Chapter 28
Soft Words and Firm Plans
Nico effortlessly grips the backs of my legs, lifting me off the ground. I wrap myself around him, and he carries me into his room, tossing me into the center of the bed before crawling after me. “These past days have been very lonely without you, Bello.”
I’m momentarily overwhelmed by relief. He still wants me. I haven’t fucked things up beyond repair. Founder only knows how. “I am ridiculously amazing.” I slide my fingers into his soft curls, tugging gently. “But for the sake of curiosity, what specifically have you missed?”
Grinning, he runs a finger along the vein thrumming in my neck. “Well…” His eyes roam over me like an intimate caress. “I missed that little moan you make.”
I nudge his shoulder and roll my eyes. “I don’t moan.” Nico moves over me, looming predatorily. I shiver with anticipation, my heart thumping wildly as desire pools in my belly.
“Oh, but you do, Bello. Here, let me show you.” There’s a mischievous twinkle in his silver eyes, and my heart rate speeds up as his beautiful mouth drifts closer, plush lips brushing against my neck.
I tilt my head, wanting more of his gentle open-mouthed kisses that drive me wild.
I gasp, and my eyes fly open as his teeth close on the muscle at the top of my shoulder.
My whole body trembles with pleasure as my back arches off the bed, and a low, needy moan slips from between my lips.
In an instant, his mouth is gone, and I whimper softly, wanting it back where it was.
He watches me with desire and amusement. “That moan.”
It takes me several moments to realize what he means.
When I finally speak, I don’t even try to keep the grudging respect from my voice.
“Well done.” I arch toward him, eager for more but very deliberately taking a few breaths to collect my wits, because two can play this game.
“But I have a weakness for your kisses.” He’s not the only one with bedroom talents.
I brush my fingertips along his shoulders and down his arms, smirking as a small shiver ripples through him.
“Do you know what I missed?” I place small kisses across his chest. The spicy smell of sandalwood and frankincense clinging to his warm skin is wonderfully distracting, limiting my progress as I stop to inhale his scent.
“Your soft gasps.” Just thinking about them makes me harder.
“Mmmm.” Nico leans down and kisses me tenderly, our tongues caressing until we’re both breathless with desire. “Perhaps you can refresh my memory.”
I call up every ounce of focus to control my lust and refrain from hauling him against me and indulging in a frenetic bout of frotting until we both come.
“Happily.” I run my hands along his beautifully sculpted torso, paying special attention to his nipples, gently tugging before rolling them between my fingers and thumbs.
Nico’s deep groan rumbles through his chest, reverberating in mine.
Ignoring my body’s eager response, I squeeze harder, twisting the already taut nubs.
His eyes darken to the color of storm clouds, and desire tints his cheeks a luscious pink.
I pull with steady pressure and he inhales sharply.
“There it is. So brief but so arousing.” His hips roll against mine, and I grin victoriously.
“Do you want me, love?” I’m trying to playfully tease, but worry leaks through, making my tone unsure.
He must hear it, because his smile turns soft as he strokes my cheek. “Always. Forever.”
My heart sings as I slide my hands along his muscled torso, opening the front of his pants so I can slip my hand under the fabric and palm his already stiff cock. The warm, heavy weight of him is arousing and comforting. “I want you. Let me show you how much I’ve missed you and love you.”
Nico crashes his mouth to mine in a hungry, passion-fueled kiss.
Arching against him, I moan, biting gently at his lips and flicking my tongue along his.
He frantically works at opening my pants before yanking them over my hips.
Desperate for him, I kick them off, and we scramble to remove our remaining clothes, ducking to avoid stray elbows.
Laughing, he pushes me onto the bed, throwing a leg over mine.
“Bello. My beautiful man.” He slides his hand down my body, caressing my skin from my shoulder to my cock.
“I love you.” His warm fingers grip me firmly, stroking me deliberately.
“Fuck, that feels good.” I spread my legs, encouraging his exploration.
A shiver runs through me as he growls deeply in the back of his throat and teases my hole, pressing gently until his fingers slip inside.
“Oh, fucking hells.” I spread my legs further, and press against his hand, panting as his fingers sink deeper.
“You are so beautiful. Look at you, panting and needy.” I caress his hip, sliding my hand lower to wrap my fist around his cock, stroking firmly.
There’s very little finesse and definitely no more teasing.
We aren’t trying to impress each other or draw things out.
This is an ‘I missed you’ moment. A ‘welcome home.’ It’s an emotional and visceral need for mutual release after arguing and too much time spent apart.
He brushes the hair from my sweat-dampened face.
“I want you, Bello. I need to be deep inside your tight, wet heat.”
“Yes.” He slips his fingers from me and I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, my cock achingly hard between us.
“Please.” He devours me with his eyes and rubs the tip of his cock against my hole.
I’m desperate, but it’s been weeks since the last time we were intimate.
“I hope you have something to ease the way, love. I’m not sure I’m up to going without. ”
He dives for the bedside table, frantically fumbling in the drawer for the oil. Sighing in relief, he rolls onto his side, pouring some into his palm before coating his gorgeous cock.
I watch through half-lidded eyes as I stroke myself. “Come here and let me show you how much I love you.”
Nico leans down, kissing me softly, and I close my eyes, moaning shamelessly as he presses into me, opening me up.
With a deep exhale, I relax my body, coaxing him deeper until our hips are flush.
I forget about everything else as he picks up the pace, driving into me with powerful thrusts.
My fingers dig into his back. I’m desperate for more, and he gives me everything.
It’s fast and filthy, full of grunts and groans, desperate kisses, and deep, hard fucking.
It’s an intense affirmation of us, and it doesn’t take long before I’m at the edge, ready to come.
With one powerful thrust, he buries himself deep in my body, and I shatter into a million tiny pieces, cum splashing across my chest with each pulse of my release. Nico’s choked-off gasp fills the room as his hips lose their rhythm, and his body shudders through his own climax.
I collapse onto the mattress, wrung out but deeply satisfied, and glide my fingertips along his back as his hips slow and finally stop.
He hovers over me, panting for air, eyes closed, and he’s never looked more beautiful.
Exhausted, but feeling better than I have in far too long, I gently wipe the sweat from his brow. “Good?”
He pushes himself sideways and collapses next to me, resting a shaky hand on my thigh.
“So good.” Covering his hand with mine, I roll onto my side, nestling into the crook of his shoulder.
I close my eyes and savor the safety of his arms around me.
I don’t want to lose this closeness we’re creating.
This life I could have. I want it too much.
“Bello, is everything alright?” His gentle fingers work through my hair, lightly massaging my scalp.
I sigh and press even closer, weighing my answer.
He stays quiet, letting me think without pressure.
In my life, there haven’t been many people who cared for me.
There were even fewer who loved me. Most loved what I could do for them.
Or what I could help them achieve. It made me hard.
Aggressive. More focused on the reward than the request. But that’s who I was.
Who someone else made me. And I want to leave that behind.
I want more of what I have now with Nico. “Will you help me with something?”
He stills for a moment, surely shocked by my request. “Yes. Always.”
He doesn’t even know what it is, and yet he’s willing to agree to whatever I ask.
I don’t deserve him. “When I was very young, I recall softness. Kisses and hugs. Comfort when I hurt. It’s more shadows of memories than anything.
Then with the Shabah there was—well, not that.
And that soft boy changed to survive. And I grew into a jaded, cynical man with a questionable conscience and probably faulty moral compass.
It’s what kept me alive. It’s the only life I knew.
And then I met you.” His soft gray eyes are full of acceptance and the love he has for me, and I want to do better.
“I don’t want that life anymore. I want to be the person you see in me.
” He tightens his embrace, squeezing me to his chest, and we lie in silence again, long enough that I wonder if he fell asleep.
I pull back to check and am blown away by his intense gaze. It’s full of awe and love. For me.
“I have to admit that when I did not hear from you for so long, I thought maybe your old life had seduced you. Pulled you back. Or I had pushed you there.”
Raising up on my elbows, I shake my head. “No. Never. I’m so sorry I made you worry.” I settle against him again, needing his arms around me. Founder, who have I become? “How about spring?”
“Spring for what?” His voice is shaky.