He cups my cheek but doesn’t touch my cheekbone. I know it looks bad. The bruise has turned an ugly brown and blue color that drew more than one curious stare while I was at the range with Avery.
“Fine. Better,” I reassure him. “It doesn’t hurt that much anymore.”
“Still...” I can see the guilt in his eyes. “I’m so, so sorry, baby. I hate that you got hurt because of me.”
I pull away. “Can you please stop treating me like I’m some helpless victim here?” I ask, my frustration over the past 24 hours finally breaking loose. “I was caught off-guard at the restaurant, but I promise that I’m not helpless. I’ve taken care of myself for a long time.”
“But you didn’t ask for any of this,” Nero paces, looking fraught. “I put you in danger. I knew this could happen, and I shouldn’t have—”
“No,” I interrupt. “I chose this too. Coming back and staying. Even marrying you. I could have fought against you, refused to say the vows and taken my chances out in the world without you. But I didn’t. I chose you!”
Nero shakes his head angrily. “No.”
“Yes.” I move closer, determination pounding in my veins. And maybe it’s my day at the gun range, taking aim, feeling the power flow through me, but I’m sick of playing catchup. Being the one reacting to everyone else’s choices instead of having my own way.
Just for once, I want to call the shots.
And I need him. Bad.
“I chose you,” I repeat it again. “I want you.”
I boldly put my hands on his chest and push him back onto the couch behind him. Nero sinks back, even though I know I’m no match for his strength. “What do you want?” he mutters, looking tortured. His hands clenched in fists at his sides, like he’s holding himself back from me—even when I straddle his lap.
He makes a groaning sound, hips bucking up against me of their own accord. “Fuck, Lily… I’m trying to keep you safe here.”
“So stop pushing me away.” I lean in and drop a kiss on his cheek. His earlobe. The corner of his mouth. I grind in his lap, drawing another fevered curse from his lips. “I’m safest when I’m with you. I know you’d never let anyone hurt me. I want you,” I whisper again. “Please, Nero… Don’t make me beg. Unless you want me to...?” I draw back and give him a seductive pout. “I’ll do it, on my knees for you, I’ll beg for your cock—”
His mouth swallows my words, a desperate, passionate kiss. Nero’s arms go around me, his hands going up the back of my shirt and sunning over my bare skin. I shiver to his touch, grinding in his lap again, where I can feel the hard ridge of his erection pressed between my legs, where a pulsing desire is burning out of control.
After days of aching for him, it feels incredible to have his hands on me. His mouth.
I’m right where I belong.
I pull back and go for the hem of my shirt, yanking it over my head and tossing it away. Nero doesn’t wait for permission before unhooking my bra and getting rid of it too. My back arches, thrusting my breasts forward into his face. I push them together with my hands, the pink peaks of my nipples front and center for his mouth.
He lavishes them, sucking and licking like a man possessed. I moan. God, the feeling of his tongue slaving over the sensitive skin is electric, making every inch of my body coming alive. I grind again, rocking back and forth against the ridge of his erection, and even through his jeans, I can feel him grow harder. Thicker. As I chase the friction of contact, wet heat pooling right there.
Fuck. The things this man can do to me…
I reach between us, unfastening my jeans and shoving them down, then popping his fly open too. His erection bursts out, right there between us, and I fist it in my hands as I ride his lap. My panties are soaked through, and I’m moaning, loving the feel of his thick head bumping up against my clit with every dirty grind.
“Making a mess of me, Princess?” Nero groans, lifting his head from my breasts. His eyes are dark, glazed with lust, and God, it only makes me grind again. “You just going to rub that wet pussy all over my stiff dick, or be a good girl, and put it all the way inside?”
I shudder at the filthy words, my excitement growing to a fever pitch.
“Inside,” I gasp. “I need you inside me, now.”
I stand to tear off the rest of my clothes as Nero yanks his jeans all the way off.
“Take it, baby,” he growls, leaning back against the cushions with his thick cock rearing up from his lap. “Ride it like you own it. Because fuck, it’s all yours.”
I straddle him again, and then, holding his eyes, I lower myself onto his cock.
“Fuck…”
He hisses through his teeth, hands going to grip my fleshy thighs as I let out my own gasp of pleasure. “You feel so good,” I whimper, bearing down all the way until he’s buried inside me, right to the hilt.
I clench, and feel his whole body stiffen. “You feel that?” I ask, gripping again.