Page 143 of Beautiful Trauma

“I’m still a gentleman.”

“I might argue with that.”

“Let me prove it to you.”

“How?”

“By making love to you.”

The breath wheezed from my lungs at the reference to love. That word we hadn’t managed to say to each other yet. “Isn’t that what we’ve been doing?”

Kellan shook his head. “We’ve fucked or had sex. It wasn’t making love.”

“I didn’t know there was a difference,” I whispered.

As Kellan’s warm lips trailed up my neck, he said, “Let me show you.”

“What if I hurt you? You know if I grab your back or something.”

“I need a way to restrain you.”

His eyes trailed down me to the sash on my robe. Reaching forward, he undid the material. After sliding it through the belt loops, he held it up to me.

“That seems a little kinky for making love.”

“Trust me.”

“Always,” I murmured.

“Raise your arms over your head.”

With my heartbeat thrumming wildly, I followed his orders. Leaning over me, Kellan brought my wrists together before tying them. He gazed down at me. “That’s not too tight, is it?”

“It’s fine,” I murmured.

“Good.”

He pushed aside the lapels of my robe and stared down at my body with such reverence. Kellan then straddled my hips and rose up on his knees.

The look in his eyes made me weak. It was everything a woman would ever want to see reflected in her lover’s eyes. Warmth rushed over my body under his gaze.

“I want to worship every inch of this gorgeous body.”

“Take me,” I pleaded.

Leaning forward slightly, Kellan brought his hands to my tied wrists. Slowly, he skirted his fingers down my skin, sending goosebumps popping along my arms. “You’re so soft,” he murmured.

When his hands reached my shoulders, he buried his head against my chest. He then dusted my neck with tender kisses. Although he hadn’t done anything erotic to me, wetness began to pool between my legs.

Pulling his head up, Kellan’s fingertips slid up my sides before placing his palms on my ribs. He feathered his fingers along the undersides of my breasts before brushing my nipples with his thumbs. “So responsive.”

“Always for you,” I panted.

Instead of pinching or twisting my nipples like he usually did, he continued gently circling them with his thumbs, which drove me insane.

With his eyes locked on mine, he dipped his head. He blew a gentle stream of air against my breasts, causing my nipples to achingly peak.

Before I could beg him to give me more, he bestowed kisses along the tops of my breasts. Then he sucked my nipple deep into his mouth. “Mmm, Kellan,” I moaned as my legs scissored beneath him.