Chapter 49Avery
Chapter Forty-Nine
Avery
The moonlight filters through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. I'm lying in bed when Victor's strong arm snakes around my waist, pulling me closer to his warmth. His breath tickles the back of my neck as he murmurs into my hair, "I want you, Chestnut. Can't pretend I don't."
A shiver runs down my spine—not from the chill of the night but from the raw need in his voice. My heart hammers against my chest, echoing his desire with an intensity that scares me. Yet, I can't stop the way my hand moves on its own accord, tracing lazy patterns across the landscape of his bare chest. The muscle beneath his skin ripples at my touch, and it feels like touching fire—dangerous but impossible to resist .
"Okay," I whisper, my voice unsteady. I should push him away, remind him of the boundaries we're supposed to have. But instead, I lose myself in the heat of his body and the scent of his cologne.
His gaze locks onto mine, and it's like he's searching for something—permission, maybe, or reassurance. A strand of my hair has fallen across my face, and he brushes it away with a tenderness that contradicts the urgency pulsing between us. Blue eyes, usually so piercing, now flicker with a storm of emotions that he struggles to contain.
"Say something," I urge softly, caught in the gravitational pull of his internal conflict.
But words fail him, and I see it—the moment he decides to let actions speak instead. His lips crash against mine in a kiss that steals my breath and banishes all thoughts of resistance. It's deep and consuming, and I melt under the onslaught of sensations—his taste, his touch, everything about him overwhelming and addictive.
"Victor," I gasp when we break apart for air, my mind spinning. This shouldn't be happening, not with the world outside these walls threatening to tear us apart. And yet, here we are, finding solace in each other’s arms, if only for a fleeting moment.
The kiss deepens, and I'm lost in the rush of it all. Victor's weight presses down on me, grounding and intense. There's no hesitation left in him, only need that echoes my own. I can't remember the last time I wanted something—or someone—this badly.
"God, Avery," he murmurs against my lips, voice rough with desire. His hands roam over me, urgent and possessive, as if he can't get close enough.
"Victor," is all I can manage to say, but it's enough.
He shifts, his body aligning with mine in a way that's almost too perfect. When he enters me, it's like every nerve ending ignites. There's no slow build-up this time; it's all-consuming and relentless. The feeling of him moving inside me, powerful and insistent, has me clawing at the sheets.
"More," I breathe out, barely recognizing my own voice.
He obliges without a word, turning me over with a careful yet determined motion. Propped up on my hands and knees, I feel him reenter from behind, and it's even more intense than before. Every thrust sends waves of pleasure crashing through me, and I bite down on my lip to keep from crying out. I don't want to wake any of the others in the apartment, but damn, Victor makes it hard to stay quiet.
"Quiet, baby," he whispers, reading my struggle as he drives into me, his hand slipping around to steady my hip. "I've got you."
And he does. In this moment, he's everything—the anchor in the storm of sensation, the warmth in the cold night, the trust in a world full of doubt. Even with our complicated past and uncertain future, right now, it's just us, connected and raw and real.
With a shared, desperate urgency, Victor shifts us again. Now I'm on top, straddling him as his mouth finds me. The electric pleasure of his tongue has my head spinning, and I lean forward to return the favor.
"Victor," I gasp between breaths.
"Shh, Avery," he murmurs against me, his voice vibrating through my core.
His hands grip my thighs, guiding me, encouraging my movements as I take him in my mouth. It's a dance of give and take, each of us pleasuring the other with fevered passion. His taste, his scent—it’s intoxicating, and I lose myself in the rhythm we create together.
"Close," I manage to mumble, my voice muffled by the warmth of him.
"Me too," he groans, and I feel him tense beneath me.
It happens almost simultaneously, waves of ecstasy crashing over us both. I cry out against him, my body convulsing with release as I hear Victor's own sounds of fulfillment. We ride it out together, clinging to each other as if we’re the only anchor in a raging sea.
After what feels like an eternity, our breathing slows. We collapse onto the bed in a tangle of limbs, our bodies still joined in the most intimate of ways. I lay my head on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against my ear .
"Wow," I whisper, unable to contain the grin spreading across my face.
"Yeah, wow," he echoes, his breath tickling the top of my head.
We're silent for a moment, just breathing each other in. Then we laugh—a soft, knowing chuckle that speaks volumes about this crazy, intense connection between us. This thing with Victor, it's complicated; riddled with layers of our past animosities and present desires. But right now, in the aftermath of our fervent encounter, none of that seems to matter.
"Never knew enemies could be so... compatible," I tease, tracing a finger along the contour of his abs.
"Enemies, huh?" He smirks, capturing my wandering hand and bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. "Seems like we're anything but."
"Maybe," I concede, allowing myself to relax fully against him. Despite the chaos of emotions and circumstances, there's an undeniable rightness to being here with him—intertwined and vulnerable.
"Definitely," he whispers, and I can feel the smile in his voice.
For now, this forbidden thrill, this tangled mess of need and want, it's ours—and I'm not ready to let it go. Not yet.
Victor's chest rises and falls beneath me, a steady rhythm that I match with my own breathing. Silence hangs in the air—comfortable, heavy with unsaid words. His arms wrap around me, a secure circle that feels like it could shield me from anything.
Victor's eyes meet mine, a storm of emotions swirling in their blue depths. He takes a deep breath, his chest rising and falling beneath my hand.
"I've never..." he starts, his voice catching. He clears his throat and tries again. "I've never felt happier than I have spending time with you and Olivia. Being a part of your little family... it's everything I never knew I needed."
My heart swells, and I feel a prickling behind my eyes. I blink rapidly, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill over. As I look up at Victor, I notice the dampness in his eyes, too.
Without a word, I lean in and kiss him deeply, pouring all my gratitude and affection into that single gesture. His arms tighten around me, and I feel him relax into the kiss.
When we finally break apart, I nestle against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing. The warmth of his body envelops me, and I can't help but marvel at how safe I feel in his arms.
"This is nice," I murmur, tracing patterns on his chest with my fingertip.
"Yeah," he agrees, his voice a low rumble in his chest. "It really is."
I close my eyes, savoring the moment. A nagging voice in the back of my mind whispers that this is too good to be true, that it can't last. But for now, I push those thoughts aside.
"Victor?" I say softly.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for letting us in. I know it's not easy for you."
He's quiet for a moment, then presses a kiss to the top of my head. "You and Olivia make it easy," he admits. "Somehow, you've managed to break through all my defenses."
I smile against his chest, feeling a warmth spread through me that has nothing to do with the physical closeness. Even though he hasn't said the words, I can feel it – love, wrapping around us like a cocoon.