Chapter 23
Saul couldn’t help his jolt of surprise. He knew Sadie was feeling vulnerable and had already stepped way out of her comfort zone by making the invitation to share her shower, so he’d pre-empted her need for control. He was willing to offer it after forcing her out of her shell.
Yes, she could have safe-worded, but he’d expected she was finally at her limit.
That she trusted him to go further…
Fuck!
This woman was wrecking him. And damn if he didn’t like it.
Sadie's eyes darkened with desire and something deeper, more intense. Something completely unexpected.
Without a word, he lifted her, ignoring the throb in his injured shoulder, and pressed her against the tiles. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist, gasping as his hard length slid against her sensitive flesh.
"Are you sure?" Saul murmured, his lips brushing her ear.
Despite everything, he needed to give her an out, because this wasn't just about kink anymore. This was crossing a line, venturing into territory neither of them had explored before. It was more terrifying than any dangerous mission he’d ever accepted, but the thought of stopping now was even more crippling.
"I'm sure," she whispered, her gaze meeting his, her eyes holding a certainty that surprised him further. "Please, Saul. I need you."
With a low groan, he braced himself and entered her in one smooth thrust. Sadie cried out, her tight, wet heat engulfing him, and Saul was overwhelmed by the sense of rightness.
This was nothing like the scenes they'd shared before.
This was intimate. Vulnerable in a way that made both their breaths catch.
Saul began to move, setting a slow, deliberate pace that had Sadie gasping with each thrust. "God, Sadie," he groaned, burying his face in the crook of her neck. "You feel…"
He couldn't form words, lost in the sensation of Sadie surrounding him, her muscles squeezing and undulating around his girth.
There was no power play, no carefully negotiated boundaries. Just two people connecting on the most primal level.
Saul's thrusts became more urgent as he felt himself climbing towards his peak, his body racing for completion.
He fought against it. Forced himself to slow down, wanting to string this out. Wanting to imprint every moment into his memory. Wanting it to last forever when forever was something he didn’t have to give.
He was hyperaware of every point where their bodies connected - his hands gripping her hips, her breasts pressed against his chest, his lips on her neck, and the wet, salty taste of her.
The way her short, sensible nails dug into his shoulders and her hips canted against his. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as she clung to him, her body trembling with each deep thrust.
The warm water cascaded over them, adding to the sensory overload Sadie was feeling. She'd never felt so exposed, so vulnerable, yet paradoxically, so safe.
"Saul," she whimpered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the shower. "I'm so close."
He responded by increasing his pace, one hand sliding between their bodies to find her most sensitive spot. His fingers circled her clit with practiced ease, and Sadie felt her orgasm building rapidly.
"Let go," Saul murmured against her ear, his voice low and intense. "I've got you."
Those simple words broke something loose inside her. Sadie cried out, her body arching against his as waves of pleasure crashed over her. She clung to Saul, trembling as he continued to move within her, drawing out her climax.
Saul followed soon after, groaning her name as he buried himself deep. For a long moment, they stayed like that, pressed against the shower wall, their ragged breaths mingling.
As the aftershocks of their shared climax subsided, Sadie became acutely aware of their intimate position.
She was still wrapped around Saul, her legs entwined with his, her face buried in the crook of his neck.
The warm water continued to cascade over them, but Sadie barely noticed it.
Her entire world had narrowed to the feeling of Saul's skin against hers, his strong arms holding her close.
Slowly, almost reluctantly, Saul lowered her to her feet.
Sadie's legs felt wobbly, and she leaned against the shower wall for support.
She kept her eyes closed, suddenly afraid to look at Saul.
What had just happened between them was so far outside her comfort zone, so beyond anything she'd ever experienced before.
It left her feeling raw and exposed in a way she struggled to accept.
"Sadie?" Saul's voice was soft, concerned. She felt his fingers gently tilting her chin up. "Look at me, sweetheart."
Taking a deep breath, Sadie opened her eyes. Saul was watching her intently, his dark eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't name.
Her heart raced as she met his intense gaze and searched his expression for answers to questions she maybe didn’t want to define. She saw them anyway. Tenderness mixed with understanding, and perhaps a hint of uncertainty that mirrored her own swirling emotions.
"Are you okay?" Saul asked softly, his thumb gently caressing her cheek.
Sadie nodded, not trusting her voice. She was more than okay - she felt alive in a way she never had before. But admitting that, even to herself, was a step too far right now.
Seeming to sense her inner turmoil, Saul reached past her to turn off the cooling water jets, then grabbed a large, fluffy towel from the nearby rack. With gentle movements, he began to dry her off, his touch reverent and careful.
"You don't have to do that," Sadie murmured, feeling way too vulnerable under his attentive care.
"I want to," Saul replied simply, continuing his ministries.
Just think of it as aftercare, she told herself to stop the blind panic from tumbling her over the edge.
When he finished, he wrapped the towel around her and pulled her close, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. The tenderness of the gesture made Sadie's breath catch.
"Come on," Saul said softly, guiding her out of the bathroom.
Sadie allowed herself to be led back to the bedroom, her mind still reeling from the intensity of what had just transpired between them.
As Saul helped her into a soft robe, she couldn't help but marvel at the gentleness in his touch.
This was a side of him she'd refused to let herself see before - in anyone.
It was too tender, too adoring. It felt like a trap.
Something that pulled you in and beguiled your senses before springing a steel trap of disillusionment because none of it was real.
But Saul made her want to believe again, and she kinda hated him for it, at the same time as she wanted to trust him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Saul asked, his voice low and careful as he sat beside her on the bed. Not the first time he’d asked, but once again, she turned him down.
Sadie shook her head, nowhere near ready to put words to the swirling emotions inside her. "Not yet," she whispered. "Can we just... be? For a little while?"
Understanding flickered in Saul's eyes. Without a word, he lay back on the bed, opening his arms in invitation. After a moment's hesitation, Sadie curled up against him, resting her head on his chest. The steady thrum of his heartbeat was oddly comforting.
As Saul's fingers idly stroked her damp hair, Sadie felt the tension slowly disperse, and the words came of their own accord.