“Please say I can kiss you.” Cristian stares at my mouth with ardent longing.
“If you don’t, I will,” I reply with zero hesitation. One key lesson I’ve learned these past few years is to grasp the happy moments when I can, because they’ve been few and far between.
I want Cristian, and he still wants me. Everything else can be figured out later.
“I love you.” He holds my face like I’m precious before his lips descend in a searing-hot, claiming kiss that heats me all over. Cristian kisses like a man starved of oxygen who can finally breathe. I can relate. With every sweep of his lips, every plunge of his tongue, he breathes life back into me.
The marriage of our mouths is greedy, possessive, almost bordering on violent, as we devour one another with years of pent-up longing. I never thought I’d have this again, and I’m desperate for him. Teeth clash and tongues tangle as we frantically kiss, drawing moans and pants from one another as hands find bare skin, touching, tasting, wanting.
Then we’re ripping at our clothes in a competitive race to get naked and seal our reunion.
“Fuck, you’re beautiful.” Cristian’s gaze roams my bare flesh when we’re both naked. Propping on his side, he pulls the covers back and lets his hands explore.
My body has changed. I’m healthier with more meat on my bones and sculpted muscles. Daily gym workouts and regular runs keep me fit, and self-defense classes and practice at the range ensure I’m always prepared for the unexpected.
“You’re perfect,” he adds, cupping one breast while tracing the dip at my waist with his free hand.
“This is the real me this time,” I say, letting him drink his fill.
“I didn’t think you could be more beautiful, but you have proven me wrong.” There is nothing but desire and adoration in his gaze, and relief courses through me.
“I need you inside me, Cristian.”
Rolling on top of me, he presses his body onto mine, careful to keep some of his weight back so he doesn’t crush me. “Do I need a condom?” he inquires, dusting kisses along my collarbone.
“I have an IUD, and I’m clean.” We never made love without a condom previously, but this feels right. I want to feel him inside me with no barriers, no obstacles in our way this time.
“I haven’t been with anyone since you.”
My eyes widen. “You haven’t?”
His fingers draw circles around the hard points of my nipples as he shakes his head. “I couldn’t bear the thought of being intimate with anyone but you.” My guilt must show on my face. “Hey, that was my choice.” His fingers brush over my lips. “It’s okay if you haven’t been celibate. I gave you no reason to believe I was waiting for you.”
“There were only a few,” I truthfully admit. “I was all alone, and sometimes I needed human contact. None of them meant anything more than a warm body to temporarily chase the pain away.”
“I understand.” He kisses me softly. “I hate the thought of anyone else touching you, but you did what you had to do to survive, and I’ll never hold it against you because the path led you back to me. Promise me one thing.”
“Anything. It’s yours.” I pant, wrapping my legs around his waist and arching my hips as his mouth closes around one breast.
“No other man is ever touching you again. You are mine, Sloane. Forever mine.”
“That’s what you really want?” I place my hand over his heart, and the steady thrumming against my palm is a balm to my soul.
“Yes. I know we have a lot to work through, but we’ll figure it out.” He places his hand on top of mine on his chest. “Together.” He kisses me. “We’re a team. You’ll never be alone again.”
I attack him, forcing him onto his back and straddling his thighs. “I love you so fucking much,” I say before crushing my mouth to his and sliding my body back and forth across his erection. Cristian groans into my mouth, grabbing handfuls of my ass and controlling the rocking motion of my hips.
When I can’t take it anymore, I rip my mouth from his, hold his dick steady at the base and position myself over his hard length. “Yours,” I say, slowly lowering onto his cock. “Forever,” I promise, seating myself fully.
“Oh fuck.” Cristian’s eyes gleam with heat and so much love I almost cry.
I thought this was lost to me, and I can’t believe he is finally truly mine.
“You feel so incredible, and I will never get enough of you, Sloane. You. Are. Mine.”
I didn’t dare to dream of this in recent years, but my earlier fantasies were filled with hot, sweaty nights spent fucking and making love to Cristian, and days full of light and laughter with father and son.
I start moving, setting a fast pace, desperate to ride the ultimate high with the only man I have ever loved. Cristian sits up, winding my legs around his back and thrusting into me in hard, punishing strokes, setting a relentless pace as he worships my lips, kisses my tits, sucks my nipples, touches me everywhere, and tells me over and over again how much he loves me and desires me.
Tossing me flat on my back, he pushes my knees into my chest and fucks me with no mercy, and I’m loving every second of it. I’m grateful Elio isn’t here because my shouts and screams could raise the dead. Cristian drills into me in powerful thrusts, pinching my clit when he feels I’m close, and that’s it, I’m gone, shattering in the most blissful way as wave after wave of ecstasy pulses through me.
Cristian finds his own release seconds after mine, and we’re both panting, sobbing, laughing, and clinging to one another when we come down from the best high.
“I love you. I fucking love you.” He dots kisses all over my face while hugging me to his sweaty chest.
“I love you so much, Cristian. It’s only ever been you for me,” I admit as tears stream down my face.
“Ditto, baby.” His strong arms almost crush me. “I’ve got you. You’re safe, and I love you. Sleep, sweetheart, and know I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
Waking up in Cristian’s arms is truly the stuff of dreams. “Good morning, beautiful,” he says before cupping my face and kissing me.
“A girl could get used to this,” I say, snuggling closer.
“Get used to it because I’m never letting you go.”
“You’ll need to let me go for a few minutes.” I drag my fingers through the stubble on his face, remembering how I always loved touching him like this. “I need to use the bathroom.”
We clean up together before falling back into bed and making slow, sweet love. After, we take a shower together, and Cristian fucks me against the tile wall, holding me up as he pummels into me with an insatiable passion that coaxes intense pleasure from my body.
He orders breakfast while I blow-dry my hair and get dressed.
“Come, baby,” he says, lounging in the bedroom doorway with his arm extended. “Our food is here.”
We eat at the island unit, touching and kissing the whole time because we can’t keep our hands off one another. “Your stuff will be here shortly,” he says, reading a text on his phone. “Or if you prefer it, I can get it sent ahead to Glencoe? We’ll have to leave soon to pick up Elio and head to Nat and Leo’s place.”
“About that.” I loop my fingers through his belt. “Would you mind if I stayed here? I’m still processing everything, and though I want to meet everyone again, I’m not sure I’m up for a big family dinner.” Cristian explained there’d be over thirty people at Sunday lunch, and it’s a lot. “I’d also like to go through all my stuff and decide what I’m taking to the house.”
“Are you sure that’s it? You’re not going to run off?”
“Cristian.” I smooth out the furrows in his brow with my thumbs. “I know we need to build trust, but I swear I will never lie to you again, and I won’t play games. I vow to always be honest. Open communication is the key to building a long-lasting relationship, and I want that with you.” I stretch over and kiss him. “I’m not going to run away. I want to be with you and Elio. It’s the only thing I’ve wanted from the moment I met you. But this is all a lot, and I need a little time.”
“Okay. Of course. I won’t ever pressure you.” His fingers toy with my hair. “I’d prefer if you didn’t go out. Not until I know more about this threat against you.”
“I have no problem staying here. If that’s what you need to set your mind at ease, you’ve got it.”
“I can drop Elio at Natalia’s and come back to the city straightaway. Elisa or Gia will take Elio tonight and get him safely to school tomorrow.”
“Stay and have dinner with your friends. I’ll be packing anyway.” My hands land on his ass and I pull his body against mine. “But come back tonight. Let’s see how many more times you can make me scream your name.” I flash him a flirty grin. “We can leave in the morning for the house, if that suits?” I know he probably has work, but he’s generally good at rearranging things for family priorities.
“I like this plan a lot.” His mouth lowers to mine, and he drops a slew of drugging kisses on my lips that have me seeing stars when we break apart. “I’ll pick up a phone for you when I’m out too,” he offers, knowing I ditched my last burner cell.
John Angelo arrives then, overseeing the delivery of the boxes and bags from my car. After they’re all stacked in my bedroom, Cristian’s men leave, and I go with him to the front door.
“Promise me you won’t go outside,” Cristian says, hovering in the doorway. I know he doesn’t want to leave, and he’s worried.
“I promise. I’ll be here when you return.” Flinging my arms around him, I plant a firm kiss to his lips. “Tell everyone I said hi and I’ll see them soon.”
“Love you,” he says, reluctantly tearing himself away.
“Love you too.” I wiggle my fingers and moon at him like a lovesick teen, only closing the door after he’s disappeared into the elevator.
