Page 65 of Manic

He answered with a slow nod.

“Okay.”

He exhaled roughly and straightened to his full height, though I didn’t miss the immediate heat that settled in his face. I stood frozen half a foot away, unsure of what he’d do.

“Go back to your room,” he said gruffly, and a chill shuddered down my back. “I’ll be there after I clean up.”

My mind spun as I cautiously walked to my room.

I was either too horny to care, or I just didn’t care at all. Being stuck in the penthouse left me antsy and bored. Alone with my thoughts. This was the most excitement I’d had since arriving, and I wanted the distraction. Anything to keep my mind off my family and their corrupt business deals.

Actually, that was an excuse.

In some ways, this might be a distraction for my fucked up family, but Manic was sinfully attractive which only ignited my flaring curiosity. A dangerous combination. I desperately wanted to figure him out. Maybe I was analyzing him, and if this was my only way in, then so be it.

Dammit. I was seriously questioning my sanity.

A sudden nervousness raced over me while I waited, but after a few minutes, Manic quietly entered the room and shut the door. He was shirtless, wearing only sweatpants, and free of the blood he’d worn minutes ago. Linen was wrapped around his hand.

Every corner of the room was bathed in shadow, but that didn’t stop him from spotting a chair and dragging it toward the end of the bed with a low, resounding scrape. He turned on a few lamps, dimming the light until only a haze of warmth encompassed the room. Bright enough to see me.

My pulse hammered, my entire body flushing.

He finally faced me with a steady inhale, raking his eyes down my face as if he could see my mind turning in on itself. The doubt. “Get on the bed and take off your shorts.”

Oh, shit. What did I get myself into?

“What are you going to do?” I asked breathlessly.

“Watch. Like I said.” His lips twitched into an almost smile. “You want me to take my cock out and join you?”

I shrugged, a weak lift of my shoulders, even though my heart violently thumped beneath my ribcage. “You said that it helps.”

“Get on the bed.”

My hands shook, but I did as he said and shimmied out of my shorts until I was bare. I climbed into bed and leaned against the headboard, pressing my knees together. He sat silent for a few seconds, and I wondered what he’d have me do. I was on the verge of backing out, too nervous to see straight.

Manic angled his head, studying me. “Part your legs.”

Despite the racing of my pulse, I parted them and gripped the sheets. I knew this was wrong. I knew Manic likely couldn’t feel anything, but my breathing turned ragged anyway, and excitement pricked my skin.

Manic braced his elbows on his knees. I wasn’t sure what had frightened him before, because he seemed to be in absolute control of himself. I saw it in the slow rise of his shoulders, his calm breaths, and his intense focus.

“Wider,” he demanded.

Normally, the gruff demand would have sent me spewing a few curses, and yet for the first time since arriving in his penthouse, I didn’t argue; my legs simply fell open.

As if realizing this, his eyes flicked to my face, the corner of his mouth turning up. “Show me how pretty your cunt looks when you touch yourself, Sutton.”

With a shallow breath, I skimmed my hand down my body until I met the wet heat between my thighs, parting my center. My fingers brushed over my clit. I watched him while coating my fingers in my arousal, and his brows dropped with intense focus.

Then I began to rub, slow and teasing, until pressure built and my back involuntarily arched. It coiled tight beneath my skin, a molten heat blanketing my core. This wasn’t like earlier—when I was alone and mindlessly searching for release. No, Manic’s attention solely rested on me, and it set me on fire.

“I want to see you,” I panted, not caring how desperate I sounded. “Please, Manic.”

I drove my hips into my hand with a soft whimper, fighting the urge to slam my eyes shut. Giving in to the desire of him watching me, I plunged a finger.

“Say it again,” he demanded with a hitch to his breath. “Say my name.”