Chapter Thirteen

His weight presses into me. His tongue tasting my skin. His honey eyes locked to my chocolate ones. The sensory overload, the feeling of being home, the love emitting is what I’ve craved. What I’ve missed. What I thought I had lost.

It’s overwhelming in the best way. I can’t help but treasure every touch. Every gasp. Every moan.

We’ve grown in the past four years and come so far but have the rest of our lives to continue the journey. “Caden.” I cry as his tongue laps between my folds.

“Hmmm.” The vibration sends a jolt through my body.

“Don’t let go.” I beg, emotions overtaking me. His tongue swipes and he lifts his head.

“Never, Aves.” We stare for a moment at one another— our silence speaking volumes. Our unspoken promises becoming a vow. His head dips down and his eyes close as he inhales me, devours me. Teeth nipping, mouth suctioning, all latching onto my clit and my hips shoot up. He brings his large hands to hold them down and I melt into the mattress. My eyes drift shut and I feel everything. Each taste. Each shock to my system.

Every ounce of love pours from him to me.

The pressure is building and he works to heighten it. As one finger slides inside me and twists up, he bites down on my clit and I detonate. Toe curling, breathless, can’t feel my body orgasm— it’s blissful and painful at the same time because I’ve missed this. Our connection. Our love. “Hey baby.” He’s over me, grinning down at me and I can’t help but return the gesture.

“Hey.” He brings his mouth to me, connecting us and transferring my taste to me. It’s something he’s always done because he comes back for more of my mouth as we have sex. His kink— and I’ll give it to him. My fingers tangle in his hair and I hold tight as he spreads my legs and enters me with a solid thrust.

“Missed you.” He growls. I know he isn’t meaning the sex— that is an added bonus— but in general. Everything. Our morning routines. Our late night escapades. Our midday chats.

Me covered in paint. Him dripping sweat after a practice or gym session. The way a single word can evoke so many emotions. The looks we’ve perfected over the years— the way we’re in perfect sync. “Missed you.” I cry as he pushes deep.

His head finds the side of my neck as his teeth work the skin, mixing pleasure and stinging pain, which he soothes with his mouth.

In. Out.

Fast. Slow.

Hip swivel.

Deep. Shallow.

I’m climbing and he grips my hips to hold me in place, working me hard until I’m there. Slowing his thrusts to keep me dangling. “You gonna give it to me?” He smirks.

“If you take it.” His bite is a bit rougher as he drags his dick out to the tip and slams back in.

“Like that?” He challenges. I can’t respond. I’ve lost all control of my voice. He pushes in harder, letting the base of his cock brush my clit and he stops. “Or that?”

I moan, digging my nails into his back. He gets to work and takes it. I meet him thrust for thrust, adding power to his animalistic powers and he gives it to me, as well.

He drops his chest to rest against mine and our heartbeats sync in tempo. Fast. Rhythmic. Beating for one another.

Rolling to his side as he slips from me, I whimper from the loss. Pulling me tight, he buries his nose in my hair and inhales. Drinking me in, lying in peace and I allow my body to relax into his. Words aren’t needed, words would be inadequate.

After round two with very little recuperation time and round three in the shower, I’m towel drying my hair as he steps into shorts. “Be back.” He kisses my nose and I frown.

“Where are you going?” I try to keep the panic from my voice.

“Puppy Patrol.” He winks.

I swallow and will my hands not to reach for him. I’m being irrational but I can’t stop the alarm drowning me. “Can I go with? I’ll throw a shirt on.” I’m moving before he can react.

“Avery.” His tone soft, but commanding. I turn and face him, schooling my features. “Come here.” He drops to the edge of the bed and pats his thigh. I scramble to him, wanting the closeness he’s offering. “I’m not leaving you, babe. I’m gonna take your puppy to do his business, grab a water and come back and climb in bed with you.” His words penetrate but don’t resonate. “You’ve got to trust me.” He lifts me from his lap and kisses my head as he leaves. I watch him walk through the door with terror filling my veins.

I do trust him— I’m scared. It’s that simple. In the blink of an eye it was taken from me. Shit— I don’t trust him. With my heart – yes. With my life – no doubt. To not disappear and forget— I don’t think so. I draw my knees up and try my hardest to keep the tears at bay. This hurts more than losing him for a short time. A single act of fuckery by an asshole robbed him from me and in turn has me fearing he’ll disappear.

He reappears and watches me for a minute. I plaster a smile and he chuckles. “C’mon. I’ll give you this for a while. I wasn’t on the receiving end like you were. Things in my life were fine because I didn’t remember. You dealt with the fall out of that. I’ll give you some time, Aves, but you can’t doubt me. That kills me.” He holds his hand out and I jump off the bed snagging his shirt on the way.

“I’m sorry.” I say for the umpteenth time.

“No more. It is what it is and we’ll deal.” He’s decisive and his calmness makes me feel an inch high. How do I give him something back I didn’t realize was gone? “Time.” He throws his arm over my shoulders and holds me tight while we watch the puppy sniff the grass.

“Time.” I agree. “What’d you name the dog?”

“I didn’t. That’s all you.” He whistles and the fur ball ignores him. I try hard to hold the laughter but I can’t. He isn’t used to being ignored. “You think that’s funny?”

“Yes.” I own it.

“After I rehydrate I can promise you won’t be laughing.” He warns.

“Láska.” I tell him.

“What?” he queries.

“Love. It means love. That’s the dog’s name. Láska. Our love is what made you remember. You said it was my painting that brought it back. That’s how the dog came to be.” I shrug.

“Fucking perfect.” He grins. “Láska,” he commands and that little fucker runs over. He shakes his head and we walk inside. Grabbing a water bottle he hands it to me while reaching to get one for himself. “Drink.” His eyebrows lift and I know whatever he has planned is gonna be exhilarating. He lifts me to the counter as I start drinking and we’re having a silent standoff with our eyes.

The bottle tips and I watch his throat work to drain it and I’m parched. Water isn’t quenching what I want. What I need. His smirk in place, he takes a step to me. Another. A third and we’re close yet our skin isn’t touching. He stands for a few seconds letting the tension climb and his breathing picks up, nose flares, eyes darken. I bring the bottle to my lips, licking them before sipping, trailing my tongue around the edge bringing a growl from his chest. The water goes flying, his hands grip my ass dragging me to the edge of the counter.

Pushing my chest, he guides me to lean back as he whips his shirt over my head. He drags a finger down the middle of my torso and stops at my pussy. Entering in a push he finds what he wants. Wet and ready. Freeing his cock from his shorts he takes one of my legs, throwing it over his shoulder and bending the other to place my foot against the counter. He doesn’t hesitate to sink inside me and I hum in relief. He’s the only one that can ease my ache.

He has free reign to explore my body with his hands and it drives me crazy. “Look at me.” There isn’t a frenzy in his thrusts, a slow guide that feels amazing. I lock eyes with him and he continues caressing my body, tapping my clit with his thumb, touching every inch of skin until he’s burned his brand into me.

His eyes shine with love, relief, and contentment— slightly brighter, giving off a shade of watered down whiskey. He catches his bottom lip with his top row of teeth as he sets my body soaring. His hands, his eyes, his body— all worshipping me. Conveying a message my brain had been declining.

I feel myself clenching, spasming, milking his dick and I scream. “I trust you.” It was there the whole time— locked away— afraid to admit the truth. He wouldn’t hurt me. He wouldn’t run. Anything in his control he’d fight. He’d slay. He’d conquer.

And if it wasn’t in his control— he’d do the same.

For this.

For me.

For us.