Chapter Twenty-Seven
Snake shot to a sitting position, awake in an instant. His hand automatically reached under his pillow where he’d stashed his gun. Something, some sound, had woken him. And there it was again. A small whimper. The previous day’s events rushed back to him and he stiffened. The whimper came from Amanda.
His racing heart calmed as he realized she wasn’t in any danger, only dreaming. He exhaled and tucked her closer. She was safe. He should have expected she wouldn’t have a peaceful sleep. Her dreams were probably haunted by visions of him terrorizing innocent women.
He tightened his hold on her then buried his nose in the crook of her neck. She smelled sweet and familiar. There was a good chance she’d tell him to fuck off if she woke, but he had to try to comfort her. At least that was what he told himself as he slid his hand up her shirt and cupped a breast while his lips met the delicate skin of her neck. Selfishly, he needed to touch her and feel connected to her. Really, he needed to lose himself in her wet heat until he was certain she wouldn’t send him away, but chances of that happening were slim.
“Shh,” he whispered against her ear. “You’re safe, baby.” He pressed a kiss to her earlobe before he returned his mouth to her neck and gently sucked the skin into his mouth.
Against his palm, her nipple puckered to a hard point. He ran his thumb around the nub then gave it a light pinch. Amanda’s whimpers turned into a soft moan of pleasure and he smiled. She may kick him out of her life, she may hate who he’d been, but her body still responded to him as though he owned it.
“Nick?” she asked, her voice thick with sleep and confusion.
He had no idea what time it was, but darkness lay beyond the slit in the shades and he’d guess it was the wee hours of the morning. They’d fallen asleep in early evening.
Amanda rolled to her back. His eyes had adjusted to the dark enough to see her face, but not make out her expression. Was she mad that he had his hands all over her body?
“What’s going on?” she asked.
He positioned himself until he was over her supine form, his stiff cock resting against her soft belly. “You were dreaming,” he said as he worked her shirt up over her bare breasts. “Close your eyes,” he whispered. “You can still be dreaming.”
“Well,” she said in a soft whisper as a smile played across her face and her eyes drifted closed. “I think I’m gonna like this dream.”
If he could, he’d make all her dreams pleasurable. She’d never have a nightmare again. But with each mile they’d traveled, he felt Snake coming back to life and Nick being left behind. Tomorrow, Amanda would see him for who he really was. She’d see the side of him he’d been hiding for so many months. The side of him he no longer felt confident was who he wanted to be. Nick’s life grew fuller by the day and after tomorrow there was a good chance that life would disintegrate.
He cupped her tits and held them together, laving each of her nipples with his tongue. Her breath hitched and she arched her back, pushing her breasts against his face. He’d never taken her like this before, gentle, loving, with reverence. Their passion and chemistry was off the charts and usually they couldn’t tamp it down enough to slow the pace. Aware that there was a very strong chance this would be the last time she’d let him touch her, he fought for control and savored every second his hands and mouth fondled her.
After one last swipe of his tongue, he abandoned her tits and kissed his way down her stomach. A quick peek at her face revealed she had indeed shut her eyes. A faraway smile curved her lips. Maybe she did think she was lost in a pleasurable dream. As he continued his journey downward, she slid her thin fingers into his hair and sifted through the strands. It was an affectionate, almost loving gesture, in contrast to the way she’d grab on and hold his face against her pussy in a frenzy when he ate her out. Tonight, was about taking their time, dreaming, pretending the real world didn’t exist.
When he reached the elastic waistband of her leggings, he ran his tongue along the hem. She gasped and her grip in his hair tightened a fraction. Getting his mouth on her pussy would be amazing, but he wasn’t ready for her to come just yet. He wanted this dream-like state to last as long as possible.
Easing the fabric over her hips, he groaned as the scent of her arousal filled the room. Almost as though worshiping her, he slipped a finger between her pussy lips and teased her opening. She was soft and wet, soaked really. His cock would slide right in without resistance. A shudder racked his body as he recalled the sensation of her hot, wet channel gripping him.
“Nick,” she whispered, and he had no idea if it was a plea or a protest. But then she widened her legs and tilted her pelvis toward him as though encouraging him. He slid one long finger into her and worked it in and out with tender strokes as he coasted back up her body.
When he reached her face, he kissed her in a way he’d never kissed a woman before. Slow, savoring, searching, he explored her mouth with controlled strokes of his tongue, light suction and grazes of his teeth on her lips. Inside her pussy, he kept up a steady but mellow finger fucking. Her hips began to move in time with his laid-back pace. No one was racing toward orgasm tonight. This was all about enjoying the moment, and that made it beyond erotic.
His cock throbbed, nearly painful in its hardened state, but he ignored it.
“Nick,” she whispered again as she pulled her head away and sucked in a breath. “Make love to me.”
He froze and his finger stilled inside her. Make love to her. Did he even know how? He glanced at her face. Her eyes were wide open now, desire filled, but also burning with deep emotions. Amanda would know how to make love. She knew how to love in general. And because of her, he was learning.
He withdrew his finger from its warm paradise and settled his hips between her legs, making sure his cock rested against her sex. Within seconds, the entire length was coated with her juices. He flexed his hips, providing constant pressure against her sensitive core.
“Mmm,” she hummed. “Please, Nick. Give me this.” Her lips were swollen from the long kiss they’d shared and he traced his damp finger across the plump lower one. Her tongue peeked out, following his path and her eyes widened as her own flavor registered.
“I know shit is fucked up right now, Amanda, and I don’t expect you to forgive me right away, or accept who I am, or even understand everything that happened today. And I don’t know for certain what’s going to happen tomorrow, but tonight is for us. Tonight there is no room for Snake or the club. It’s just you and me, Nick.”
Despite the fact that she wanted it, it was unfair of him to do this to her. To either of them really. It would only make it harder if she decided to walk away from him tomorrow.
Her eyes were wide and she drew her lower lip between her teeth. She was everything he wasn’t, but everything his soul had come to crave. Light to his darkness, good to his evil, beauty to his beast.
When she looked back at him, there was an unmistakable sheen in her eyes and guilt hit him hard. He’d put her through so much in the past day. His heart clenched as he imagined her leaving him. It was a reality he would almost certainly have to accept. But not tonight. Tonight was for them.
“Yes, Nick. Give me tonight.”
He wanted to tell her he’d give her forever if she’d have him, but he couldn’t get the words past his throat. Tomorrow he’d be in the presence of the club. What would happen when he stepped back into the role of Snake? Would all the hungry feelings of power and money come rushing back and take over? He wanted to say no, but wasn’t confident enough in his new identity to be certain he wouldn’t fall back into his old position as president of the Grimm Brothers. Amanda would never accept that and he wouldn’t want her to. He wouldn’t want her near that world.
“Make love to me, Nick,” she said as she wrapped her small hand around his dick. Just the feel of her hand sliding over him was enough to set him off and he grit his teeth to keep from coming all over her. When he felt the opening to her pussy sucking at the head, he pushed deep in one long, slow, leisurely stroke.
Amanda gasped and arched off the bed taking him into her as though it was where he belonged. And it was.
“So, good,” she said on a breath. Her eyes drifted closed as he sank to the hilt.
“Eyes, baby. Eyes on me.”
They opened and were glazed with pleasure.
He drew back just as slow and slid into her again. He kept an unhurried and easy pace despite his natural instinct to pound into her. She was soft, warm, and soaking wet around him. Every time he thrust forward, a small sigh of pleasure left her lips.
With their eyes locked, they made slow, sweet love and he swore Amanda could see straight to his soul. He hoped it wasn’t the case, because, while the magic of being with her had healed some of his soul, a portion of it was still black. And he worried the darkness would win out tomorrow and ruin what they’d created.
They came together, staring at each other and gasping their pleasure into the room. Nothing in the world was better than the feel of Amanda coming around his cock. The way she squeezed every inch of him and coated him in her satisfaction was incomparable.
He rolled off her and turned her on her side, enfolding her in his embrace. He needed to feel her, needed to be close just in case he never had the chance again.
There was no denying a lethal reptile lurked under the surface. Tomorrow he’d let that beast free. There was no other option. He would do anything, eliminate anyone, cross any line necessary to keep Amanda safe and happy. He just hoped that reason stayed at the fore front of his mind. Because if vengeance became the primary motive once again, he feared the Snake would be loose forever and Nick would be lost once again.