Chapter 26 #2
Nic places his hand over mine where it lies on my chest and stares deep into my eyes. Calming me down as he breathes in sync with me. "Maybe I'm wrong. But whoever it is, I will never let them take you. Any of them."
It feels like a promise that etches onto my skin.
"I love you," he says. "And I'll never let anyone hurt you."
I still can't breathe. I still can't get it under control.
"Hey," he says again, now clutching my face in his hands. "I'll never let them take you. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again. I fucking swear it."
He kisses me.
It's harder than the other kisses, and I can feel it like a thread snapping in my back as I push myself into his arms. Like the ropes that held us apart have splintered, coming down around us like fireworks as we kiss.
I'm a sad, stupid fool. I know I am. I know he's been cruel. I know I haven't made him work for his place in my heart. But he has one, nonetheless. I couldn't change that if I wanted to.
I love him.
I jump into his arms. He holds me at my thighs while I literally try to climb him like he's a tree. He is -
"-so tall."
Nicholas pulls away with a chuckle.
I cringe. "I said that out loud."
He tightens his hold around my thighs. "I didn't realize tall-ness was such a turn on."
"Absolutely." I push my weight into his with renewed fervor and he grunts as together we fall onto his bed.
"And I love you," I say.
His eyes grow tender and he shifts a lock of hair away from my face, cupping my cheek as he stares into my eyes. "I've waited so long to hear you say that."
I smile and kiss him again before my lust takes over. Like, embarrassingly takes over.
I am usually graceful, I swear. Right now, though, I maul Nicholas like a cat in heat, mewling like one too. He groans as I rip my shirt over my head and grind myself against him, pressing rough kisses down his neck.
"Sage. Sage-sage-sage," he says.
"Mmm?" I pull up with a start, flicking my hair over my shoulder.
He doesn't have to say he wants to slow down. I know he does, but after everything I'm not sure if I can.
He flips us so he is on top and settles between my thighs.
"Relinquish control," he says. He begins an agonizingly slow roll of his hips and oh. Oh fuck. Gripping my thigh, he continues slowly grinding into me while he kisses down my neck and then removes his shirt.
My eyes nearly bug out of my head. Ripped grating lines of stomach muscles clench in my vision, drifting down to the perfect V that's pressed against me between my legs. Muscled corded forearms rest on either side of my head, and above me Nicholas smirks.
His hands slide all over my body as he peels the dress away from me until I lay before him completely bare.
He sits back to admire me, tilting his head with a hungry gaze. Posing, I arch my back and extend my legs, drawing attention to their apex.
Nicholas pries my legs open and throws them over his shoulders.
"What-"
The words disappear from my mouth when his tongue brushes along my slit.
"Oh."
He traces lazy circles between my legs, gripping my thighs over his shoulders as he feasts on me. My head falls back to the pillow, my mouth wide in a silent scream. He doesn't let up, knowing exactly where to touch me to make it count. He's so good at this.
"Yes!" I writhe. "Yes. Yes. Yes!"
I come, squeezing my eyes shut so tightly in bliss that stars speckle around my vision.
Before I can come down, before I know what is happening, Nicholas is on me, kissing me, and I taste myself on his mouth. When he settles back between my thighs, he's somehow lost his pants. His bare skin brushing up against mine.
"God," he says. "You're so wet."
"Don't tease me anymore," I beg. Yes beg. I've misplaced my pride.
Eh. It's not that important to me anyway.
He grips his cock and positions it between my legs, pushing at my entrance.
He slides inside one inch, his head rolling back as he pushes in another. Then another. And when he presses in so far that we were fully joined, he stills.
My breaths puff, chest heaving as I wait for him to move. Again, with a slow roll of his hips he pushes out and then back inside me. Over and over. Burying his face in my neck he keeps his momentum.
"You're worth everything, Sage. Everything. I should've never let you think otherwise."
This might be the first time we've ever had sex in an actual bed. What we're saying to each other now has gone beyond words. I've been waiting since I was seventeen years old for Nicholas Prince to love me. With every thrust into my body, he tells me that he always has.
A low build starts against my belly. Chasing with every press of him inside me. With each thrust it grows closer. He holds my legs open and keeps the pace.
"Nicholas, I'm going to - oh!" My orgasm tightens again and I am lost in wave after wave of sensation. Crashing down around me.
Through it, Nicholas keeps his thrusting. "God, Sage. You're so-"
When I open my eyes, his teeth are clenched. Eyes tightening like he's pain. Though judging from his groans, it is a pain he rather enjoys.
"I'm going to come," he says.
"Come inside me," I say. "Please, come inside me."
"Christ."
He thrusts a few more times before stilling. I feel his warmth flooding within me. After a few more ragged breaths, he collapses beside me and pulls me into his arms.
This time, he doesn't run. He looks me right in the eye as he cleans me up, pampers me and holds me in his arms as he tucks us both into bed.
As we drift off to sleep, nothing exists but Nicholas and I. Exactly as it was meant to be.