Page 12 of True North

“I’m sorry, Toni. If you don’t want to talk about her or your past, I completely understand,” Nico said, reaching across the small kitchen table to take her hand into his. “I don’t know what to do here, baby. I know you don’t remember me, and you feel as though you’re at a disadvantage, but I’m in the same boat. You aren’t the same person I knew two weeks ago. I feel like neither of us know each other anymore and I’d love the chance to get to know you, Toni.”

She stopped eating and pushed her bowl back. “I think I’d like that too,” she whispered.

Nico didn’t hide his excitement. Hell, he felt downright giddy. “Really?” he asked. Toni hesitated and he hoped she wouldn’t change her mind.

“Yes, really,” she admitted. “I’m just worried you won’t want me, the real me, the way you wanted—Jenn.” She shuddered and rolled her eyes at her old name and Nico chuckled. She couldn’t be more wrong about how he felt about her. He wanted her, no matter what her name was or what she remembered about her past.

“Toni, I’m in love with you. I have been for months, and I can’t believe your past will change the way I feel about you, baby.”

Toni gasped and shook her head at him. “You can’t mean that, Nico. How can you be in love with me when you don’t even know me anymore?”

“I know you, baby. You are the same sweet, caring woman I’ve loved for months now. The other day, I caught you talking to the stray cat that has been living under our porch like you have for the past six months. You love to walk on the beach and watch the surf chase the seagulls away, just like you always have. You are incredibly sweet to our friends, even though you don’t remember them, and it probably makes you feel uncomfortable to have them know so much about you.” Nico paused, not sure if he should say the next part, but he couldn’t help himself. It was the only way to drive his point home. “You even say my name late at night when you’re sleeping, baby.”

“No,” Toni said. Nico knew she wanted to argue her point, but he wouldn’t let her. He pulled her from her chair to sit on his lap and wrapped his arms around her.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “You know me, Toni. You might not remember me while you’re awake, but your subconscious mind knows me.” He took another chance and sealed his mouth over hers, using her surprised gasp to enter her mouth, sliding his tongue in to find hers. Toni wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body snugly against his own. By the time she finally stopped kissing him, they were both breathless. His whole body felt like it hummed to life for the first time in days and he hoped like hell he wasn’t alone in what he was feeling for her.

“And your body seems to know me too, baby,” he whispered. She rubbed her nose against his and he loved that she seemed to need his closeness as much as he needed hers.

“It does,” she admitted. “I won’t deny it, Nico,” Toni whispered. “I do want you, but—” Nico didn’t let her finish her thought, kissing his way into her mouth again. She moaned and shifted to straddle his lap.

“This will be our first time,” she said against his lips. Nico couldn’t help his laugh. It was partially true; it would feel like the first time for her. But he knew every inch of her sexy body. Nico knew she liked sex a little rough and usually begged him to tie her up and spank her ass red. God, he hoped Toni still wanted those things from him, but if not, he’d be willing to give her exactly what she wanted.

“It’s not for me, honey, but I’ll follow your lead,” he promised. Toni shyly nodded and he took that as his opening to ask a few questions.

“How about if you tell me what you want me to do, and we can take this slow?” She nodded again and he laughed. “You’re going to have to use your words, honey. This won’t work if you’re going to just keep nodding your head at me.”

Toni gifted him with her sexy smile. “I think I can manage some words, Nico,” she sassed.

“Good, baby. How about we start with what you’d like for me to do to you?” Toni’s smile faded and he worried that he crossed the line. Confusion clouded her features and Nico thought she was going to back out before they even got started.

“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, Toni. This is all you. I just need to know what you want,” he said.

Toni seemed to think over her options. “I like sex a little rough,” she said, biting her bottom lip. He groaned and hoped like hell she’d let him bite her lip too. “I think I’d like to try some of the things you showed me in your night table,” she admitted.

Nico didn’t hide his smile. “I know for a fact you like everything in our night table, honey.” He kissed a path up her neck and paused before kissing her mouth. “Be sure, Toni. I know you don’t remember me, and I don’t want you to regret any of this in the morning,” he whispered against her neck.

“I’m all in, Nico. I might not remember you, but I want you.” Her admission made him half-crazy with lust. It felt like it had been forever since he touched her like this. Toni had given him the green light and his cock didn’t need any other assurances from her, although his head was screaming for him to slow down. He knew tomorrow would bring a new set of challenges, but tonight he could have everything he needed from her. He wouldn’t pass up the chance to remind Toni just what they were to each other. She was his and it was time to show her just what that meant.

“Take me to our room,” she panted between kisses, and he stood with her body still wrapped around his, carrying her up the steps. Nico laid her across their bed and pulled his shirt over his head, loving the way her eyes flared with need as she took the sight of him in.

“Nico,” she gushed, “you must work out for hours each day.” She sat up, running her hands up his body and over his chest. He loved feeling her touch on his bare skin. Nico closed his eyes and let the sensation of her hands roaming his body take him over. He needed more—craved it even.

“That feels so good, baby,” he growled. “Don’t stop.” She smiled up at him and dipped her hands into the waistband of his shorts, gasping when she found his erection. He loved her reactions; they reminded him this was all new to her. But he remembered Toni’s every sexy curve and how she felt pressed up against his body as he fucked her. He loved the way she cried out his name when she was close and begged him for more. He didn’t need to be reminded just how fucking special she was or what they meant to each other. She was his.

“I like touching you, Nico,” she panted. “I need more. I want all of you, please.” God, he wanted to take this slowly, but the way she was begging him for more, he couldn’t hold back. He dragged her shirt up over her head and hissed out his breath when he realized she wasn’t wearing a bra. Toni was usually casual, in a bikini or shorts and a tank top, but seeing her naked body always made him a little crazy with lust.

Nico pulled her tight cut-offs down her long, tanned legs, kissing every inch of her as he helped her shimmy them off, leaving her bare on his bed.

“So fucking gorgeous, baby,” he growled. “I need to taste you, Toni. If you don’t lay still, I’ll tie you to our bed—understand?” Her eyes grew big and round as if she had just realized what all the rope and handcuffs were for in their night table.

“You mean you actually do that to me—tie me up?” Nico smiled down at her, loving how her voice sounded breathy and needy. She squirmed around on the bed and God, he wanted to tie her up, to remind her just how much she liked it.

“Yes,” he said. Nico opened the drawer to his night table and pulled out a pair of fuzzy handcuffs, which were Toni’s favorite. “How about you let me remind you just how much you love these, honey?” Nico waited her out, watching her mind sort through everything that was happening between them. He knew this was a lot for Toni to take in, but he felt the need to push her some, otherwise she might never remember him or their life together.

Toni finally nodded her head and held her wrists together, offering him her submission and his heart stuttered. He was always humbled that she so freely gifted him with her trust and let him take care of her. Nico had loved the control she had given him. It made him feel as though he could handle the rest of his crazy life as long as he could control his sex life. He was always dominant, but he’d never met someone as submissive as Toni. From the first time they were together, she was always so trusting, and he would never betray her loyalty to him.

“You like this, don’t you, Nico?” she whispered as he cuffed her wrists together. She watched him as he spread her legs, exposing her wet folds, to tie her ankles to the bedposts. They had this conversation before they climbed into bed together for the first time. The last thing his cock wanted to do was to explain it all over to Toni, but he needed to remind his unruly dick to play nice. Toni didn’t remember that conversation and before he’d dive headfirst into her sexy body, he needed to get a few things straight. He just hoped like hell Toni didn’t demand to be released after he admitted just how much kink he liked in the bedroom.

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