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“You’re not in any danger,” I assure her, the lust sneaking into my voice and dropping it half an octave. “We’ll go step by step and at the first sign of distress, I’ll stop and check in with you, okay?”

The cloud of worry doesn’t leave her eyes.

“It’s either this or I call the principal and tell him where I found you, then you won’t get the lovely school name on your transcript.” My hand cups her neck, thumb stroking the soft skin behind her ear until she shivers. “You know this is your best option. I’ll even get Alice off your back for free.”

“Promise you won’t record me,” she whispers, voice barely audible.

And even though that was my plan, I readily agree. “I promise. What’s your bank account?”

She tells me and I arrange a transfer. There are stacks of cash in my room and stored in the spare tyre well in my car boot but I’m well short of the figure in my everyday account.

I pull the funds from the household kitty instead, making a mental note to deposit the money to cover it later.

When it’s done, I show her the transaction, and she nods, looking relieved when I place my phone on the locker shelf and shut the door.

“Someone told me redheads have the palest nipples of anyone.” I rub my finger along her jawline, enjoying the sheen in her emerald eyes. “Why don’t we start with you showing me if they’re right?”

CHAPTERFIVE

FRANCESCA

My heart thumpstoo quickly to pick apart the individual beats. I’m dazed; from Alice’s threats, the failed hiding attempt, the revelation that Ezra filmed one of the most shameful moments of my life, then shared the video.

“It’s okay,” Kincaid whispers, a soft puff of reassurance. His hands cup my shoulders as he bends his knees, gaze level as he searches my expression. “We can pause for a break if you need to.” A smile tugs up the corners of his mouth. “But you won’t need to, will you, Freckles?”

His voice is warm, dropping a note deeper with every word until it’s a low rumble. When he tilts his head, a gust of breath flutters the curls beside my cheek.

“Undo your buttons.”

I try but my hands shake, and I can’t grip the tiny rounds.

“Let me.” Kincaid flicks his wrist, and the button goes flying, a glimmer of silver in his hand. When he sees me looking, he shows me the knife. “Don’t worry. It’s not to hurt you.”

With a practised hand, he teases my nipple with the pad of his thumb and even through the thickness of my blouse and bra, it becomes a tight, firm peak.

“You’re going to enjoy yourself as much as I do.”

I try to drop my gaze, to get away from his probing eyes, but he lifts my chin.

“Don’t worry about your reactions,” he murmurs. “They’re all perfectly natural. Neither one of us needs to be embarrassed, okay?”

His eyes are glassy as he combs his fingers through my hair, rubbing a lock between his fingers like he can’t believe it’s real.

Then his gaze moves to my face, lingering on each feature, and his expression deepens into wonder. The flecks of bronze in his amber eyes shine like a newly minted coin.

No one’s ever looked at me that way before.

A spark of heat ignites deep in my belly, and I don’t resist when he leans forward, brushing his lips against mine, his tongue licking the same path a moment later. I shift on the table, closing my eyes at the added friction. A memory intrudes, Ezra thrusting his cock into my mouth, clogging my throat.

“Don’t anticipate,” Kincaid growls. “That shit will make you panic.”

His fingers cup my neck, thumb still clamping the knife, and the handle warms against my skin.

“Stay in the moment. If I think you’re drifting…” He pinches my nipple, and I jump, the pain soothed away by the rub of his palm. “I’ll bring you back. Pay attention to your body, just like I will.”

He waits for me to settle before placing the blade under the next button down, cutting its thread as efficiently as the first. His calm gaze monitors me before moving to the next… and the next… until the sides gape open, my skin retracting from the exposure.

“You’re so pale.” He places the tip of the blade on the centre of my bra, eyes searching mine. “Are you nipples as ginger as your freckles, or the same pretty pink as your lips?”