Chapter 29 Nico
TWENTY-NINE
NICO
When I jerk awake on the giant hotel bed, the room is pitch black. It’s still the middle of the night.
I’m not surprised that I couldn’t stay asleep, even though I crashed as soon as we made it to the bed last night. After an MMA fight and a big meal, I didn’t have a chance in hell at staying awake. Even Scarlett’s company couldn’t keep my eyelids from drooping.
But now, a few hours later, I’m wide awake.
And very aware of the fact that I’m alone.
Goddamnit. I really thought she’d stay this time. With a heavy sigh, I push the covers off me and stand. I won’t be able to fall asleep for a while now so I might as well indulge in some more food.
But when I push the bedroom double doors open and step into the suite, I realize the balcony door is slightly cracked, the wind whipping the curtains inside.
And Scarlett’s on the balcony.
A relieved breath whooshes from my lungs as I quickly make my way over to her. She’s sitting on the lounge chair with her knees pulled up, wrapped in the hotel robe, a steaming cup of tea in her hands.
She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Maybe it’s the sight of her, maybe it’s the real and raw relief at finding that she stayed… Either way, I momentarily lose my breath. Especially when she smiles at me.
“You’re awake,” she says, surprised.
I step out onto the balcony and close the door most of the way behind me. “It’s the adrenaline. Sometimes I wake up a few hours after I crash.”
She makes an oh sound and I want to taste it. Can I taste it? She kissed me earlier, does that mean I get to do that now?
Hesitant but too eager to stem the urge, I step toward her, gaze locked on her mouth. Then I start to bend down, still unsure of myself. But when she doesn’t pull back, and instead tilts her face up toward me, I press my lips against hers.
I want to devour her. Now that she’s given me permission, I want to kiss her every second of every day. The way she tastes, the way she slides her tongue across mine…it’s intoxicating.
But I’m also aware of the hot drink in her hands and so I stop myself from becoming too aggressive. Begrudgingly, I pull away and drop into the chair beside her. Wanting to stay close to her, however, I pull her feet into my lap.
“Why are you awake?” I ask as I begin to massage her feet.
She has the softest, sweetest smile on her face as she shrugs. “I couldn’t sleep. Maybe it’s adrenaline for me, too.”
I let out a thoughtful hum, my gaze dropping to her feet as my thoughts start to roll through my 4 a.m. mind.
“I really liked having you there tonight,” I say eventually. When I lock eyes with her, Scarlett’s beaming.
“Yeah?” she breathes happily.
I nod, the realization that’s been swirling in my subconscious finally crystallizing.
“It felt like I was fighting for something,” I admit quietly.
Scarlett’s eyes widen at that. I’ve been honest with her about my thoughts about fighting, so my confession feels just as big for her as it does for me.
And it does feel big. Big enough that I want to give her the rest of my thoughts, to make her see exactly what she means to me.
“I’ve felt…restless,” I rush to explain, needing her to understand.
“Aimless. Like I’ve been putting one foot in front of the other for no other reason than to keep going.
But my heart wasn’t in it.” My gaze never moves from hers, knowing I’m showing her too much but being unable to regret it.
“Until tonight. When I knew you were watching.”
I realized it as soon as I threw the first punch tonight. That purpose I’ve been searching for all these months? In that moment, it hit me as hard as any opponent ever has. It wasn’t fighting that I needed to fulfill me.
It was fighting for Scarlett.
I see her pulse hammer in her neck. She might be able to read me like a book, but I can read her, too. She likes what I’m saying. Maybe she still doesn’t trust it completely, but at least she wants to.
I can’t stand the distance between us any longer. Leaning forward, I pull her chair up against mine and drop my forehead to hers, her rapid breaths now sweet puffs against my lips.
“Is this real?” I ask in a whisper, my voice rife with emotion I no longer want to hide. I’m all in this. “Because if it isn’t, tell me now. I’m so far gone for you already, and if you’re not sure, I—”
My words cut off when Scarlett presses her lips to mine.
I’m unashamed of the whimper that escapes me as I weave one hand into her hair to return the kiss. But before I can deepen it, she pulls back to whisper, “It’s real. I’m all in with you, too.”
Relief crashes over me.
Gently, I take the mug from her hands and set it down out of the way. And then I guide her into my lap, sink my hands into her hair again, and kiss her with the full power of my feelings.
I don’t know how I ever survived without kissing her. Her lips are soft, her taste enough to make me dizzy with want. I could kiss her for hours and never get tired of it.
But it’s not just the way she takes over my senses. It’s also the way she kisses me back.
She kisses me like she can’t survive another second without it either.
Her hands fisted in my shirt, she pulls herself as flush to my body as she possibly can. I’m already tilting my head to deepen the kiss when her hips rock against me. And the second my tongue touches hers and she breathes the sweetest sigh into the kiss, I’m a goner.
Securing one arm under her butt, I carefully stand with her in my arms, my lips never leaving hers. I feel for the door and slide it open.
I love feeling Scarlett’s legs tighten around my waist as I walk us into the bedroom. I love the way she wraps her arms around my neck and pulls herself closer with a happy hum. Our physical chemistry has never been a question, but this feels like so much more than that.
This feels real.
I can’t bring myself to put any distance between us, even when I lay her down on the bed. With my weight settled comfortably on top of her, I continue to kiss her, wanting to stay in this moment forever.
But eventually, hips start to grind and our breaths come quicker. When Scarlett lets out a whimper before nipping at my bottom lip, all of my blood rushes to my cock.
“Fuck, baby,” I groan against her lips. “What do you need? I’ll give you anythi—”
Scarlett’s hand covers my mouth. I pull back just enough that I can look down at her with a questioning gaze.
Vulnerability shines in her eyes. “I want to not think,” she whispers.
Understanding dawns. This feels different for her, too.
I press a gentle kiss against her palm before pulling her hand away. Every time we’ve had sex, Scarlett’s been the one in control. I was so cautious of her boundaries that I let her be the one to lead us. But that can be exhausting. I’m not surprised she’s tired of it.
A part of me is taken aback that she trusts me with it, though. In the best way.
The weight of that trust, the honor of it, settles over me like the comfort of a blanket. Nothing has ever felt more important.
And I want so badly to give her everything she’s asking me for. Reaching back with one hand to grab the neckline of my shirt, I pull it off over my head. Then, with my gaze locked on hers, I stretch it into a long line and move it toward her eyes.
I watch carefully for the moment she understands. If there’s any part of her that doubts me, if I see even a flash of nerves, I won’t do it. But when surprise is quickly followed by a relieved nod, I know I read her correctly.
Carefully, I tie my shirt around her eyes.
By the time I’m done, she’s trembling. I press a gentle kiss to her collarbone and tell her, “At any point, if you want to stop, just tell me. No safe words, just open communication.” I press another kiss to her jawline this time. “Can you do that for me?”
Her nod is instant and eager. “Yes,” she breathes, already arching into my touch.
I lean back enough that I can look down at her body laid out under me. Her hotel robe has opened wide, so I can see the curves of her breasts, and the knot on her belt won’t take much to undo. It’s a heady feeling, having her give herself to me like this.
My gaze travels over her body, wondering where I want to start with her pleasure. Because she might be putting the power in my hands, but the only thing I give a shit about is making her feel good.
In the end, I decide to taste her before anything else. The memory of her shaking against my tongue is too potent to skip it.
The moment I touch the knot at her waist, Scarlett sucks in a breath. By the time I work it open and slide the sides of her robe apart, her hands are fisted in the sheets and her chest is heaving.
“Easy,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her hip bone. “I’m going to taste you, and I want you to stay still while I do it.”
The moan she lets out is enough to make my cock throb. I have to reach down to squeeze it as I slide down Scarlett’s body and settle between her legs.
Fuck, she’s edible. I don’t know how I went this long without her.
But when I look up the length of her body and see my shirt covering her eyes, I’m reminded of the reason. Of the trust she’s put in my hands, the trust I fought for. When I finally lower my mouth to her body, it feels bigger than sex.
I groan into her skin when her wetness smears across my lips. I’ve barely even touched her yet, and she’s drenched. With my hands pressing into her thighs, I start to lick her, my tongue tracing over every inch of her. I could live on the taste of her.
Especially when a gush of liquid hits my lips after I suck on her clit.
My groan gets lost in her skin, but I can make out her whimpered Nico.
Can feel her fingers thread into my hair to pull me closer.
Wrapping my arms under and around her legs, I band one arm over her stomach when she tries to arch into my mouth.
With the other, I press my thumb to her clit as I lick down to her entrance.