Page 79 of Hold Me Tight

I turn slightly in the chair to face him. “Thank you.”

He reaches out and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “Anytime.”

That’s the one thing I’ve noticed about River. He doesn’t rush or push. He gives me space to choose.

And somehow, that makes picking him feel easier.

I rise to my feet, nerves fluttering like the wings of a hummingbird in my stomach. The bedroom is dim and cozy, the lamp on the nightstand casting golden shadows across the mattress.

River walks ahead of me before settling with his back propped against the headboard and his legs stretched out comfortably in front of him. Only then does he pat the space between them. “Come here.”

A shiver of anticipation unfurls within me.

What’s happening feels so much more than just physical.

It’s the kind of closeness you can’t fake.

I climb carefully onto the mattress as my pulse thrums in my throat. My knees sink into the softness as I crawl forward and ease between his legs, letting my spine settle against his chest. His arms wrap around me, low at my waist. They feel both warm and protective. It’s exactly what I need. His cheek brushes the top of my head, and I close my eyes.

The robe clings to my damp skin as anticipation coils tight inside me. For now, we stay still. Just wrapped around each other like this is exactly where we were always meant to be.

His thumb brushes lightly along the inside of my wrist. It’s a simple touch that feels more like a promise.

When he speaks, his voice is low and rough at the edges. And I feel every word, like they’re not just spoken but etched into my skin.

“Do you still want to do this? It’s okay if you don’t.”

I nod, letting my head fall back against his shoulder. “I do.”

And I mean it. Every word. Every syllable.

For the first time in what feels like forever, I feel seen. Not for who I’m expected to be, but for who I actually am. I feel taken care of in a way that’s quiet and steady, not performative or conditional.

Unconsciously, my gaze drifts toward the toys resting on the nightstand.

River’s warm breath brushes my ear. “It’s just us. Nothing has to happen. But if you want to explore…” He reaches out and grabs the vibrator before clicking it on. A quiet buzz hums through the air. “Start with this setting. It’s the lightest.”

Already, my skin feels flushed. I hesitate before my fingers loosen the knot at my waist. The robe falls open slightly, the cool air brushing my bare skin as I shift in his lap and part my thighs.

My hand trembles as I take hold of the oval shaped toy and lower it to the most sensitive part of me. I fumble, the angle all wrong, nerves winding tighter with the passing of each second as it glides across my delicate flesh.

I squeeze my eyes shut as embarrassment swamps me. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

River’s hand wraps steadily around mine. “Then let me help.”

With careful patience, he guides my hand. His fingers rest lightly over mine, never forcing, just offering steady support. He helps me find a rhythm. It’s a gentle, teasing drag, along with subtle pressure that turns a flicker into a flame. The vibrator grazes over my clit before dipping lower, and I gasp, my hips jerking as pleasure sparks through me like a live wire.

“Do you like that?” River asks against my ear. His mouth is so close I can feel the brush of his lips on my skin.

“Y-yeah,” I confess. “I do.”

More than I thought possible.

Even though part of me craves the security of his control, he doesn’t take over. He stays with me. His presence becomes a safety net, letting me explore this part of myself at my own pace.

My hips shift instinctively, seeking out more pressure, more friction. More of this. My breathing quickens, every inhale catching in my throat. The robe slips even farther from my shoulders, the fabric pooling around me, baring more of my body to the cool air and to him. But I don’t reach for it or hide from the intimacy unfolding between us.

I spread my thighs wider, desperate for more of the sensation, the delicious rise of tension cresting just beyond my reach. The vibrator hums, circling with just the right amount of pressure. My body tightens, the coil in my core winding tighter and tighter, until I feel like I’m hanging by a thread.