Chapter 34 Celeste
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CELESTE
“He who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
After a couple days of being monitored in the hospital, I’m finally released to come home.
Unfortunately, the marks on my back are going to scar; I’m given ointment to apply on them to help avoid any infections.
The doctor let me know he knew a good plastic surgeon he would contact for me to have my back worked on making it look like they never existed.
I let him know I would think about it and took the information.
Alaric has stayed with me every single day, refusing to leave my side. From everything he caught me up on, he sacrificed a lot to make sure he could get to me in time. The way he worked with my family, he took a life and blew up on his Director, there’s no doubt how much I mean to him.
The feeling I get is so suffocating with love and care that I’ve never experienced with anyone I was with before.
I don’t quite know how to handle it. The way he looked at me with the knife in my hand and blood all over my body was everything but fear.
He didn’t try to coax it out of my hand or ask me when I stabbed Oliver to death.
The only thing he focused on was to get me into his arms and to a hospital.
He didn’t even bat an eye at the destruction I stood over.
I opt to stay at my apartment in the city for the time being until Samantha and her daughter are reunited.
I need a place of silence and I can’t do that with a little running around the house and Adelina constantly checking on me, making sure I’m still breathing.
That doesn’t stop her from calling me often to check in, though.
If I don’t answer her, she will send Antonio and Larson to come over to check on me, considering we live on the same floor in the same complex.
Larson has been holding things down at the office the last couple of days until I return.
He argued that I take as much time as I need but we have another issue at hand that needs to be resolved asap.
There’s no time for rest in the world we live in and just because I’m a woman, doesn’t mean I can wallow.
I have to show these men that nothing can break me.
No injury, scars, or situation will ever put me in a position of being weak.
Whoever tries to take me down will have a rude awakening.
For now, I’ll take some time to get some sleep, lie around in comfy clothes, and also reunite a very special little girl and mama!
I’m honestly so excited to see the two of them finally see each other, hear the squeals of the vibrant little girl and see a family mend back together.
I’m hoping that this will help with her healing process and give her the strength to keep living.
The doorbell rings, bringing me out of my thoughts. Pushing the fluffy blanket from my lap, I get up and head to the door. Swinging the door open, I’m met with a tall, muscular, breathtaking man holding food and flowers.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at work at this hour?” I give him a questioning look.
He steps into me, kissing the top of my head. The simple gesture could bring me to my knees, sucking the air out of my lungs.
His woodsy scent fills my senses, flooding me with peace and happiness.
“Considering I’ve been suspended, no. Plus, I couldn’t stand being away from you.” He smirks as he walks past me towards the kitchen.
“You literally just saw me a couple hours ago.” I roll my eyes.
I can’t help myself from looking him up and down, taking in his muscular body. He’s wearing dark jeans that hug his legs and ass, giving me an amazing view and a tight black T-shirt that shows off his bulging arms.
Handsome.
Panty dropping.
My lady bits are screaming at me to rip it all off him and taste every single inch of his perfect body. My eyes travel back up to his darkened eyes full of want and lust. I definitely got caught checking him out. A blush creeps up my cheeks and I clear my throat shifting towards the counter.
“W-why were you suspended? You should be fucking rewarded for finding us first,” I stutter for a moment but quickly catch myself.
“Because I was told I was off the case due to my high emotions and I told him to fuck off. Instead of backing down, Beckett and I went to your mansion and sought our own plan with those who would go to the end of the world to make sure the three of you came home.” He shrugs like it doesn’t even faze him.
I walk around him, grabbing my meds, popping a Percocet as the numbness is starting to wear off. I take a long drink of water I’d left on the counter before turning back around to him leaning over the counter staring at me.
“What?” I raise my brows at him.
He doesn’t say anything, just stares at me like he’s in deep thought.
Something in his eyes flickers as if he’s battling something deep inside of him from surfacing.
I’m a little taken back by the switch of the heavy air that surrounds us.
He was just so calm and collected a few moments ago.
Now, he looks like he wants to tear someone from limb to limb.
“Alaric? What’s wrong?”
I move towards him and his stare doesn’t waiver from looking straight ahead.
He’s stuck in a trance with his hands white-knuckled, gripping on the counter.
Carefully, I raise my hand to his cheek and follow with the other until we’re face to face a breath away.
My hands cup his cheeks softly, trying to bring him back to the present.
His body begins to relax under my touch and his beautiful eyes go back to the shimmering blue eyes that I love so much.
“Where’d you go?” I whisper softly.
His arms wrap around my waist, careful to avoid touching my back. His scent engulfs my senses, giving me comfort I didn’t know I needed. It was like a spark zinged throughout my body, causing an electrical pull between the two of us.
“Seeing you taking those meds to ward off the pain reminds me that I failed to keep you safe. That you had to endure the torture that you did. I wanted to destroy that bastard for even laying a hand on you.” His body goes stiff again as he confesses.
Standing on my tippy toes, I pull his face to mine and rest my forehead to his. He closes his eyes like he’s trying to center himself again. I brush my lips against his, so feather-like that it causes a small whimper to leave his.
“You’re not a failure, Alaric. I put myself in that position to save my family.
I don’t regret a single bit of it. You’re the one I thought about when I was there.
You’re the one that kept me fighting so I could come back to you.
I will proudly bear these scars.” I crash my lips into his, hard and desperate.
My blood starts to boil with so much need.
I’ve gone too long without the feel of his lips.
My lips part as his tongue breaks the barrier and invades my mouth.
We fight for dominance, as our tongues clash.
His hands roam up and down my sides before slipping under my shirt.
With no bra underneath, he has easy access as he cups my breasts with his large hands.
Hot.
Intense.
Dark magic.
Our bodies long for each other and each touch, kissing isn’t enough. I need more or I’m going to explode. It’s like we’ve gone long, strenuous years being apart, when it was only days.
My hands tremble as I slide them down his muscled chest, down to his jeans. I take no time unbuckling his belt and sliding my hand under the layer of clothes until it’s wrapped around a long, rock-hard cock. Pulling it out from being concealed, I slowly move up and down his shaft.
A growl vibrates from his lips with every stroke. I pick up the movements, feeling him grow harder and harder. Breaking my lips away from his, I lower my body down so I’m on my knees in front of him. My eyes go wide, forgetting how large he is.
“Celeste,” he moans at the sight of me. “You shouldn’t be putting strain on your back or arm.”
It’s so cute how worried he is for me. His eyes say a different story though. He’s eating up the sight of me. Longing for my lips to wrap around him.
I look up at him through my thick lashes, daring him to stop me. To deprive me from having what I want. He’ll lose that battle.
“Eyes on me, Alaric. Don’t you dare look away.” I purr at him before I stick my tongue out and lick his shaft.
His body twitches at the contact. I tease him by licking the other side before I wrap my lips around him and bob my head up and down. His hips buck, needing more and I don’t deny him of his needs. I open up my throat, hollow out my checks, and take him deeper. He’s too big to take all the way.
I pick up the pace, taking him inch by inch, never breaking our stare. He fights from throwing back his head in pleasure, obeying my command. His hips buck again pushing himself deeper into me, causing me to gag. Hands entwine into my hair, as he shoves into me, forcing me to take another inch.
My eyes water, drool dripping out of my mouth, but I refuse to yield. He thrusts his hips, fucking my face. So desperate for more.
“God, Celeste. Your pretty mouth feels so good,” he moans.
He’s ruthless, and all sense of gentleness goes away. My other hand slides up his thick thighs, traveling until I cup his balls. He bucks again and this time, he comes undone.
Without warning, a salty substance shoots down my throat, and his thrusts become lighter and lighter. I don’t pull away until every single last drop leaves him and I swallow with a satisfied moan before pulling away from him.
Rising from my knees, he’s quick with his assault, crashing his lips on mine. Tasting himself on me, he sweeps his tongue in mine. Spinning me around, he has my body flush against the counter. He isn’t done with me yet, not even close.