19. Viviana
Viviana
N ox closes the door behind us and flicks the lock.
I’m dumped into the middle of the bed and I have no idea what is going on.
He said we needed to talk but he doesn’t look mad.
He has this intense expression on his face that’s focused solely on me, but I wouldn’t say it’s angry.
I don’t have a moment to talk as he climbs up onto the bed with me, his arms bracketing either side of my head. “I want you to say it,” he tells me.
I frown, not understanding what he wants to come from my mouth. “Say what?”
“The text you sent me earlier,” he explains.
Furrowing my brows, I think back. “I want you to change Carol’s name in her school files?”
Nox’s head shakes back and forth. “I’ve already done that. But no, that’s not what I was talking about. The other thing.”
My brow furrows further before understanding finally dawns on me. “I love you.”
Nox’s whole expression melts before he’s kissing me.
It feels weird to directly state it like that.
I don’t have the easiest time expressing my feelings because my upbringing didn’t focus on emotional things.
Maybe it was because my dad raised me to show my love rather than express it with words.
But actions have always spoken louder than words for me.
I mean, having a man break someone’s neck means a lot more than three silly words that anyone can promise, with or without emotion backing them up.
Then again… I do want that romance I’ve seen in movies and old TV shows, maybe because it seemed like something unobtainable to me at times.
I just don’t know a lot about relationships.
I’ve never really been involved with anyone like this before.
The only real thing that I can comprehend about it is that they are mine and in turn, I am theirs.
Nox pulls away, his eyes smoldering as they look down at me. “I love you too,” he says, in a gruff voice like he’s not sure how to form the words in his mouth.
A shiver goes up my spine in a pleasant zing. Maybe it does feel a little nice to hear the words. I kiss him this time, and a groan tries to escape from his lips as my hands trail up the muscular plains of his stomach before wrapping around his neck.
Hands dip to my waistband before slipping under my shirt to trail fire up either side of my ribs. He stops just under my breasts, and after barely even being touched, my panties are already soaked. A soft moan leaves my lips as he trails kisses down my neck to my collar bone.
He pulls away slowly, his eyes trained to me as he carefully pulls my shirt off over my head and drops it to the floor.
My bra is next to join the growing pile, and then my pants and panties come off in a single tug.
I’m not even sure when my shoes came off, but I don’t really have the mental bandwidth to care about it right now.
Somehow he’s managed to keep from stabbing himself while unarming me, and everything is set aside neatly on the nightstand.
I go all gooey at him paying such special attention to my weapons.
When I’m completely bare before him, his eyes take me in with rapt attention, like he’s never seen a naked woman before. “Fuck,” he murmurs, letting his fingers trail from my ribs, over my hip bones, down my thighs, and stopping at my knee.
He’s still completely dressed, which he only seems to realize when I pout at his still covered torso.
Not that I would pout like some kind of baby.
When he reaches for the hem of his shirt, I track every moment like a starved thing, desperate to see more of him.
Every inch of bare skin that comes into view makes the fire in my veins burn hotter.
I’ve seen him in less, but this situation makes it seem like so much more. When he pushes his pants down, I groan. His boxer briefs go with them and his length pops free.
I just about combust in excitement when he reaches over to his nightstand and pulls a condom out of the drawer. I am so ready that I’m probably dripping a puddle on the comforter as he rolls the condom on. “Are you ready for this?” Nox asks me, seeming to have read my mind.
I nod my head viciously. “I might cry if you don’t fuck me right now.”
The grin that spreads across his face is breathtaking as he takes up a spot right between my legs.
His palms press my thighs wide before he lets his thumb brush over my clit in a teasing motion, making my hips arch high.
Slowly, he slides one finger inside of me, then a second, before curling them to hit just the right spot.
Too soon he pulls his fingers out, but he’s already poised at my entrance. “Say it again,” he demands.
“I love you.” I comply instantly, and he pushes inside of me in one steady thrust.
A groan leaves me at the full feeling when he’s all the way inside, and his hips draw back before lurching forward in a powerful thrust. I let out a loud moan at the sudden intensity.
Readjusting, he places one hand above my shoulder while the other wraps around the front of my neck.
His grip is light and doesn’t cut off my oxygen or blood supply, but I know he could if he wanted to.
My neck arches, hoping he’ll take the hint and tighten his grip.
His hand tightens minimally, making the blood flow to my head slow slightly.
“Say it again.” His voice is rough and uneven.
“I love you,” I gasp, my throat a little tight from his grip.
He pulls back and slams into me again, and then it’s like he’s possessed.
His hips move faster and more forcefully while the headboard begins to slam against the wall, and I’m surprised that the bed frame is still standing.
His hand leaves my throat, making the blood rush back as he brings his hand down to rub circles onto my clit.
I’m gasping without any sound as he forces an orgasm to crash over me.
There was no gentle coaxing; no slow build up over time. One second I wasn’t coming and the next I was in the midst of an orgasm while he hammered into me. “Fuck, Nox. I love you,” I gasp out in slurred words, knowing he would want to hear it again.
His teeth grit as he sits up with his knees tucked under my bent legs.
His arms hook around my thighs as the intensity of his thrusts increases.
He’s hitting just the right spot as he continues to fuck into me even when my legs start to tremble and my back arches.
I feel the warmth rush out and run down my thighs as I come apart around him for the second time.
Nox curses as his thrusts become irregular and erratic.
His hips stuttering in jerky movements as he falls apart too.
His head leans down onto my shoulder as he tries to gather himself.
“I fucking love you,” he murmurs against my skin.
My chest squeezes and I have to admit that it does feel nice to hear the words.
I feel empty when he carefully pulls out of me, patting my thigh as he gets up from the bed. “I’ll be right back.”
A small giggle leaves me when he pokes his head out of the door before dashing out. I get out of the bed and frown at the puddle I’ve made before I start stripping the sheets off the bed. I notice as I do that he’s invested in a waterproof mattress pad, so I guess he was prepared for this.
When Nox comes back, he’s got a washcloth in one hand and pauses to look at me. “I was going to do that. I got you a rag to clean up with.” He holds up the damp terrycloth square.
He steps toward me and I reach out to accept the washcloth, but he falls to one knee before me, wiping my thighs and nether region clean. I hadn’t been expecting him to do it for me but I appreciate the kindness in the gesture.
Once I’m all clean, he tosses the soiled washrag onto the bed. After he tugs on a pair of shorts and his shirt, he gathers up all the dirty blankets too. “There are clean sheets in the top of the closet if you want to start making the bed while I throw these in the wash.”
“I can do that,” I tell him, before I head over to the closet and stand on my tiptoes to get the blankets and sheets down.
A soft groan sounds from behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I find Nox at the door staring at my ass. I give it a little wiggle and his eyes jump to mine. A soft, shy smile meets his lips before he turns and leaves the room.
I’ve already got the bed made and put my clothes back on by the time Nox comes back. “The guys ordered pizza.” He rolls his eyes. “I guess they just couldn’t be patient and wait for me to make dinner.”
I bite my lip. “Do you think it will be okay for me to do my homework at the table?”
Nox frowns. “Of course. Why not? It’s not like it’s a holiday or anything.”
I mean, he’s not wrong. It’s not like the guys treat every meal as formal dining like my father always has. “I was just making sure. My dad never wanted books at the dining table,” I say as I pick up my book bag to bring with me.
Nox shakes his head before holding his hand out to me. “As long as you’re not dismembering someone, you can do whatever you want at the table.” We walk into the dining room where the others are already seated with pizza boxes and plates already on the table.
“What about an orgy?” I ask Nox with a grin.
Cain chokes on his next bite of pizza and Sloane starts patting his back roughly. A startled laugh escapes Nox. “I don’t know if the table would hold up to something like that.”
I frown like it’s the most disappointing thing I’ve ever heard. “I guess being spread out on the table like a thanksgiving turkey and getting stuffed is out of the question then.”
“Where the heck do you even get these ideas?” Sloane asks with a hearty chuckle.
Shrugging one shoulder, I load up my plate. “From the books he gets me.” I nod my head toward Zane as I take a seat next to him.
I start pulling my homework out and organize it by what’s due first. All eyes are on Zane when I look up. “What kind of books are you getting her?” Cain asks.
“Apparently ones with lots of sword crossing,” Zane tells him.
Cain’s head tilts to the side. “Like fantasy, or historical fiction?”
Zane and Nox both laugh while Sloane just looks confusedly between the two. I just ignore them as I focus on my work.
“Not that kind of sword crossing,” Nox interjects.
I peek up to catch Cain’s brows disappearing into his hair line. His eyes ping pong from Zane to me a few times before he shakes his head. “I’m not going to ask any questions. I don’t want to know.”
I smile down at my homework before taking a bite of pizza. After a few moments of quiet Sloane manages to catch my eye, looking around at the others before looking back at me expectantly. “What?” I ask, not understanding what he’s trying to say.
Everyone looks up at us as Sloane nods his head toward me. “Are you going to share the news?”
The news? I have no idea what he’s talking a… Oh, that news. I’d completely forgotten about that. My anger comes rushing back all at once. “That fucking asshole!” I exclaim, slamming my palms on the table.
Zane’s instantly on alert. “What happened? Do you need me to kill someone for you?”
I pause to think about that before sighing regretfully. “No. You can’t kill him.”
Zane’s eyes narrow. “Who made you mad? I promise only to hurt them a lot.”
A laugh comes at that, and I smile at him before shaking my head as I look around the table.
“I have a guest lecturer for my History of Ancient Warfare class. Today was my first class period.” My eye twitches when I think about it too hard.
“I walked into the classroom to find Enzo behind the desk. He’s the guest lecturer.
The asshole didn’t even warn me about it! ”
Zane’s eyes widen. “You might have to help me with hurting him. I don’t think I can do it on my own.”
Sloane gives Zane a serious case of side eye. “Viv doesn’t want Enzo hurt,” he explains, before focusing on me. “I thought you were past the angry part.”
I rub my temples. “I thought I was. I’m not mad that he’s there. I’m mad that he didn’t warn me about it. I know that he probably didn’t want anyone else to know either, but it’s not like he doesn’t know where we live. He could have given me a heads up.”
“Did he say why he’s taken a job on campus?” Cain asks.
Looking at him, I lean my head against my fist. “Yeah, and it makes sense. My dad sent him here for my protection. It makes sense for him to have an in at the school, I just hate getting left out of the loop. Just reminds me of when I was a kid and Enzo would take me on last minute camping trips, only for me to come home and realize something big went down and nobody ever told me what was going on. It was so frustrating being in the dark. I hate that feeling.”
Cain smiles softly at that. “It makes sense. Plus, you’re an adult now. You should be informed fully about things, especially when it comes to your safety. We’ll have him over for a meeting so we can all sit down and make sure we’re on the same page.”
I’m nodding before I even fully take in his words. “That’s a great idea. Though I’m sure his plan will be something along the lines of ‘I’ll just stab anyone who tries to hurt Vivy.’” I lower my voice to mimic Enzo’s lower tone.
Zane laughs at that and the others mostly just shake their heads, thinking I’m being ridiculous.
That is probably his plan though. I didn’t even notice he was in town yet, but he’s got to be watching me somehow.
It’s not like he can step foot on the property without Nox knowing, he’s got cameras everywhere.
It just doesn’t make sense for him not to be close.