CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Not even the little fan tucked in the corner of Toro’s room can make me feel any less disgusting in this sweltering southern heat. Sweat sticks to my skin, and as if the heat on its own wasn’t bad enough I have Toro pressing up against me like he’s somehow cold.
He’s whimpering in his sleep, face pressed so far into my chest you’d think he was trying to hide inside my skin. “You’re okay.” I whisper softly, kissing the top of his head. He only holds me tighter in response, sleepy little noises falling from his mouth.
Another cry leaves him, fingers digging into my sides before he jolts awake. Instead of pulling away, Toro stays exactly where he is. He goes quiet as he trembles in my arms.
“Tor?” My tone is gentle, kissing his forehead a few more times for good measure. Eventually he stops shaking, finally prying himself off me to look up at me with wet eyes. He sniffles, blinking before immediately finding solace in my chest again. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? What happened?”
“You,” he whispers, “gone…”
I let out a little gasp at that, because it absolutely shatters my heart right into two little pieces. “But I’m not gone. I’m right here… I’m right here, Toro.”
Even I know that’s not really the most comforting thing to say, but it’s the truth. I’m here, with him, in his bed. I wish there was something I could do to prove that I really don’t want to run away now. To prove to him just how much I care…
“Gone.” He repeats a little firmer, snaking up the bed so we’re face to face. “Don’t… Stay, please….” The words break at the end, voice still hoarse after so many years of not being used. He’s not used to this, either. Not used to being seen or understood or loved.
A lopsided smile sprawls across my face while I raise a hand up to cup his cheek. “I’m not leaving. You’ve gotta believe me now, don’t you?” I chuckle softly, leaning in to kiss his nose. “Where would I go? When everything I want is right here?”
The hand moves down to his chest, resting flat against it like he did before. He smiles at me, and I melt instantly. The heat doesn’t even bother me anymore, not when he lets out the cutest little giggle and begins attacking my face with kisses.
It’s innocent until it isn’t.
One kiss at the corner of my mouth turns into him pulling me into a violent lip lock that ends with me panting.
Partially because I was caught off guard and partially because it was hot, okay?
My face is warmer than the air around us, and Toro has the cockiest grin on his face because he knows what he just did.
Toro grips at my waist, sliding his hand up so the shirt I’m wearing—which is his—moves with it. It’s my turn to tremble as he grows more confident in his actions, his face going for the crook of my neck so he can leave even more love marks there.
It’s a lot, maybe too much, so I put my hand over his and just whine. Without missing a beat he’s immediately pulling his face away from my neck, staring at me with worried eyes.
“Okay?” He asks simply, brows raised in concern. “Nico, okay?”
“I’m okay,” I affirm. “Just… New to me. It’s all really new to me.” It feels so lame to admit it, but it’s true. Nobody’s ever wanted to touch me this way, not before Toro.
Toro nods, clearing his throat before pulling himself in to cuddle some more. His hands aren’t exploring anymore, just holding me tight instead. His cheek rests against my chest, and I hear him start to yawn before I see it.
I genuinely laugh at how quickly he calmed down. “You’re tired now?”
His gaze darts up to meet mine, a mischievous grin on his face. Toro goes back to nuzzling against me, shutting his eyes and seemingly ignoring me. I know he isn’t. I know what he wants, too.
With all the strength I can muster I pull him up again, noting how he starts to smile mischievously. He’s so annoying in the best way possible. He probably wants me to kiss him, or hold him, or something soft and sweet like that.
But I have a better idea.
Doing my best impression of him, I don’t say anything and instead lunge forward to begin planting hickies all over his neck. He stiffens the minute my lips make contact with him, and after a few seconds of stunned silence he utters out the cutest little squeak.
Shit. Did I go too far? I jerk back, instantly going back to my usual self as I stare at him with concern. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you—”
His eyes are misty, and before I know it he’s just bawling. Toro throws his arms around me, crying into my shoulder. I have no idea what to do at first, but he begins to speak and I don’t dare interrupt him.
“...Yours.” He says between cries, freeing me from the hug and bringing one of his fingers up to where I left the hickey. He touches it as though it’s something sacred, before slamming his lips against mine.
He’s not crying because he’s upset… he’s crying because he’s happy. He’s crying because he’s happy that I gave him a hickey. That’s as cute as it is silly, and now I feel like I wanna cry.
Instead I kiss back, the kiss a lot more hungry and clumsy than the one before. When he pulls away he’s a huffing and puffing mess, sniffling while staring at me with those big brown eyes I’ve grown to love so much.
“Mine,” I say while wiping his tears away with my thumb. “Don’t cry.”
Toro groans in response, clearly unable to stop the tears from flowing. Instead he tilts his head up, exposing his neck to me. “More,” he all but demands while pointing to the few marks already there. “Please, more.”
Why does it feel like I’ve made a really big mistake?