Chapter 39 Nova #3
“I—” He hesitated, looking down. “I don’t want you in that proximity, Nova. I don’t want him anywhere near you or Scarlette.”
“If that happens, then we will deal with it when it does. I can’t imagine he’s still there in the same place.” My voice dropped. “I love you, Ollie,” I whispered, forcing him to meet my eyes. “I love you until the day I die. You don’t need to be scared of him because I’m yours.”
His jaw flexed, and then, with no warning, he said, “Then marry me, love. It’ll make it easier for me to get over to the States with visas. Marry me because you love me.”
I froze.
My breath caught, and I shook my head, tearing my gaze away from him. We’d been engaged for so long, and still, I couldn’t bring myself to say yes. Not really. Not in the way that mattered.
It wasn’t just about Mami anymore. Yes, the idea of her not being there hurt, but that wasn’t the thing holding me back. The truth was uglier than grief. It was shame.
After everything I went through in my last marriage—the isolation, the gaslighting, the slow, painful unraveling of who I was—I never thought I’d want to be someone’s wife again.
I’d clawed my way out of that life piece by piece.
I’d rebuilt myself from nothing. Still, some nights, I didn’t recognize the woman I’d become.
The idea of standing beside Ollie, someone so steady, so good . . . it terrified me.
What if I wasn’t enough? What if the broken, bruised parts of me still weren’t lovable, even after everything? What if he changed his mind once he saw all of it—all of me—laid bare?
Even though he’d already seen me at my lowest. Even though he’d held me through it. Even though he never once turned away.
Still. I couldn’t stop the voice in my head whispering: He deserves more. And one day, he’ll realize that.
“I-I . . .” My voice cracked, my throat tightening as the fear bubbled up. “The last time I was married, I was in a spiral. I ended up at the lowest point of my life. I’m terrified of that happening again. You saw me.”
Ollie’s jaw tightened, and he closed his eyes briefly before gently pushing me to the other side of the sofa. The space between us felt like a chasm.
“I am not him, Nova,” he said, voice low and tense. “You know that. I’ve spent years—years—proving that.”
“I know.” I inched closer, trying to reach him. “I do, Ollie. I’m scared.”
“You’ve been scared. Nova, we’ve been engaged for almost four years. At some point, it’s not fear anymore—it’s avoidance.”
The words hit hard. He wasn’t angry, not really, but he was tired. Bone-deep tired.
“I never asked you to marry me on a whim. I asked you because I knew, without a doubt, that it was you. That it was us. I’ve waited.
I’ve understood the trauma, the hesitation, the need to feel safe.
But how long am I supposed to stay in this limbo, waiting for the day you finally believe we’re not doomed? ”
“I’m not saying never,” I whispered. “Just . . . let us settle in first. Give us a year in the States. If we both like it, then—”
“No.” The word was quiet but final. He shook his head slowly. “I’ll give you space to adjust, sure. But I’m not waiting another year for a ‘maybe.’ We don’t need more time to prove what we already know.”
I looked away, but he reached for my chin and gently turned me back to him.
“At the end of Scarlette’s school year,” he said, “we’re getting married. That’s the line I’m drawing. You can spend the year settling, thinking, healing, whatever you need. But I won’t keep holding us in place. We deserve more than that.”
Tears stung my eyes. “You’re really going to put a deadline on this?”
“No,” he said. “I’m giving us a moment to step into the future we’ve been dancing around for years. I tuck that little girl in like she’s mine, because she is mine. I’ve been showing up for you both with my whole damn heart. I want this life to start. Our life.”
I couldn’t speak. Could barely breathe.
“It’s not that I don’t want to marry you,” I finally whispered, voice cracking. “I do. I just . . . I’m scared it’ll fall apart like everything else.”
Ollie pulled me into his arms, holding me like I was something precious.
“Then let it fall apart with me, Nova,” he murmured into my hair. “But don’t keep running from it before it even begins.”
He just held me as if the silence didn’t scare him the way it scared me. That’s what undid me.
I leaned back, looking at his face. His eyes were still steady, still full of all that love I didn’t know how to hold without trembling. I needed to feel it—feel him—without words, without fear, just for a moment.
So I kissed him.
His mouth was on mine in an instant. His hands roamed, sliding beneath the hem of my shirt as if reacquainting themselves with a map they’d memorized long ago.
I gasped when he pulled me closer, my jeans dragging tight as I climbed into his lap, clinging to him like a lifeline. There was no hesitation, only heat, only need, only this dizzying collision of comfort and hunger as our bodies tangled together.
He didn’t ask if I was sure. He knew I was.
Because this—this was the one thing I never ran from.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had the whole house to ourselves, love.”
I reached up, pulling off his shirt, fingers roaming over his thick, hard chest. He took up so much space on the sofa, commanding every inch of it.
“So long,” I murmured, my lips brushing against his neck. “It’s been even longer since I’ve had you all to myself.”
Despite Luna or Will helping us when they could, true alone time had been a rare luxury.
“Show me how much you love me,” he growled, his hand tracing the curve of my back. “Show me all the naughty things you’ll do to me when you’re my wife.” The words dripped from his mouth like smooth, molten lava, igniting a fire in me.
A wicked grin spread across my lips as I slid down the sofa, deftly pulling off his pants. His cock sprang free, thick and throbbing, and I licked my lips in anticipation.
“Let me clean you off, Daddy,” I purred, leaning closer. “Let me show you how much I love you.”
My mouth descended on him, taking him in slowly, savoring the stretch as his thick head pressed against my lips. “Stretch my mouth, baby.” My words vibrated against him as I opened wide, letting him plunge himself deeper.
I loved how he unraveled under my touch, how he let me nurture and spoil him just as he took care of me.
The way he claimed me, the way he trusted me to give him everything he needed—it wasn’t sexy; it was intoxicating.
The dynamic between us grew, and we thrived on the fire of love and desire neither of us could resist.
I popped off him, my nails trailing along his inner thighs.
“Look at you,” I cooed, running my tongue along my bottom lip. “So hard already. Did you miss this?”
“Always,” he groaned, his voice rough with need. “I missed your mouth. I missed you taking care of me.”
I smirked, lightly brushing my fingers over him, teasing. “My poor baby,” I murmured, watching his abs clench as he tried to stay still. “Let me make it better.”
Leaning forward, I flicked my tongue over the tip, tasting the salty bead of his arousal. He hissed, fisting the sofa cushions as I wrapped my lips around him. I took him in, inch by inch, until he hit the back of my throat.
“Fuck,” he breathed, his voice cracking. “You’re too good at this. Too fucking good.”
I hummed around him, the vibration making him curse again. His hand found my hair, gripping it tight, but he didn’t push. He never did. He held on, letting me control the pace as I worked him over, my tongue swirling and teasing.
“Look at you,” I murmured, pulling back with a soft pop. “Falling apart for me. You like it when I spoil you, don’t you?”
“Yes,” he rasped, his chest heaving. “I fucking love it.”
I grinned wickedly, taking him deep again, gripping his hips to keep him from thrusting. His groans grew louder, his body tense, teetering on the edge. I could feel the way he was losing control, his breath coming faster, his muscles twitching.
“Shit, love, I’m close.” His voice was strained. “I—fuck—stop.”
I pulled back, lips slick, smirking. “Stop?” I taunted him, licking my lips.
His grip tightened, dragging me closer. “I want you on top,” he growled. “Now.”
I laughed breathlessly and stood, tugging off my shirt, then shimmying out of my pants and underwear until I was completely bare. His eyes roamed my body like he wanted to devour every inch.
“So cocky for someone begging a minute ago,” I shot back as I straddled him, but the words melted into a gasp as the thick head of his cock pressed against me, the heat between us unbearable.
“Don’t tease,” he snarled, his voice raw. “Be a good girl and ride me.”
“Oh, Daddy,” I purred. His head fell back with a groan, and I couldn’t help the wicked smile that spread across my lips. “I love spoiling you.”
We didn’t pull the curtains to the windows, so anyone looking up at the townhouse would see everything.
“Look at you,” he rasped. “So fucking perfect for me.”
I smirked, dragging the thick head of his cock along my slick folds, teasing us both. I lowered myself slowly, inch by inch, until he was buried inside me. My head fell back, my hair tumbling down as a gasp tore from my lips, the stretch overwhelming.
“Does Daddy like it when I take care of him like this?”
His answering growl was guttural, sliding his hands up my waist to grab my breasts, kneading them roughly. “Fuck yes. Love watching you take what’s yours.”
I started to move, rolling my hips, his thick heat filling me perfectly. His hands left my breasts only to pull me down against him. His mouth latched onto one swollen nipple, sucking hard, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peak until I cried out.
I whimpered, tangling my fingers in his hair as he sucked harder, the sharp sting of his teeth grazing me making my back arch.
He released my nipple with a wet pop, his lips slick as he moved to the other, sucking hard, teeth grazing. “Look at you. So fucking desperate. Taking me like you’re made for it.”
A cry tore from my throat as he thrust up hard, his control slipping. “Keep going,” he demanded, his hands rough as they guided my movements. “Show me how much of a filthy little thing you can be. Make me come inside you, and maybe I’ll let you come, too.”
I trembled, the combination of his cock stretching me and his mouth worshipping my breasts pushing me closer to the edge. My movements grew frantic, my thighs burning as I rode him harder, my cries echoing in the room.
I dug my nails into his shoulders, my body trembling. “Daddy—I’m so close,” I sobbed, tears streaming down my face as the pleasure overwhelmed me.
“That’s it,” he growled, gripping my ass. “Come for me. Show me how fucking good you are.”
His words tipped me over the edge, my body shattering as I came, my walls clenching tight around him. I screamed his name, raking my nails down his chest as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me.
“Fuck, yes,” he snarled, his grip tightening as he thrust up into me, his body going rigid beneath mine.
His cock pulsed deep inside me, filling me with his release as he groaned my name.
I collapsed against him, trembling, both of us struggling to catch our breath. He smoothed his hands over my back as he kissed the top of my head.
“When you’re my wife next year,” he murmured, “there’ll be no more birth control. I want to fill you—really fill you.”
I tilted my head up to meet his gaze, my breath catching at the warmth in his eyes.
He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his thumb stroking my cheek. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted,” he whispered, his tone raw and full of reverence. “And I’m going to give you everything, too.”
I sighed, a deep, contented breath, my body melting into his. I wanted his baby. I wanted his love. I wanted him, but more than that, I wanted us to have everything we deserved.
I pressed a kiss to his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my lips.
A loud knock startled me. My heart jumped, and so did I, scrambling to cover myself with the first thing I could grab—a throw blanket that barely did the job. Ollie, clearly flustered, grabbed the tiniest pillow on the sofa and slapped it over his lap like it was going to make a difference.
We both froze, staring at the window. There she was—Luna. Bouncing on her toes like a damn cheerleader, holding up a piece of paper with 10/10 scribbled in bold letters. At least she looked better and happier than she had earlier, but seriously?
I couldn’t help it. A burst of hysterical laughter escaped me. “Oh my god.” I wheezed, grabbing the blanket tighter around me. “She’s wild.”
“Leave us alone,” I mouthed dramatically, waving my arms like a creep.
Luna, of course, just doubled over, laughing, clearly enjoying herself way too much. I ran to the window, still naked, and yanked the blinds closed.
“At least the heartbreak isn’t tearing her up that much,” Ollie said and chuckled as he got off the sofa and headed upstairs. He paused at the bottom of the steps. “Round two?”
I threw the tiny pillow at his face, and he dodged it, laughing.
“You’re insatiable,” I mumbled as I followed him.