Chapter 17 - Seventeen

TO MY SURPRISE, WHEN MY NOSE TOUCHED his mask, it was soft like velvet, even though it looked hard like obsidian stone.

"I want to," I whispered on his lips when I put some space between us to catch a breath. "I know my actions aren't ladylike, but, I feel attracted to you as if there was a magnet pulling me towards your direction. And I… I really want you!"

He caressed my chin, then slipped his hands down my waist, bringing my body closer to his, "This a dangerous line you are crossing, Hope," he whispered. "I don't know if I'll be able to stop once we start this!"

Well, back as Anna, I lost my virginity at 17 with a nerd boy from class. And he wasn't my only one. So, I was never intending to stay pure in this life either. The only reason I never crossed the line with Jacob was that I didn't feel this… flame I'm feeling with this man in front of me.

And I'm glad I didn't. Otherwise, seeing as how things ended up, I would have regretted it by now.

Crossing my hands around his neck, I brought his face closer to mine, "I am aware," I whispered, trying to kiss him, but he played with me, not letting me do so.

"Hope," the intensity in his voice turned me on even more. "You didn't drink any alcohol, did you?"

"No. I just woke up and took a bath. I didn't eat or drink anything," I mumbled, feeling the hotness of the situation blur my senses. "What is it? Don't you want me?"

With a move of his finger, he locked the door and set an array around the room, "It's a soundproofing array," was all he said. Then he threw the towel covering my hair on the ground and caressed the top of the back of my neck, making me gasp. "You are sensible."

"Tell me something I don't know," I mumbled back, still drunken in our chemistry. And when I tried to kiss him again, he gently held my face by my jaw, stopping me and I growled unsatisfied.

He smiled, "Why the rush?"

"I'm burning up here," I exclaimed and pushed him to the bed, but he didn't budget. "You will make me go savage, darling. So, please, if you don't want me, don't play with me like this!"

But then he took me in his arms and put me on the bed, then came over and stopped above my hips, with one leg at each side. Then, he proceeded to unbutton his shirt, and take off his belt, then his pants, and I felt breathless with the view of his God-like body.

I don't need to tell you that he's huge, right? Not just physically speaking, but down there. Simply, huge. So much that he might very much break me in half.

"How can you be so hot?" I gasped and went forward to put my hands inside his open shirt, touching his sculpted abs. "God," I took a deep breath and turned him around, coming on top of him. But before I could take the towel from my body, he stopped my wrists with his gloved hands.

"Before you show me your body," he began, sounding as breathless as I was. "I accept your proposal!"

For the thousandth time, I froze, "My marriage proposal?" I managed to ask, smiling like a fool. "You are not just saying that without meaning to do it, right?"

"No. I mean it. Actually, I would have accepted it back in the ball when you first proposed, but I decided to play with you a little bit," and there it was his sexy crooked smile. "But you have to understand that I don't feel comfortable not using the mask and the gloves, or uncovering my arms. There's something… I can't bring myself to talk about it yet."

I blink, "So, you really are going with a Beauty & the Beast concept," I mumbled to myself. "It's alright. I don't mind. Take your time," then my gaze went to his hands holding mine and I smirked. "What? Are you nervous to see my body?"

"Honestly? Yes. I've never seen a woman naked before," oh? Is this 22-year-old hot man really a virgin? "You seem shocked," then I got my answer when I caught the blush spreading all over his face, neck, and ears.

"I am. But it's also reassuring. I'll be your first. You will be my first. It's almost poetic," I said with a playful smile. "And don't worry, you won't go blind if you see my body. It's quite a pleasant sight, I believe!"

He blushed harder, "I'm not doubting that, it's just that I'm a little anxious. I've also been holding back the desire to have you under and over me like this, but you are so straightforward, that is unsettling in a sensual way!"

"Sensually sounds good," I smirked mischievously. "Now, seriously, I'm really dying to have you in me. Can I take this off, or will you keep holding my hands like this? Like, I get it if you want to hold hands, we can do it. But can I at least be free of this damned towel?" Thank God I took an amazing bath and I'm smelling like roses. Not to mention that I have no body hair thanks to the depilation spell we go through when we turn 16, and it doesn't grow anymore, just to keep our body constantly clean and soft, so it's indeed a pleasant view.

Biting his bottom lip, he nodded and slowly released my hands.