Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“FIND YOU” BY RUELLE
NOX
When I am finally able to slow down, we give each other languid, teasing kisses that I feel in my very bones.
Reluctantly, I pull away, smiling when she gives a cute little whine.
But I ignore it, knowing that she needs some care after the intensity of the scene we just had.
My hands shake slightly as I reach up, untying the silk scarf around her eyes, placing gentle kisses on her closed eyelids and waiting for her to open them.
When they do, they’re full of satisfaction and tiredness which makes my heart soar.
Carefully, I untie first one wrist, then the other, checking for any deep marks or numbness, then massaging each to make sure the blood is flowing properly. I bring each wrist to my lips, kissing where the fabric pressed against her skin.
“You did so good, Princess,” I murmur against her pulse point. “So fucking perfect for me.”
I look up when her breath hitches, catching her eyes filling with tears and have just enough time to bundle her into my arms before she bursts into tears.
I hold her as she quietly cries, knowing that sometimes after such full on experiences, like the one we just shared, there can be a release of emotions.
“I-I’m so s-sorry,” she hiccups, and I shush her.
“No need to be sorry, Princess. This is all perfectly normal after an intense scene like the one we just had. You cry as much as you need to until it’s all out. I’m not going anywhere.”
She settles against me more, letting me look after her and something in my chest goes tight at the way she allows me this.
holding her and making sure she’s okay fulfils something in me that I’ve only now just realised I was missing.
It’s not like I’ve not done much aftercare before, or at least tried to. But with her it just feels different.
Soon her cries quieten, and I pull away enough just so I can look into those gorgeous fucking eyes of hers. “Better?”
She sniffs, then nods. “So much. Thank you, Nox.” Her brows crease. “Is there anything that I can do for you? Look after you in any way?”
This fucking woman.
“No, baby. Letting me care for you is all I need,” I tell her, pushing her sweat-slicked hair off her face. “Which means it’s shower time, but I want you to drink some water first. You need to keep hydrated after the amount you just lost.”
Her nose wrinkles in the most adorable fucking way, no doubt because we are both in the massive fucking wet patch that she created.
Leaning over, I grab the bottle of water off her nightstand and opening it, bring it to her swollen lips. A flare of pride fills me when I see the bruise already forming on her lower lip from my bite. She opens her mouth, letting me give her some water, and again, that warmth fills me up.
She turns her face away when she’s had enough, and I’ll allow it but only because I’ll make sure she has more before we go to sleep.
“Shower next, beautiful,” I tell her, sliding her out of my arms so I can get out of bed then help her off too. Her legs wobble as she stands on them, making me chuckle.
“I think you broke my vagina,” she grumbles, and I can’t stop the bark of laughter that escapes me. She winces when she takes a step. “It’s not funny! I can’t walk.”
“Then my work here is done, Princess,” I purr, delighting in the shudder my words cause. Taking pity on my poor Petal, I bend down, scooping her up into my arms, bridal style. She gives a little squeak, but soon settles and wraps her arms around me.
“This shall be your penance,”she tells me as I walk across her room to the large en-suite bathroom. “You shall henceforth carry me wherever I need to go.”
My lips stretch into a wide grin as she giggles, swinging her legs a little.
“Is that so?” I muse, turning sideways as I walk us into the bathroom.
“By royal decree, I am your Princess after all, right? So that means I’m the one in charge.” She puffs out her gorgeous tits, and I can’t even deny her words because this girl has me by the balls and I don’t even fucking care.
“Yep you are, Princess,” I reply, dipping my head to kiss her quickly on those bruised lips.
“Now, normally I’d suggest a bath with some Epsom salts in to help ease the soreness, but it’s late and we both could do with a wash.
Shower now, and I’ll run you a bath in the morning if you’re still sore. ”
Her lips twitch. “You’re kind of bossy, you know that?”
“Oh, Princess. You’ve no idea how bossy I’m going to be now.”
“UNCONDITIONAL (LIVE AT ST PANCRAS OLD CHURCH)” BY FREYA RIDINGS
BLOSSOM
Sunlight filters into my room, and I blink my eyes open to feel it brushing across my face like a warm caress. Hot skin is under my cheek and I’m encased in strong arms covered in bronze skin and decorated with the most exquisite artwork.
“How's my Princess feeling this morning?” Nox’s delicious rumble flows over me leaving tingles in his wake, the muscles of his arms flexing around me.
I tilt my head upwards, hoping to god I didn’t dribble over the hot man in my sleep, and look up to find Nox’s bright green gaze staring down at me.
There’s a softness to his features that wasn’t there when he first arrived, and a glow kindles in my chest at the sight of him so relaxed and unguarded.
My hand reaches out, unable to help myself as I glide it over his curls, which are still so bloody soft.
“Will you teach me how you look after and do your hair? So I can help Noah do his? I’ve tried to research but nothing seems to work quite right and I can never get the braids tight enough.
” My brows dip. “Although, I suppose it’s more like a mix between yours and Steeles and maybe you look after them differently?
Sally’s is more like yours, so many curls it’s like a beautiful cloud. ”
I focus back on his face, realising that I’d lost myself in the look and feel of his hair to find him staring at me, an intense look on his face. I freeze, my stomach dropping. “Did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean—”
I don’t get to finish my sentence or even thought process because in the next moment his lips are on mine and he’s kissing me like I am the very air he needs to breathe.
I respond in kind, and not just because he’s so dominating that it leaves me with little choice.
It’s because it feels like he is my oxygen too, and for years I’d only been getting a small amount only now to finally be flooded with it.
We’re both panting heavily when he pulls back, his green gaze locked on my face.
“Feels good. Having someone actually want to learn it, not just hand it off to someone else to deal with,” he whispers as his hand comes up and cups the side of my cheek.
“I’m not sure what I did just then to earn that kiss,” I tell him quietly, and his lush lips pull up in a small smile that I feel is just for me.
“You asked when no one else has ever given a shit, not for kids like us,” he tells me, his green gaze dulling slightly as if clouds have just passed over them.
“Like us?”
He sighs. “Kids who are black or biracial, Petal. I’m not saying that Ant and Jus had it any easier, but they never had to worry about simple things like the right haircare because the shampoo that was available was made for their hair.
” My stomach clenches at his words. I’d never considered that.
“And here you are, doing research and asking me for help to make those kids’ lives — which are fucking fantastic by the way — that little bit better.
” A flush steals over my cheeks as his compliments make me blush.
“And to answer your question, myself, and I’m sure Steele, will be happy to teach and show you and the kids anything they need to know. ”
“Thank you, Nox.” I suck my lower lip in, wincing when a flash of pain flows from the bite Nox gave me last night. “You know, I'm really glad you're here.”
Nox glances at me, a smug smile on his face and I roll my eyes. “Yeah?”
“Not just for your huge dick and pretty face,” I sass, and he huffs a laugh.
“But seriously, Noah and Mitchel…and Anna…” I pause, choosing my words carefully because this is serious.
“They watch you and Steele differently than anyone else who's come through here," I say.
"Less guarded. I've noticed it since the first week.”
His jaw works, a flash of the Nox from when he arrived showing in the way his body tenses underneath mine. “And?”
“And I wondered what that's like. Being that, for them.” I hesitate, unsure if I'm overstepping. “Did anyone do that for you? When you were in the system?”
Something flickers across his face, there and gone.
“No.” The word comes out flat, worn smooth from however many times he's turned it over alone.
“Wanted it so bad I used to make guys up.
Whole backstories. Some dude who'd have taught me to drive, taught me to shave, whatever bullshit I thought I was missing.” His throat works.
“Didn't clock it as a hole 'til I was older.
Just knew something was missing and filled it with somebody who didn't exist.”
I don't say anything. Just let him get there in his own time.
“Never really put it together before,” he says slowly, “that maybe I turned into him. The guy I used to invent.” His lips press thin, something raw moving under the surface. “That's what Noah's doing, isn't it? Watching me the way I used to watch nobody.”
“I can give them safety and love, but I can't give them that. Someone who was actually in the system like them.” I kiss his shoulder gently. “You're important to them, Nox. More than you know.”
He scoffs, but there's something underneath it that doesn't quite land as dismissal.