"It's still sore," I tell him through the mirror as our eyes meet there. I give him a soft smile. "So gently."
Matthew pulls my hair up, holding it above my head as he kisses down the spine of my neck, his free hand trailing lightly down my side. Shivers run through me instantly. I close my eyes, letting myself fall deeper under his spell as I feel his lips trail up my arm and shoulder. The closer he gets to the Mark, the more my breath hitches, and I remind myself how gentle Matthew is being. I won't allow Bren the satisfaction of traumatizing me to the point where I can't enjoy Matthew.
Matthew stops for a few seconds before I feel his lips softly press against me on the Mark. A pathetic whimper escapes me as his tenderness catches me off guard. It's so different from what happened the
