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Eager for the return of Matthew’s touch, Katherine closed her eyes once more and lay as still as humanly possible. Each nerve in her body teetered on the edge of excitement as she waited for him to begin again.

When she felt him come closer, a warm, tingling sensation rippled over her flesh, and her breath quickened in anticipation. For Katherine, it felt like forever before Matthew continued, but it was well worth the wait once he made contact with one soft, simple touch.

Slow and deliberate exploration followed, revealing places she never knew could feel so good. From the surprisingly sensitive inner crook of her elbow to the curve of her shoulder. Across one collarbone to the other, then back again, stopping to make a circle at the base of her neck before running a single finger down the center of her torso between the valley of her breasts.

“Oh, Matthew…” Katherine arched upward again as he made the journey to her belly button, skimming along her tummy to the rise of one hip. Then, from her cotton-covered hipbone to the soft, exposed skin of her upper thigh. Eventually, moving down to her calves, then the bottom of her tingling feet.

Along the way, Matthew seemed to be making mental notes of her response to certain places and then began a new journey from her feet all the way back up to her face. This time, giving those extra sensitive spots even more time and attention. Usingnot just his fingertips but also his lips, his tongue, and even his teeth, he lingered even longer than she thought she could bear. And her mind reeled from each intimate, exploring touch as the attention he paid to those parts of her body straddled the line between mind-blowing bliss and tantalizing torture.

Everywhere he explored seemed to be just a teasing taste of what he ultimately had in store for her, leaving Katherine wanting her very own turn to explore Matthew’s body. To touch him, kiss him, and feel his response to her hands and mouth all over his beautifully muscular form.

But along with the desire to make him feel just as good as he made her feel, she was desperately fighting to keep her eyes closed.

“Shh… relax, Katie,” he said, soothing her back into the same stillness as before. It wasn’t easy to calm herself in those moments, but Matthew waited patiently for Katherine to come back from the edge of insanity and into his patient exploration.

Finally, he spoke again, his voice warm and deep with desire. “Do you like when I touch you like this?”

When Katherine responded with a silent nod, he insisted, “Tell me.”

“Yes, I do like it,” she hurried to say. “I’ve always liked it when you touch me.”

“And what about when I kiss you?” he said, pressing his lips against the side of her neck.

“Oh yes…” she gasped. “I like that very much.”

“I’m glad,” Matthew said, using his teeth on the same spot, making Katherine eager to cross the line they both promised not to.

Trembling from his attention, she knew her resolve was being tested by the unexplainable sensation she only wanted more of. Yet, even as her body trembled, she knew what she wanted had to wait.

“Please, Matthew,” she begged, her heart pounding inside her chest. “Please stop. I can’t take it anymore.”

Surrendering to her plea, Matthew sat back and studied the heaving motion of her chest, the pink of her cheeks, and the fullness of her slightly parted mouth.

“Are you sure?”

He lifted her arm and kissed the place where he felt her racing pulse.

“Please stop. I truly can’t take any more,” she said, opening her eyes. “I want you so much it hurts.”

“I want you too, Katie,” he said, his gaze filled with longing for her.

“Please, Matthew, I’m begging you to stop.” As her heart pounded in her chest, her eyelids fluttered, and she had to turn her face away. She couldn’t look at him. Her defenses were down, and her self-control was crumbling. She felt weak and vulnerable. And though it was exciting, at the same time, it was frightening how desperately she wanted him. How much she wanted to feel his touch and see his blue eyes and teasing smile. But her strength was strained to the point of shattering. “I can’t be strong anymore. Please, you have to help me to be strong.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Matthew said, laying down beside her and wrapping her up in his arms. “Forgive me for pushing you.”

“It’s okay,” Katherine finally breathed, her voice ragged and raw. “I’ve never experienced anything like that. It was overwhelming.”

“Too overwhelming?”

“Maybe...”

“We don’t have to do it again if you don’t want to.”

“No!” she all but shouted at him. “I’m sure I could get used to it.”

Matthew’s deep laugh filled the air. “So could I.”

Katherine smiled against his chest and snuggled even closer.