“Everything good in there?” Reid asked.
“All good, just like you wanted.”
“Thanks.” Reid turned, unlocked the door, and we stepped inside. I hesitated as the frat kid walked back to join his friends, then went in and shut the door.
Reid locked it as I swept my eyes down a simple, barren hallway with hardwood floors and a sweeping staircase that disappeared up to the second floor.
“What was that?” I asked.
He waved a hand. “I have an arrangement with the frat next door.”
“What kind of arrangement?”
“They can use this place for their parties once a month if they clean it up afterward, keep it spotless, and make sure nobody knows I own it. In exchange, I pay their rent.”
“You’re kidding. That’s a great deal for them.”
“I know.” He grinned at me and stepped closer. “And it works for me, too.”
I let him pull me against him again and kissed him slow and deeper this time. I felt wild with what happened and the adrenaline still buzzed in my veins. I let him steer me toward the stairs, still kissing, then turned and stumbled upward. The floorboards creaked beneath our feet but I barely paid much attention, and only caught brief flashes and glimpses of the house around us—old windows, white walls, dark brown wood trim.
He kicked open a door to the master bedroom. It was dominated by a large four-poster, king-sized bed, two nightstands, a dresser, and a bureau. Nothing hung on the walls, and the room smelled fresh—like daisies, or lilacs, or perfume.
I let him push me back toward the bed. I sat on the end, leaning back on my hands, and stared up at him. He knelt down in front of me and kissed my neck, then my lips, nibbling them gently.
“I missed you,” he whispered in my ear.
“I missed you too. I didn’t think… I wasn’t sure you’d come for me.”
He shook his head. “Of course I would.”
“Did Hedeon let you?”
“Hedeon can go fuck himself.”
I smiled a little bit and touched his face. His skin was rough from stubble and so handsome it made me want to dig my fingers into his cheek.
“What’s going to happen now? Vincent won’t ever forgive what you did.”
“I don’t need him to.”
“Reid—”
“Listen to me.” He leaned closer and pulled me against him again, pinning one arm behind my back, lips against my ear. “I don’t care what they want or what they think’s right. I have what I need and that’s enough for me.”
I chewed on my lip and nodded. He stood and pulled me to my feet, kissing me again, driving me wild, then began to undress me.
He did it slowly, like he wanted to savor it. The big sweatshirt came off first, and I was surprised to find that the house was warm—probably the frat kids kept it heated and cooled. His fingers moved down my skin, eyes narrowed as he took in the bruises along my sides and ribs. He touched them gingerly, like he wanted to try to suck them from my skin, then kissed them, his lips so soft. He took off my bra and I let it fall to the floor as his lips found my pink nipples, making them harder, making my skin dimple with need for him.
He kissed up along my breasts, my throat, my lips. He unzipped my jeans and tugged them off, leaving me in my underwear—which came off moments later. I stood naked in front of him, but didn’t feel exposed, didn’t feel anything but desire as his hands moved along my body. He traced the bruises on my legs, kneeling in front of me like a beggar, kissing where the bruising was worst, touching the outlines, and finally pushed me back onto the bed, spreading my legs wide.
He licked me then, slow, delighted, gentle. I let a moan escape my lips.
“I need you to know that I don’t expect anything from you,” he said as his tongue slid along my slit and lingered on my clit in slow, maddening, amazing circles. “But I’ve already made up my mind.”
I gripped his hair and moved my hips. “About what?”
“About you, about taking this all the way to the end. I can’t help myself anymore and pretend like I don’t want you, Cora.”
“I want you, too.”
“Your taste, your body.” He slid fingers inside of me and god, I gasped, tilted my head back and groaned my pleasure. “Every inch of you. I want you stretched out on my bed quivering for me, waiting for my touch, for my cock to slip between your legs.” He licked me faster, sucking and sliding his fingers in and out. I was so slick, so soaking wet, and I felt like I was going to lose my mind with pleasure.
“I can give you that,” I groaned.
“But you have to be sure.” He slid his fingers in deep then moved up and kissed me. I shuddered, kissed him back, and let his tongue roll around my nipples, fingers still buried inside me. “Things might get worse before they get better.”