Page 126 of Cruel When He Smiles

His chest rises with a shaky breath, his fingers twitching like he’s not sure if he should reach for me. So, I choose for him, catching his hand and bringing it to my mouth, brushing my lips over his knuckles before I place it back at his side.

“You don’t have to do anything tonight,” I tell him quietly. “You just let me take care of you.”

There’s the smallest nod, and it’s enough.

I work the waistband of his sweatpants down slowly, mindful of the way he shifts his leg. He doesn’t flinch when my hands skim over his hips, doesn’t fight when I pull the fabric away and toss it aside.

He’s in nothing but his briefs now, stretched out in front of me, the faintest flush creeping over his skin. His eyes search mine like he’s still trying to figure out if this is real or if I’m going to revert to the version of me who pushes him just to watch him crack.

I brace one hand near his head while the other drags slowly down his side, over the dip of his waist, back to the faint bruise on his hip. I lower myself until our foreheads almost touch, my breath mingling with his.

“You’re too quiet,” I murmur. “What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”

His body arches slightly into my touch, and he lifts his hand to my hair. “I don’t—” He stops, swallows hard. “You’re not supposed to be like this.”

I smirk against his skin, kissing my way down his throat, feeling the way his pulse flutters beneath my lips. “Like what?”

“Soft,” he breathes, his fingers twitching. “Careful.”

I hum, my hands sliding gently over his ribs, his waist, and settling on his hips. “And that’s a problem?”

Nate sucks in a breath. “No.” His voice is barely a whisper. “It’s just… confusing.”

I lift my head, my gaze locking onto his. “Why?” His eyes dart away, and I don’t fucking like that. I tighten my grip on his jaw enough to make him look at me. “Eyes on me.”

He hesitates. Then, slowly, his gaze meets mine, and fuck—I want to ruin him. I want to mark him, claim him, remind him exactly who he belongs to. But not like that, not tonight. Tonight, I want to take my time.

“You always rush,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to his collarbone. “Always fighting me so I’ll fuck you harder. But I know better, Pup. I know what you need.”

His fingers tighten in my hair as I kiss lower, trailing my lips down the center of his chest, flicking my tongue over his pierced nipple just to feel the way his muscles tense beneath me.

He gasps my name, his back arching, thighs squeezing around my hips. I hum against his skin, my hands gripping his sides, holding him in place as I kiss down his stomach, worshiping every inch of him.

“You gonna let me take my time with you tonight?” I murmur, nipping just above the waistband of his boxer briefs. “Gonna let me make you feel good?”

He nods, his breath shaky, but that’s not enough. I slide my hand between his thighs, pressing down hard, and his hips jerk. “Words, Pup.”

“Y-yeah,” he stammers, his fingers twitching in my hair. “I—I want you to.”

I make a pleased sound and press a kiss just above the waistband of his boxer briefs before dragging them down, freeing his cock, seeing how he shudders when the cool air hits him. His head tips back, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps as I start to pump him slowly, my thumb gliding over the tip.

His body is loose beneath me, and I want more. I want all of him. Sliding my other hand between his thighs, I feel the heat of him and the way he instinctively spreads his legs for me.

“So needy, baby,” I whisper, reaching for the lube in the drawer before slicking my fingers. He tenses when I press against the tight ring of muscle, his hands gripping my shoulders tighter when I push a finger inside, sinking into that perfect heat and stretching him open slowly.

“My pretty slut,” I murmur, and his cheeks flush. “I love the way you give in to me.”

“Don’t—don’t say shit like that,” he whimpers, his fingers twisting in my shirt.

“Why not?” I press, curling my fingers, drawing a desperate moan from him. “Don’t like knowing how perfect you are? How good you feel around me?”

“You—” He swallows hard. “You don’t usually talk like this.”

I smirk, leaning down to kiss the corner of his mouth. “Maybe you bring it out of me.”

His body tightens around me, his breath hitching as I curl my fingers again, finding the spot that makes him jolt. His hips twitch, a broken little whimper slipping from his lips, and my cock throbs at the sound.

“Just—just fuck me already.”