Chapter 51 His Emerald Fire #2
I start to move, but Leo holds me in place. “Wait.”
I sink further, allowing my legs to relax.
We both groan at the small movement, but I wait for him.
Leo’s hands run over my back, down over my hips, and back up again.
He comes to my breasts, squeezing them as I hang my head back and close my eyes.
He flicks over my nipples as I make sounds of pleasure.
His hands disappear, and I open my eyes, finding him slowly peeling off one of his sleeves.
“Leo, it’s okay, you can keep them on,” I say, placing my hand over his.
“I want them off…” he says roughly, moving his gaze to mine, “…nothing between us.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
He starts to roll it more but stops at the same spot as before.
Carefully, I place my hand over his and help him take it off together.
His chest shakes as we do the same with the other one, tossing the sleeves aside.
His scars come into full view, mottled skin around his wrists that are a pinkish color moving up his forearm.
Leo stares at them, and I grab his hands, placing them on my thighs. I move my hips a little, circling them once and he groans. I then grab his face, making him look at me instead of the scars upon his arms.
“Focus on me,” I say, circling my hips again and his breath hitches. “We’re safe, Leo. Only you can touch me. We’re safe. Only us.”
Tears gather in his eyes, and some begin to form for me as well. I clutch at his back, bringing us close as I move my hips slightly. Leo’s body shudders, hands moving to my ass as he grips me and my breath hitches.
“Check in,” he murmurs.
“Emerald.”
Leo lifts my hips, then pushes them back down.
We groan, the noise intermingling as he does it again and I grind against him.
Our breaths pick up, finding a rhythm to work together.
A hand comes up to clutch the back of my head, keeping our bodies flush as he pushes into me.
Sweat forms, clinging to our bodies to help slide us together.
He suddenly stops, and I’m about to check in, when he begins to lay me upon the bed.
Leo places me gently, keeping us connected as he roams a hand down my side, hips, and thigh.
He thrusts gently as I grab his neck, moaning into his shoulder as I’m wrecked with pleasure.
Desire strikes through me, tingling up my spine and through my bones.
My legs shake as I feel myself on the verge of coming, the need and craving to be together after so long.
Leo places both of his hands at the side of me.
I pull him closer as he continues to thrust, grinding his hips against mine.
He groans, bringing his head down next to mine as he grips the sheets.
One of his hands move to cup my face, and he brings his head up.
His movements falter when his eyes come to those scars again.
“Focus on me,” I say gently, reaching up as my back arches towards him. I take that hand, keeping it in place as I tenderly kiss his wrist. And then again. “You’re safe. We’re safe.”
My heart clenches seeing that flicker of fear, hating it. Anger simmers beneath the desire, despising what was done to him. To make him fear himself and us. I’m determined by the need to love him and cherish him. Protect him.
I reach up with my other hand, stroking his hair back as I pull him down to me. I kiss him fervently, relaying all the love in my heart for him. That we made it.
His hips grind against mine and my legs shake as another shudder of bliss hits me.
“I love you,” I say against his lips, clutching his hand against my jaw. “I love you, baby.”
“Autumn.”
My hand goes down to his ass, grasping him as I grind my hips up.
He groans against my mouth, and his body goes tense.
Mine does next as the orgasm pulls at me, pushing me over as my entire body goes taut with a much-needed release.
Leo breaks the kiss, grunting into the bedcovers next to my head.
We cling to the other, covered in sweat and panting heavily.
Finally, his body starts to go lax over mine, barely holding himself up from crushing me. He brings his head back up, sweat along his brow. I smile up at him.
“I’m so proud of you,” I say softly.
His chin quivers as I watch a torrent of emotions move over his eyes. Relief. Love. Hope. Unbelief. Emotions I knew too well. The aftermath of just a mixture of everything as you feel a weight lifted off.
“Come here.” I reach up for him, my own emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Leo wraps his arms around me, falling over to the side. We hold each other firmly.
Leo silently cries against my skin. I focus on Leo for my own well-being as I remind myself he’s okay. We’re okay, even as I cry quietly as well.
After a while, our tears dry. Both of us clinging to the other. I feel him stroke his hand over my back.
“I love you,” he whispers. “And so, fucking thankful I have you, my dear Watson.”
“I love you, my dear Leo.”
I rest my head on the bed, coming face to face with him as he does the same. Leo strokes my cheek, calm moving over him. His gaze flickers to his hand, movement pausing again.
“We can put them back on,” I say gently. “However long you need.”
Carefully, he brings the hand down between us. “I don’t want them to be a constant reminder of my failings.”
I take his hand, stroking my thumb over the scars gently. His face flinches a moment, but he doesn’t stop me. “Would you like to know what they remind me of?”
Leo’s brows furrow with uncertainty, but nods.
“That you won,” I answer. “Just like my own, that you survived. You fought. You walked away, and he didn’t.
That you got us home.” My breath becomes shaky as I kiss his wrist. “That you saved me from enduring a pain you knew broke me. That my husband, a man I love deeply, protected me…and kept his promise. You kept your promises, Leo.”
He places that hand against my cheek, glistening eyes flicking to those scars and back to my face. He pulls me back against him, embracing me with his warmth.
“My dear Watson,” he whispers against me. “My dear wife.”
It’s much later when Leo pulls me up with him, carrying me to the bathroom to shower together. About halfway through, my legs almost give out and he catches me before I hit the ground.
I think of asking him to get my crutches or wheelchair, but he just picks me up again.
I don’t have the strength to argue with him, wanting his closeness.
Putting us both in robes, he settles us into the chairs near the balcony to watch the starry night.
We cuddle together in silence, wrapped around the other.
My fingers softly caress the scars on his arms.
His lips brush against my ear, and whispers reverently, “Good girl.”
I smile, turning my head to kiss him lovingly as I feel a crack inside me mend into gold.