26
Sophia
Sophia had never experienced an orgasm so powerful, nor an afterglow so delicious. It was like everything had been covered in fairy dust and was now more beautiful, more wonderful, and just in general better. She could form no conclusion other than that Nate could give magical orgasms. What a skill to have.
But even as she was riding out her last spasm like the tail end of a brilliant wave, she knew her hunger was far from sated. She needed more, and when she asked he was more than happy to oblige.
Nate left the bed only long enough to grab a condom and put it on, and was over top of her again a moment later. He greeted her with a hard, bruising kiss, and she had the distinct impression that things were going to change pace from here on out. Good. She was ready to kick things up a notch.
Nate wasted no time in lining up the head of his cock with her entrance, and her evaluation on the beach couldn’t have been more accurate. It was going to be a stretch to get him in there, but she was up for the challenge.
Sophia returned Nate’s kiss with vigor and arched her hips, urging him inside. He growled and bit her bottom lip as he began to slide forward, stretching her and making her eyes roll in circles like a cartoon character. It was a tight but amazing fit.
Nate grunted and thrust down suddenly, sheathing himself to the root. Sophia cried out with ecstasy. Her body quivered, still recovering from the last orgasm. Even her bones felt like jelly, though they grew stronger with every expert thrust of his hips. She held onto him tightly, planting her face into his chest. Her nails scratched ragged lines down his back with the effort of it.
“So good,” she managed to moan.
His response was a primal growl that sent even more blood rushing between her legs. He kicked up his pace, pushing in and out of her with an urgency she mirrored in her kisses.
Sophia was totally trapped under his heavy, muscled body and was loving every second of it. Each thrust brought her closer to heaven, and she was sure she could see the stars when she closed her eyes. His breath on her cheek was hot and heavy, like he was breathing fire.
Sophia’s body tensed, heat pooling in her stomach. She held onto Nate for dear life, powerless in the buildup to her orgasm. This one was going to be a doozy, she could already tell.
“You’re so fucking sexy,” Nate groaned, slamming his hips down and then pulling back out.
Sophia’s scalp tingled. Her fingers clenched. Her back arched.
She went careening off the edge, spinning out into a vast and empty abyss.
She was mildly aware that somewhere she was screaming. She rode the waves of pleasure with relish, buffeted over and over again like stormy waves against the rocks. She gripped Nathan hard enough to probably draw blood, but he didn’t mind. He was pumping even faster now, relentless in his pursuit for pleasure. When he slammed home a final time and held there, shaking, she started kissing every bit of skin she could reach.
“That was incredible,” she murmured against his chest. “Nate...Oh my god.”
He laughed, blowing air against the side of her face. He’d collapsed over top of her like a big beefy blanket. Part of her hoped he never moved.
“You are incredible,” he replied. “I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“Luck’s got nothing to do with it.”
Nate rolled over, landing on his back with a hefty sigh. He hauled Sophia up against his side, stroking his fingers absently down her hip as he rested.
“Hey, I know it might not be the best time but I gotta ask.”
Nate opened an eye to look down at her curiously. “Go on.”
“What happened with the clan? I saw Lexa and she seemed pretty pissed.”
He closed his eye and grinned, pulling her even closer. She reached up to stroke some of the dark curls of his chest as she waited for him to answer.
“I gave up the leadership,” he informed her. “Passed it over to Lexa. Figured she’d be happy about that.”
Sophia’s heart skidded to a halt. “You gave up the leadership?”
“And left the clan,” he added thoughtfully. “I expect Lexa will continue where Marcus left off. They won’t miss me.”
She doubted anyone could simply not miss him, but, then again, she had little-to-no understanding of how the hell their clan worked.
“She said you made a mess before you left.”
Nate let out a bark of laughter. “I suppose you could call it that.” He turned his head to the side and gazed down at her adoringly. “I was not discreet. I told one and all that the clan was bullshit and that was why I was leaving. Nobody left with me, but I made it clear that if anybody else was ready to leave they could count on my support.” He shrugged, lips curling mischievously. “I suppose that may have ruffled a few feathers.”
“Hasn’t anyone left before?”
Nate drummed his fingers on her hip. “Only one, and you know how that went already.” He adjusted his chin to stare down at her. “I guess that when killing is all you know, it’s hard to imagine any other life. I think it takes someone special to show you.”
Sophia warmed. She pressed up and kissed him on the lips, just a small peck to let him know that she felt it too.
“You came back to Pine Bay,” she observed, adopting a slightly more somber tone. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? What with...you know.”
“What with the fact that Gabriel told me he’d kill me if ever came back?” Nate asked breezily. “He’d have every right to it, but I don’t think it’ll come to that. He doesn’t have to know I’m here.”
“Still,” she pressed. “Don’t you think it’s a little risky? And wouldn’t you rather be somewhere a little...warmer?”
Nate tugged her up across his chest, banding his arms over her back and squeezing tightly. Sophia half-laughed, half-squawked.
“Somewhere a little bit warmer, hmm?” His voice rumbled through her chest. “Somewhere like Berkeley perhaps?”
“Not there in particular,” she giggled. “Oakland, San Francisco, Alameda… All would make fine choices.”
He kissed her forehead, and she relaxed and settled her cheek over his heart. The steady beating was soothing, almost hypnotic. She closed her eyes and smiled.
“I’ve got to figure out what my life is going to look like now,” he said. “This is the last place I ever felt normal, which I think is a good place for me to start. At least for now. I’ll still be spending plenty of time down in Berkeley though, and I hope you’ll take to visiting your sister more often.”
Sophia’s smile fell away. “Not gonna happen anytime soon. I may have told her about us and we may have ended up having a huge fight where I may have hung up on her.”
“That’s a lot of may haves.”
“It’s enough may haves that I can safely say Darcy and I are on the outs for the time being. I’ve been pissed off at her for a while, and I think I just need some space, you know? And if she can’t get on board with this, that’s too bad.”
Nate was quiet for a moment. Sophia continued listening to the steady beat of his heart, timing it with her breaths and reveling in the warmth surrounding her.
“What if she doesn’t come around?” His voice came quieter, with a hint of sadness that pulled an ache from Sophia’s bones. “I really scared her, Soph. I don’t blame her for hating me.”
“You guys were friends once though, right?”
“I’m not sure that I was ever friends with anyone.”
Sophia’s head popped up. Nate was staring up at the ceiling, an expression of pain written on his features. If her sister saw him like this, how could Darcy still hate him? She was with Gabe. She knew the kinds of things that went on in the clan. She knew what Nate went through. He fucked up, sure. He fucked up big time. But he was as human as the rest of them and had a bigger heart than anyone had ever given him credit for.
“You’re my friend,” she offered, kissing his chest. She wiggled up further, trailing kisses along the way. “I think you could count Grace, Hannah, and Jack too if you wanted. That’s four. You’re already off to a rollicking start.”
She started kissing up his chin and he laughed, rolling them over suddenly and grinning down at her. “There’s just one thing I can’t figure out in all this.”
“What’s that?”
His eyes were a perfect, smoky grey. They shone like mirrors in the dim lighting.
“What I ever did to deserve you, Sophia Davies.”
She reached up and touched his cheek. He leaned into it, eyes closed.
“You hesitated.”