18. ROME
Rome
I stop by the café and grab a few things I was saving for tomorrow—an iced lavender coffee and some leftover angel food cake from one of the new elementary school teachers. I think she’s trying to make a good impression. Too bad her good impression is going to be eaten by the woman who has a hold on my heart.
I’m a little worried though. Luna hasn’t responded to my messages all day and while I know my own obsessive nature, I also know the situation she’s currently in.
I pick up my pace, bypassing Ms. Elrod’s front desk when I get to her bed and breakfast. No doubt she’s retired for the night and the only people strolling through her front door are those that are staying here. I realize I have no idea what room number is hers but when I go to text Griffin, I see he beat me to it. 2B.
Knocking on Luna’s door gives me no answer and I worry that she’s just sleeping and I’m overreacting. It wouldn’t be the first time. Nova and Griffin won’t admit to it but the one time we shared a woman, the reason she chose one of us was because of me. I can be… a bit much when it comes to relationships and that woman felt like I was smothering her, and she waltzed right into Griffin’s arms. Granted, after finding out that he and Nova were a thing, she split pretty quickly.
I knock again, nearly dropping the dessert and iced coffee when my wide-eyed, terrified woman answers the door. The whites of her eyes are a little red and the way her gaze darts down the hall before she drags me inside has me worried.
“Luna, sweetheart, what’s wrong?” I place the items on the stand by the entrance and draw her to me. My chest falls as I see that she has her backpack on as if she was ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. “Were you leaving?”
“What? No! I… I keep hearing things and I thought—you knocked and shit. There was this older man and-”
She’s panicking and if she continues she will have a panic attack. Slowly, I pull her into my chest, running my fingers through her hair as I pepper kisses along the top of her head. “It’s alright, Luna. I’ve got you. It’s just me. Just me. ” I love the way she automatically melts into my embrace. It’s scary how perfect this feels even though we only met yesterday. When her breathing softens, I lead her back to the mattress and sit her down before taking a seat beside her. “What’s going on? Talk to me, sweetheart.”
“It’s stupid. I heard something outside the window and then I checked and this older man was just standing there. He’s gone now but I can’t sleep. He wasn’t in a suit or anything but it just struck me wrong.” Luna shivers as she replays the moment in her head and I wish I could take that memory from her. She twists to meet my gaze, her brown eyes glazed with unshed tears. “I wasn’t leaving, I promise. Don’t tell Griffin. I really thought that they had found me.” The despair and defeat in her voice breaks my heart.
I hate knowing that they somehow already have but Luna doesn’t need to know that. The problem is that I don’t know what to say in its stead to comfort her. “I won’t tell Griffin,” is all I can think of. She lets out a breath, her entire body deflating as her hands settle in her lap, her head bowed as if she is ashamed. “What’s going through your head?”
“Nothing. Everything. I just… I don’t want to run anymore.”
My heart breaks further as she slowly crawls onto the middle of the mattress. She stares at the edge of the duvet, playing with it as if choosing to slide under it before shaking her head and plopping her head on the pillow. Several seconds of silence filter between us as I try to figure out what to do next when I feel a small hand on my arm.
“Will you stay?” I twist around fully to see the goddess curled up on the bed, facing me, hope lingering in her expression. “I know with Griffin and-”
My lips curl up in a small smile as I quickly chuck off my shoes before going to the door and double-checking that it’s locked. I’m floored that she wants me here so I’ll make sure she’s comfortable. Door locked. Luna facing the door. Backpack off. I know she feels more comfortable with it on but she’ll sleep better without it. When I move back toward the bed and tug at the straps, surprisingly, she doesn’t fight me.
Luna watches me the entire time as I walk her bag toward the door and set it there, the back of it facing toward us. I caught her setting it like this once so I’ll mimic it. I return to the bed, wondering if she’ll let me take care of her the way she needs. It’s starting to click that maybe something between the four of us can truly work. Her first love, heart and soul, is Griffin. She needs him like she needs to breathe. Nova is a firm and steady presence that I’m sure she could benefit from. And me? I just want to make sure she’s comfortable.
Before I even know that the words are out, I ask her. “Will you let me take care of you?”
She swallows nervously as I stand at the edge of the bed, sitting up a little. I’m sure she’s trying to figure out what that means but the weariness in her expression tells me she won’t ask. “Please,” is the only plea that I get, warmth exploding in my chest.
I continue my careful movements as I remove her shoes and socks, setting them by her bag, and then I help her under the covers. She hesitates at first and then dives in as if she were both cold and uncomfortable without the extra layers. “Do you have something more comfortable than jeans to sleep in, sweetheart?”
Luna shakes her head.
I grab the back of my shirt and slip it over my head before handing it to her. She takes it, greedily before shedding her only clothes, covered by the blanket. My head tilts as a smile forms on my lips at how adorable she is as if I haven’t seen or felt most of her body just last night. Those memories have my cock filling in my pants and I reach down to adjust myself while she’s preoccupied.
A few moments later I’m settled in beside her in just my boxers, the lights off, and Luna’s naked body pressed up against my chest with only my shirt in between us. I try not to dwell on the swell of her tits or her taut nipples shifting across my bare skin every time she wiggles. Or her thick thighs rubbing against my cock as she tries to get comfortable.
“Luna, sweetheart, I only have so much self-control.”
A nervous giggle falls from her lips. “Sorry. I just…”
“Just what? Talk to me, Luna.”
“I can’t sleep. I know I asked you to stay but I’ve been trying to figure out why they’ve been so adamant for six years and now I come here and I can relax? It doesn’t make any sense.” Luna buries her head into my shoulder and I can’t help myself as I place a firm hand on her waist, sucking in a breath when I realize the shirt she’s wearing has ridden up. Her cotton panties are the only thing left. She wiggles again and I realize that she’s just as turned on in the moment as I am.
“Luna, if you want something, you’ll have to ask for it. I’m not a mind reader.”
Her lips press to my collarbone, her tongue darting out to lick the bare skin and I brace myself for her request. I’m not ready for this gorgeous woman to grab my hand on her hip and stick it between her legs. “I need a distraction.”
I huff out a laugh. “Sweetheart, I was trying to be more than a distraction.”
“ Please.”
That desperate plea again and I can’t ignore it. I know whatever this is building between us is more than a distraction but at this moment she needs something to take her mind off of her nightmares. I will gladly do that. I also know that continuing to ask her what she wants is both confusing her and frustrating her further so I decide to just take.
I roll her onto her back, Luna’s eyes widening when I slowly slide down her body. I managed a taste last night and now I’m fully addicted. Her thighs spread automatically, her breath catching in her throat as I settle between them, my arms sliding beneath her legs and my hands gripping her ass. The position has her sex poised directly at my lips and I grin at the power I now hold.
Luna’s fingers sift into my hair, her hips bucking forward.
“Patience, sweetheart.” Although, mine is quickly running out. I don’t have the time to unlatch from her and pull her panties off so I press my lips to her pussy through the cotton and suck, hard. Luna whimpers and I drag her closer, suffocating myself with her scent as I continue to suck. I move upwards a little, nipping at her clit. Her thighs tremble on either side of my head telling me how near she is to exploding. Unable to draw this out, I pick up my pace, enjoying the way she muffles her scream and drenches her panties.
“Fuck, I-”
“Not done with you yet. You wanted a distraction and I’m determined to be the best one you’ve ever had.” I sit up, kneeling between her legs before helping her out of her panties and staring at the beautiful sight in front of me. My gaze darts to a large scar on the top of her thigh and it takes everything in me not to rage at it. Now that I know who’s after her, I know someone's going to pay for hurting her. They put their hands on this woman, on my woman.
“Don’t,” she pleads again.
“I won’t ask, Luna. Not unless you offer. Just know that the men who’ve touched what’s mine will pay for the hurt they’ve caused.”
She seems surprised but I understand that. At first glance, I don’t look very inviting. The personality I’ve perfectly crafted says otherwise. However, it doesn’t mean that I don’t harbor a darkness that would be best staying hidden.
“Yours?” She squeaks, a little out of breath.
“Yes. Mine. Griffin’s. Nova’s. ” Fuck it’s too soon to say that to her but she doesn’t seem to hate it. Instead, she reaches up for me and I slip off the bed to take off my boxers. I make a show of rolling a condom onto my length, stroking a few times until Luna whines impatiently for me to return. I chuckle and climb back onto the bed, lowering myself over her.
“Yours,” she whispers. I hope she truly believes that as I slide into her sweet heat. It feels like fucking home with her pussy wrapped around my cock like a vice, her kiss as sweet and needy as sugar. Her body sliding along mine is everything I’ve been missing in my life.
We’ve got two weeks to figure out this mess because I’m not losing this woman.