keep touching you.” He stroked his thumb along the slender column of her neck, feeling her pulse leap beneath his touch. “I’d like to keep touching you, little one.” He paused. “Or would you rather touch yourself?”
He waited, and there it was, the little catch again. It took a supreme effort of will not to smile. “I think you would like that. It’s safer. No? To not have me touch you?”
He ignored the howl of his alpha instincts to that one. She should want his touch, should welcome it. All omegas wanted and craved the touch of their alphas. So much so that withdrawal of touch was considered a classic way to discipline and control a wayward omega.
But these omegas... his omega... was different. The old norms did not apply and he had to forge a new path. One that was right for here and now, and the little female shivering so delightfully in his arms.
“You want me to...”
“Say it.”
She hesitated and then blurted out the words like they were something shameful. “You want me to pleasure myself while you what? Watch me?”
“Yes.”
“And if I agree, you won’t do anything else?”
“Not until you ask me to.” He stroked her throat again and moved his head so his lips brushed over hers. “And you will ask. You will beg me to touch you. Very soon.”
She stiffened. “Are you always this sure of yourself?”
This time he did smile. “Always.”
He felt her submission before she said another word. It was there in the way her muscles relaxed and her breath quickened. The scent of her arousal grew stronger, and he rumbled in approval.
“I didn’t say yes, yet.”
“But you’re going to.”
She snorted softly. “You’re still an asshole. But yes. I’d rather do this myself.”
Good. He kept silent and nodded, his fingers gentle against the side of her throat.
“Take my blindfold off,” he ordered in a low voice. She paused, and he felt the resistance in the air so he kissed her again. Just enough that she started to chase his lips but then he pulled away again. It was exquisite torture, but he was in this for the long game. She needed to trust him. She needed to obey him. Without question. It would be critical when the beast came out.
“Take it off,” he murmured, his tone a little harder.
This time, she obeyed him right away. What made her so different from the others? Was his brother right? Were they all like this?
She had to lean in to untie the knot, coming close enough her breasts pressed against his chest for a moment.
“There,” she said as the scrap of fabric was lifted away.
He blinked once and found himself staring into a pair of silver-blue eyes.
“Your eyes!” She leaned away from him, suddenly tense.
“Are black, yes. Because I am aroused. Nothing more. You have nothing to fear from me, little one. I will never hurt you.”
“But...”
He growled in frustration. “No buts. I have given you my word on this. If you question me again, I will have to do something about it.”
She paled slightly. “Okay. No questioning. So...” She sighed and placed a limp hand on her bare breast. There was no passion or even interest in the gesture. “Do you want me to say anything while we do this?”
“You will not need to speak. I will tell you what to do.”
“Of course you will.” She pressed her lips together. “So?”
“Close your eyes. Imagine my hands are on you right now. Touching your breasts. Pinching your nipples.”
She closed her eyes, but before she moved, he knew he’d lost her. She didn’t move, her lips set in a stubborn little line. He leaned forward, just slightly, and brushed his lips over hers. He’d made a mistake and let her think. That’s when she got argumentative and stubborn.
“Relax,” he murmured against her lips. “You have nothing to fear. I will not hurt you. I will not touch you... unless you ask me to. Just listen to my voice.”
He kissed along her jaw, nudging her chin up with his nose to reach her throat. “Put your hands on your waist,” he ordered softly, reveling in the soft skin of her throat. She moved as though in a trance to obey him. “Slide them down... slowly... over your hips. That’s it, not too far.”
She moved slightly in the water, parting her knees for better balance. He bit back his growl. So close and yet so far. “Slide them back up, feel the softness of your skin under your hands,