“I know it’s not something we do. But that kiss just now, that changed everything. The relationship is different now. The intensity between us just became heavier…hotter. So…strip for me. Get fucking naked.”

She bites down on the corner of her lip, and I can actually see her contemplating whether she will or not. So I decide to give her courage. I reach down to my jeans and unbutton and unzip them, letting them flap open.

“I’m halfway there. Join me, Scottie.”

She waits, tugging on her shirt, looking nervous but also intrigued.

So I say, “Don’t make me beg, Pips.”

She still doesn’t move, which makes me feel insane. I know she fucking wants this.

So I slowly walk up to her. I grip her jaw and tilt her head back so she has to look at me. “If you won’t strip and show me how fucking beautiful you are, then strip me down. Take off my pants. I know you want to. You want to know what kind of piercing I have. Admit it.”

She wets her lips.

“Admit it,” I say again with a little more gruffness behind it.

“I…I do,” she finally says, allowing her wall to lower.

And I take full advantage of it.

“Then find out,” I say as I place her hands on my waist, but I don’t force her. I let her decide whether she’s going to do it or not.

There’s a momentary pause, but after a few agonizing seconds, she slides her hands around my waist, and her fingers dip past the waistband of my jeans.

That’s it, babe.

“Push them down. Push them all the way down.”

Her eyes meet mine again as time seems to tick by so slowly, the energy in the room building, the tension between us sucking all the air away.

Her fingers slide an inch lower so now they’re touching my ass.

And I can’t fucking take this torture, so I grip her cheek, tilt her head up, and bring my mouth down to hers, where I kiss her. I kiss her fucking hard.

She sucks in a sharp breath, caught off guard, but then to my fucking pleasure, she quickly kisses me back with all the force I initially wanted from her. With all the intensity, matching mine. She pulls me in close and runs one hand up my bare back, the other one pushing my pants down lower.

“Fuck,” I whisper against her mouth, getting lost in her taste. “Your mouth.”

Her lips part, and her tongue darts out, causing me to groan as I deepen the kiss, sliding my hand to the back of her head, my fingers tangling in her hair.