Page 147 of Hidden Ties

Kent stepped away to place the dress on a chair set up by the window.

Trembling under his gaze as he walked back to her, she started to lift her hands to cover her rose-colored bra. Instead, she lowered them to her sides.

When he came within reach of her, he clamped a hand around her waist, pulling her back to him. “You’re fucking gorgeous.”

Sage was glad Kent hadn’t turned on the bedroom light. Light spilled into the bedroom from the living room, giving the room a romantic intimacy.

Holding her firmly by the waist, he backed up to the bed to sit down, leaving her standing between his spread thighs. His hand left her waist to loosen his tie, leaving it hanging from his neck before bringing it back to run the tip of a finger over the curve of her breast.

“You could make a fortune being a lingerie model.”

“I doubt that.” Her knees shook when his fingers slid under her bra, finding her nipple.

“Trust me.” His husky voice increased the air of intimacy in the room. “I would pay a fortune to see you walk down arunway.” His hands went behind her back to release her bra, letting it fall to the floor. “I’ll pick out some for you, and you can model them for me.”

“Come here, Sage.”

“I’m here.” She was practically standing in his face; how much closer could she get?

Kent’s hand went to her bottom, pushing her breast to his lips.

“This close,” he murmured, taking a nipple between his lips.

“Oh …”

He meant that close, she thought dazedly.

When he tugged on her nipple, her knees gave up the struggle to support her weight. Quickly, she gripped his shoulder to hold herself steady. She shakenly looked down at him toying with her nipple. When his hands slid under her brief panties to cup her bottom, she frowned.

“Why am I the only one naked?” she asked confusedly.

Kent removed his lips and hands to lean back on the mattress. “Because I want you to have all the control.”

“You do?”

“I do.”

Then why didn’t she feel like she was the one in control?

“Sage, I’m going to ask a question, and I need you to be truthful with me, regardless of how embarrassing the question is. I get you’re very private, but I need the answer to this question.”

“Okay …”

“Have you ever made love?”

She tried to think of a way to get out of answering other than leaving the room, and she didn’t want to.

“Does it matter?” she hedged.

“Not to me. I just want to make losing your virginity an enjoyable experience for you. If not”—arrogantly, he grinned at her—“you’re still going to enjoy yourself.”

Either way, she felt it was a win-win situation.

“I haven’t had sex before,” she admitted, narrowing her eyes on him. “But I think you already guessed that?”

Kent nodded. “You couldn’t have learned to play the piano tonight the way you did if you hadn’t devoted yourself entirely.”

“I did.”