Page 12 of Now You See Me
“Will do, boss!”
I take Elise’s hand once we’re out of the booth. It’s been twenty long years since I held someone’s hand, and the simple sensation—even without skin-to-skin contact—is fucking intoxicating. Even more so because it’s Elise.
“Wait,” she says, before we take a step. “Let me switch to your other side.”
I don’t have to ask why. The way she’s angling her face tells me the reason for her request—she wants to put the scarred side of her face as far away as possible. I get it. She survived a brutal accident, and people weren’t always kind about its physical toll on her skin. Those days are behind her. I’m in front of her, and she never needs to hide from me.
“You can’t read my expression,” I say, “but if you could, you’d know without a doubt that I think you’re beautiful from all sides. If we’re going to make this work, it’s going to take honest communication and trust.”
She tips her chin up, putting the scarred half of her face in full view. “I trust you.”
Fuck, I want to kiss her. Since that’s never going to happen, I gently squeeze her hand. “I’ll always protect and cherish you.” And love. But this isn’t the place I want to tell her for the first time. “It’s almost five. Can I take you out for dinner?”
“Or we go to your house and work up an appetite exploring our options.” A deep-pink blush colors her cheeks. “Do you have another pair of those gloves?”
“I do,” I say as we head for the coffee shop’s door. Nobody can see the ear-to-ear grin on my face, but it’s there. It never crossed my mind to think outside the box about a relationship. And I’m glad. Because I can’t imagine exploring the options with anyone other than Elise.
ChapterFive
ELISE
“This is it,” Roan says, opening the front door of a small white bungalow. One silver glove appears to be floating as he gestures for me to step inside. “My beautiful lady first.”
“Thank you.” I don’t know if I’ll ever look in the mirror and see beyond the scars, but when Roan tells me I’m beautiful, Ifeelbeautiful.
Inside, he flips on the light. Beyond the small, open entryway is a living room. Metal blinds dress the windows. A metal-and-glass coffee table sits in front of a couch.
“Hey,” I say, turning toward him, and wishing yet again I could see his face. “I assumed the room would look mostly empty, but I can see the couch. And at the coffee shop, the booth bench was still visible when you sat on it.”
“Because they’re both vinyl. Metal, glass, plastic, vinyl, varnished wood… Most non-porous materials don’t react when I touch them.”
“Then why not wear a vinyl apron and gloves, instead of the metal mesh? Ooh, or vinyl clothes?”
“Tried them. Too hot and sweaty.”
Roan plus hot and sweaty sends a tingle rippling through me. Then the lightbulb goes on above my head. “What about latex? Does it react to your body chemistry?”
“No. I wear latex gloves when I’m working in the stockroom or office. But when I’m around people, I use the metal mesh because it’s a thicker barrier. There’s no chance they’ll be compromised if I touch something sharp or hot.”
“I don’t think we have to worry about those things when we’re alone together,” I say, placing my palms on his apron, around what I estimate to be chest height. The fine mesh is still cool from our walk in the autumn air, but I can feel the warmth of his body beneath, along with his heartbeat.
He holds very still while I run my hands over the protected portion of his chest, then lower, over his stomach. He’s broad, solid, and lean, exactly as I imagined.
My bravery from the coffee shop flickers back to life, and I skate my hands lower, to the hard ridge of his cock. It’s long and pronounced, and I can’t resist curling my fingers over it and rubbing up and down.
“Elise.”His voice is tight and hoarse, as if he’s barely holding it together.
I don’t want him to hold it together. “Let’s get some of those latex gloves and go to your bedroom.”
His body tenses beneath my touch. “I want to. Fuck, do I want to.” The unspokenbutlooms between us.
“I know you’re worried that we’ll be tempted to cross the line once we’re in the moment, but—” I gasp as he cups my face in his gloved hands, then tips my chin up.
“I’m tempted now.” The warmth of his breath tickles my lips. “It’s already taking every drop of control I have not to kiss you.”
Then do it.I bite my tongue to hold back the words I know would push him away. “Would it help if I forbid it?” I ask instead.
“Yes.”
