Chapter 43

Levi's POV


If it had been any other woman, I would have slipped away from her embrace. I would not have dared to hug her in the first place.

In my world, hugs were rare, especially with my submissives. BDSM was a game of pleasure, nothing more.

But with Isabella, it was different. There was something about her that stirred emotions I hadn't expected. Why else would I still be holding her so tightly, even after the waves of our shared climax had subsided?

I didn't love her. Love was not an emotion I could feel again. So what was it that made me crave her being in my arms, and hugging me so tight?

She seemed to relax into my arms, her rapid breaths gradually slowing against my chest, her skin warming against mine. Her body was a contradiction of cold and warmth. Her face looked even more beautiful now, bathed in the afterglow of her orgasm. Gone were the stress lines and worries, replaced by an expression of pure bliss. I loved seeing her like this, so perfect and serene as if my arms were her true sanctuary, where she could truly be herself.

I wanted to preserve this moment in my memory forever.

Yet, I knew it wouldn't last. The gentle rays of the sun cast a serene glow upon her delicate features. For now, I would cherish her presence before inevitably closing the heavy curtains. These curtains, chosen for their thickness, would shield her from the outside world, allowing her to rest undisturbed throughout the day. Allowing me to also preserve my mysterious presence as she won't be able to see me.

Though a blindfold covered her eyes, I could feel her gaze upon me.

Her hand reached out, fingers tracing the line of my neck, a sensation I welcomed eagerly. Yet, I yearned for more — for her lips upon my skin. What was she searching for? What did she crave in this moment?

She found my Adam's apple, a gentle touch that lingered before trailing upwards, exploring further. Up along my jawline, where my skin was smooth and freshly shaved, betraying the identity I typically wore as Levi. In just a few days, the beard would return, a disguise to keep her from recognizing me, from connecting me to the persona of Levi.

Her fingertips continued their journey, caressing my face with tenderness. Her smile revealed a happiness borne solely from touching me. Did she expect an older man, weathered by time? I was tempted to tease her, to reveal everything, but now was not the time.

Her hand ascended to my lips, dry yet soft, framed by a high nose and bushy eyebrows that spoke of my heritage. My cheeks held no excess flesh, maintaining a chiseled look.

"You are handsome, master," she murmured, pulling me closer in a warm embrace, whispering words that stirred a dormant longing within me.

She embraced me tightly, her arms wrapped securely around my waist, then nuzzled my jaw with her cheek, a gesture so tender it reminded me of a contented cat. Isabella, my kitten.

In the lit room, her heart seemed to overflow with boundless affection as she lifted her head to gaze up at me, her master. My own heart pounded fiercely, anticipating the touch of her lips upon mine.

Since I arrived, I had yearned for this, the moment our lips would finally meet. I tilted my head down slowly, ready to savor the long-awaited kiss. But instead of meeting my lips, Isabella lightly traced her fingers along my Adam's apple, her touch sending a shiver down my spine.

The sensation was electric, a continuous wave of pleasure that seemed to course through every inch of my body, from head to toe.

"Kissing means more to me than lovemaking," Isabella murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's intimate, sacred. It touches the heart in ways sex cannot."

Isabella leaned her head back into my arms, her voice a soft murmur against the silence of the room. "You are so warm, master," she said, pressing closer to feel the heat of my body.

"I can't believe we're finally this close," Isabella whispered, her voice a mix of awe and vulnerability. "Skin to skin, flesh to flesh—it's the first time I've shown myself to you without holding back. Feeling your embrace, your breath against me—it's all so new." She hesitated, her words hanging in the air with a hint of longing. "I wonder if I could ever see you," she added softly, her heart racing with anticipation.

Her words stirred a tumult of emotions within me—warmth spreading through my chest, a tender care that enveloped my senses, and an ache of longing that pulsed in rhythm with my heartbeat.

In an instant, I knew I wanted to release her from the blindfold. After all, if the curtains were closed, she wouldn't discern my features anyway. I gently grasped her, pulling her close as I reached for the remote resting on the table beside the sofa. With a press of a button, the heavy curtains glided shut, enveloping us in a cocoon.

The world was lost to me. All that mattered was the woman now in my arms. My sweet perfect sub. I wished that we could remain like this forever. No work. No pressure. No one to disturb us. No giving into the scrutiny of the world.

Taking a deep breath, I began to ease the blindfold from the back of her head. As the fabric loosened and slid away, I sensed her heart quickening against my touch. She seemed startled, afraid even, her instinct to shield her eyes immediately with her hands.

But I gently guided her hand aside, softly tracing the contours of her eyelids with my fingertips, a silent reassurance urging her to open them.

The room plunged into near darkness with the heavy curtains drawn. Though we stood facing each other, I couldn't discern her form, just as she couldn't see mine.

Now we could pleasure ourselves without words or sight, just primal instinct and desire and Lo…