Chapter 14 #2
“Fuck, I don’t remember.” He throws his hands up. “I’m sorry. I can’t be cool right now. Are you aware that your dick is pierced?”
Luca glances down at his crotch and gasps. “Holy shit, how did that happen?”
“Ha, ha.” Ciprian sounds pained. “Give me a minute. I can’t talk about plumbing while I’m in shock.”
“Then go keep Celine warm.”
“That I can do.” With one last glance at Luca, Ciprian strips and climbs into the shower with me. “Brr. This is tepid at best, hot wings.”
“Don’t rush her,” Luca snaps.
I raise my hands over my head and arch my back in a stretch that’s completely unnecessary for anything but my pride and turn the water hotter.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Ciprian runs his eyes over me and licks his bottom lip. “I’m more than happy to take it at her pace, but she can handle a lot.”
I stroke his abs, tracing the grooves from top to bottom, then wrap my hand around his dick.
“What are you doing?” he whispers.
“Leveling the playing field. He surprised you with the piercing; it’s only fair you show him something equally shocking.” I pump him a few times—enough to show off what he’s working with—then drop my hand.
“Thanks for the fluff, babe.”
I groan. “Don’t ever say that to me again.”
The sound of running water comes from the tub, and we both turn to look.
Brow pinched, with his head cocked to the side, Luca adjusts all seven knobs, then leans over to plug the drain before glancing at us with a smile. “I got it.”
I check him out shamelessly. Luca is sexy on a normal day, but after doing something competent? I’m fucking aching for him.
“Did that get you hot, Celine?” Ciprian asks, amusement in his voice.
Luca’s stare shifts from pleased to hungry in a flash. “Is she wet?”
My breath catches as Ciprian slides a finger between my legs. “Dripping.”
“No shit,” I mutter as Luca charges toward me. “I’m in the—” His lips smash against mine. I expect sweetness, something soft and gentle, but Luca kisses me like he’s starving. All teeth and tongue and stolen air.
My arms wrap around his neck. “I missed you,” I gasp.
“I was terrified,” he groans. “I-I thought you were gone. It was the worst three minutes and twelve seconds of my life.” Gods, was that all? It felt twice as long. The cold in my bones, the burn of water invading my lungs. I shudder and squeeze him tight.
“I won’t give up.” I pull away to meet his eyes. “No matter what they throw at me. I’ll fight to get Ali back. I swear it, Luca. I’ll get them both back, and we’ll get out of here. I won’t let you down.”
“Shh.” Luca kisses me again. “Please don’t talk that way. You don’t have to prove anything to me, baby. Not to Alistair or Malach either.”
I drop my head to his chest and grab Ciprian’s hand. “I hate choosing.”
“Of course you do,” Ciprian drawls. “I mean, look at us. How could you pick?”
“Did you know they were going to point at you?” I ask Luca.
He frowns. “No, those fuckers conspired against me. Self-sacrificing sons of bitches.”
There are new shadows in and around Luca’s eyes. Dark circles carved into his olive skin. He’s struggling. I glance at Ciprian. His brow is creased, and I’m glad to see I’m not the only one noticing the change in Luca. I’ll figure out how to help him, but I’m going to start with a distraction.
I sink into him again, running the tip of my tongue along the seam of his lips. He lets me in immediately, but I pull back before either of us can get lost in the kiss, grabbing Ciprian’s head and dragging his mouth to mine. With Luca’s arms around me and his cock pressed against my hip, I shudder.
“Is it too hot?” Luca asks. His voice is thick with worry, and that’s not what I want.
“Not yet, it isn’t.” I reach behind him for the bar of soap and run it between my hands to work up a lather. “Help me wash, please?”
Ciprian snatches the soap from me, then runs the bar between my breasts.
“I’m scared to fuck you right now,” he says bluntly.
His voice is croaky and rough. “When the branch broke . . .” He closes his eyes.
“I couldn’t stop screaming. No one listened.
I want my hands all over you, Celine, but I can’t handle the possibility that I might hurt you. ”
Luca hums low in his throat, asking a question without words.
I roll my eyes and scrub myself down. “He’s got a huge cock. It’s a production to get it in, but I’m two-for-two, with no issues. There’s no reason to—”
“Good gods, you weren’t kidding,” Luca exclaims, his eyebrows climbing almost to his hairline. “Did you walk funny afterward?”
I shake my head and reclaim the soap. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Ciprian’s eyes squeeze shut. “This conversation is killing me.”
“That’s your own fault,” I mutter, tossing the bar of soap to Luca. It bounces off his chest and falls to the shower floor unnoticed. Luca is too busy staring at Ciprian’s dick.
“You’re making me feel like a zoo animal.”
“Sorry.”
“You don’t sound sorry.” Ciprian picks the soap up, his movements jerky. He lathers his hands aggressively, then reaches around me to wash Luca’s arms and chest. “I’m only letting you get away with objectifying me because you’re hot.”
I hide my smile.
Luca doesn’t bother.
“You think I’m hot?” He wraps his fingers around Ciprian’s wrist, then drags the soap over his pecs slowly.
Ciprian scoffs. “Obviously.” He scrubs Luca’s shoulders, lets out a heavy sigh, and stares him dead in the eye. “Don’t play with me right now, Luca. Not unless you mean—”
He doesn’t get to finish the sentence.
Luca yanks him close and kisses him hard.
I scoot out of their way and lean against the shower wall, watching their lips move against each other. Frenzied at first, then slower and deeper. They’re about the same height, shorter than Ali and Malach, but taller than me.
Water trickles down their skin in heavy, caressing drops.
Ciprian’s right hand crawls up the back of Luca’s neck and disappears in his hair.
Luca groans into his mouth, grabbing Ciprian by the hips and grinding against him.
I bite my lip.
Like me, Ciprian is pale. Next to Luca’s golden tan, the contrast is beautiful. Two works of art grappling to become one. I can’t look away.
I drop my soapy hands to their lower backs and tilt my head up.
Then I’m part of the kiss.
It’s impractical and sloppy, but I need it. I need to experience firsthand how alive they are. Safe, in this moment, or as close to it as we can manage.
“Don’t let me go,” I whisper.
“Okay, baby.”
“Never.”
Smiling, I ignore the burn behind my eyes. I’m done crying. At least for tonight.
“Can I touch you?” I run my soapy hands down their sides to make sure they know exactly what I mean.
“You never have to ask—”
“I’d rather chug a gallon of mustard than go another minute without your hand on my cock.”
Luca raises one eyebrow at Ciprian, then gasps as I slide my hands between their bodies and stroke. I can’t wait any longer. I need them to remind me why I’m fighting this hard to live.
“I love you,” I say, my voice raspy. “I love you both so much.”
Then I get to work proving it.