Sleeves by Chanse Lowell, K. I. Lynn, Shenani Whatagans Read Free Book Online

down to his feet.
    His eyes watched her like she might snap and do something crazy.
    He held his breath and never even blinked.
    When she was at his feet, she hovered there for a moment.
    “I want you to turn over onto your stomach,” she said.
    “Why should I?”
    “Because I’m asking you as a friend, Kel— please . I won’t hurt you, I promise. I said no touching, and I’ll stick to that.” Her eyes softened, and in the low light, he could have sworn they misted. She swallowed and offered a weak smile.
    “No touching,” he reiterated and then flipped himself over.
    She did the same thing, with her staying on the same side, and examining the opposite area of his body with her hand floating above his flesh.
    “You have an amazing body, but I’m sure you already know that,” she said with a low tone that was so relaxing and serene, all he could do was listen.
    “Mmm,” he responded.
    “I’m serious—you’re breathtaking, but it’s not the outer package I’m talking about. I mean, I did just say you’re gorgeous, but it’s in your eyes, in your smile and in your pain. I see it.” A wisp of air swiped over his ribs, and he flinched, thinking she might actually touch him. She didn’t, but she continued talking in that placid tone. “I see you’ve been through horrendous things no one can possibly ever understand, and for that, I’m so sorry. I wish I could take it away from you.”
    She was seeing all his scars up close. Most women didn’t notice them. He didn’t give them a chance.
    “Touch me,” he whispered.
    “You said it causes you pain.” She stepped away, but leaned a hand on the edge of the bed.
    “I don’t care what I fucking said. I need you to touch me. I need to see something.” Please, God, for once, let this be painless.
    He swallowed a deep intake of air.
    “I’ll go slow,” she said.
    “Start at my hands. Those are the most desensitized, so I can handle that better.”
    She eyed him and her lips pressed together then parted for a moment. It was obvious her breathing was ragged. “When I put my skin anywhere near yours, even if it’s just for a second, your skin twitches, and then there are icy and hot patches. What can I do to make it better?”
    “I don’t know. There’s no way to make it better as far as I know.” He flopped over so he was on his back again, facing her. “Please, you have no idea . . . I have to be touched, and I want you to do it.”
    “Why?” Her face looked a little paler than it had a moment ago.
    “I don’t know why. Stop asking me all these fucking questions and just touch me!” His jaw clenched.
    “Spread your palms open, facing the ceiling, and why don’t you close your eyes? Maybe it’ll help if you’re not anticipating and tensing up so much.” She sucked her lips in for a moment and then rubbed them together.
    God, those lips.
    He’d never . . . What would that be like?
    Would it taste good? She smelled insanely sexy and sweet.
    “I like the way you watch me,” he said.
    “How is it different from anyone else?” She blinked slowly.
    Was she studying him? Trying to figure him out?
    He closed his eyes so she’d touch him, and so he could find that small moment of control he was lacking.
    “I don’t know if it’s really different, I just like it. It seems kind somehow, almost as if you think of me as a person.”
    She chuckled. “Oh, Kel, you can’t fool me.”
    And then it happened. Palms— both of them—landed on his chest.
    He jolted; his body jackknifing and his eyes flying open.
    “I said my hands!”
    “Sorry,” she said, pulling back.
    But before she could remove them, he put his hands over hers, cringing as he did it.
    “God—it stings so bad,” he said through gritted teeth, choking on a shrill sound dying to break free from his chest.
    “Then let me fucking remove my hands from you!” she cried out.
    “No! I need this, and I don’t care if it hurts. Don’t stop. Push hard, dig your nails in. Show