42. Movement
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
movement
ROMAN
It’s strange to think that just a few months ago, I was standing at this very entrance dreading the thought of seeing her. Now, I can’t picture my life without her in it.
“My room’s just down here.”
Her voice is devoid of warmth, almost cracking as each of us carry a box down the stairs. Her bedroom door is open, the smell of her perfume already floating in the air, and when we step inside I can’t help but smile.
I walk around, taking everything in. The romance books that line her shelves, the posters on the walls, her makeup scattered on her vanity, and the clothes strewn on the floor. I’m usually a stickler for cleanliness, but this place looks like home.
It’s just so… her .
She drops the box she was carrying on the floor and turns to face me, tears welling up in her eyes.
“I’m so sorry this happened.”
I take a step toward her.
“Why are you apologizing?”
She breathes slowly, in and out, looking like she’s searching for the right words before suddenly starting to laugh.
“You know what? I have no fucking clue. I feel like telling the university to go fuck themselves.”
Her breath hitches.
A tear trickles down her cheek and I brush it away with my thumb. She looks so small right now, like any further complication could break her.
“I’m not going to apologize for loving you. I don’t care who or what tries to tear us apart. I will always find my way back to you, darlin’.”
I pull her into my arms, cradling her as tightly as I can as she squeezes her eyes shut, pressing herself into my chest.
“What are we going to do?”
“We’ll come up with something. We both get paid to think, right?”
She laughs again, but the heartbreak is evident in her eyes when she stares up at me. This is it. Waves of unhealed grief come screaming to the surface, and I close my eyes, bracing for the inevitable; bracing for some version of this was great while it lasted, but I can’t do this anymore . Maybe even all of the love that we’ve built can’t withstand this.
But instead of delivering a crushing blow, a single kiss takes my breath away. I push her back toward the bed, closing her in until she pulls me down on top of her. This might be the last time we’re going to be together for a while, and there isn’t a cell in my body willing to forget the way she feels.
I break the kiss and sit back on my haunches, both of us ravenously tearing off each other’s clothes.
“I love you,” I rasp, pinning her to the bed. “I love you so fucking much it makes me crazy.”
At first, I thought she was just a distraction from my grief, but Imogen’s given me my spark back.
I ghost my lips down her neck, stopping to nibble and nip at her skin as her light panting fills the room. She whines, back arching as I reach her nipple and bite through the lace of her bra.
“More.”
I grind my hips into the mattress, relieving the pressure that’s building inside me. I release her nipple, grabbing her flimsy bra in the center and tearing it in half.
“A few more of these might show up at your door tomorrow as an apology… from an anonymous citizen of Emerald Bay, of course.”
She laughs, her eyes brighter but still a little sad. If this is the last time we get to touch for a while, I want to make sure it’ll be a night she never forgets.
I toss the torn up remnants of the bra aside and let my mouth close around her nipple, sucking and nibbling on it until she squirms. My name spills out from her lips, mingling with tiny whimpers and moans as her fingers run through my hair. My hands glide down her body to play with the waistband on her leggings.
“What time did your brother say he’d be home?”
“He didn’t say anything more specific than ‘later,’ but I think he wants to give us some privacy. We’ve got time.”
“Good. I’m gonna make you scream so loud they can hear it in the next town over.”
We could both use this distraction right about now.
I can’t get enough of her, slowly peeling her leggings off and taking extra care to kiss each inch of bare skin. I grab her hand as I catch her sliding it down her body, lacing my fingers between hers and holding it in place.
“Let me take care of you.”
She bites her lip as I let my breath fan over her cunt, her moan raspy and rich, like warm honey. I spread her pussy lips with my free hand, groaning as my fingers start to glisten. I can feel her clit throbbing as I glide my fingers along her folds, listening to the pretty little sounds she makes for me. I could do this all goddamn day, watching her get wetter from the anticipation alone.
“Roman,” she whines. “Please.”
I wrap my lips around her swollen clit, shivering at the taste: sharp and sweet. Her sinful cries bounce off the walls as I grind my hips deeper into the mattress; I don’t know how long I’m going to last, but I’ll make damn sure this woman comes as hard as she can.
Imogen’s hips buck as I slide my fingers inside of her, and I have to move with her body to keep up the pace. All I hear is heavy breathing and all I feel are her sharp nails against my scalp as she holds me in place. I groan into her cunt, curling my fingers until she keens and loosens her grip.
“I want those legs to shake, darlin’. You understand me?”
I take the moment to lift my head in triumph, watching her body trembling as she fights for control.
“Yes!” Her hand slams into the mattress. “Fuck!”
I return to the task at hand, devouring her slowly. Savoring her. I want to make her fall to pieces with my mouth and fingers.
“Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck! I’m so close,” she rasps as I lap at her. “Don’t stop!”
I don’t plan on it.
I push right up against her G-spot, wrapping my mouth around her clit one more time. Imogen rewards me with a deep, guttural groan as she comes apart, her body twitching and her hips snapping like they have a mind of their own.
“Roman– I–”
Suddenly, I feel her go rigid and look up to see her back arched, her pierced nipples aimed right at the ceiling as she cries out. I don’t stop licking her until she shoves me away, laughing.
“Down, boy,” she rasps. “I need a second.”
I back off, taking the opportunity to watch her as she comes down. She’s bathed in soft light, sweat glistening on her skin as she takes in long, deep breaths. I want to see her like this every single day for the rest of my life.
I push the thought away as quickly as it comes, focusing on the present. We have to get through the bullshit first before we figure out what comes next.
“You wanna keep going?” I ask, my hope a little too present in the tone of my voice.
Imogen props herself up onto her elbows, grinning at me.
“You said you wanted my legs to shake, cowboy. So slip those pants off and get to work.”
I nod, climbing off of the bed and shedding my jeans while Imogen roots around in her nightstand. My eyes trace the soft curves of her body and I try to commit every inch to memory just in case this all goes south.
She produces a small purple vibrator, turning it on and grinning from ear to ear.
“This one’s my favorite.”
She rolls onto her back, groaning as she uses the toy to circle her nipples. I’m practically drooling at the sight, her heels sunk into the blankets and her wet pussy on full display for me. I can’t help myself, climbing back onto the bed and nestling between her thighs as I watch her drag the toy up and down her body.
“Turn it up,” I order.
She cocks a brow and I smile.
“Turn it up please, Mistress?”
She doesn’t miss a beat, resting it firmly against her clit, her back bowing as a satisfied groan floods the room. It just might be my favorite sound in the world.
“I thought I told you to get to work.”
I smile, gently grasping her legs and pushing them up so that her calves are resting on my shoulders. Imogen turns the vibrator up a little higher, gasping as I line myself up and slowly thrust inside of her.
“God, I could stay buried inside you forever.”
I begin to move slowly, savoring each stroke, pulling all the way out before thrusting all the way back in again. The vibrations are fucking heavenly against my cock, and I can’t help myself, prying the vibrator from her hands. I turn it up even higher, holding it against her until she cries out, the sound almost primal. Crimson blooms on her cheeks, bright red splotches that flow all the way down her neck.
“Oh, fuck ! Harder!”
“What’s my name, darlin’?”
“Roman!” She mewls. “Roman!”
I’ve got one hand gripping her outer thigh while I hold the vibrator in place with the other, watching her tits bounce with each slam of my hips against hers, and I can feel her squeezing my cock like a goddamn vice. Butterflies swirl in my stomach and sweat trickles down my spine as Imogen stretches her hands above her head, giving in fully.
“Now come for me.”
It seems to be all the permission she needs, and her back arches as another throaty cry rips through the room. Just a few more strokes; I’m so goddamn close. My stomach clenches and my head buzzes, bliss coursing through me until finally I’m toppling over that cliff, coming so hard my eyes involuntarily slam shut.
My heart slams against my ribs, and I suck in a few gulping breaths before looking down at her tear-stained face. I can feel the sweat clinging to the air as I switch the vibrator off and pull out of her. As we both calm down, and the room slowly begins to stop spinning, we find ourselves tangled up in one another once more. Perhaps for the final time.
“I can’t help but feel like this is a goodbye,” she whispers.
My heart wrenches in my chest, but I can’t let her see it.
I can’t let my fear of being left behind consume me.
For once, I have to be strong.
“It’s not a goodbye,” I assure her, stroking her cheek. “We’ll figure it all out.”
We’ll figure it out because we have to.