me. To us. To tonight.