Page 9 of And Back

With surprising gentleness, he lifts my limp body onto his shoulders. The sudden movement sends a fresh wave of agony through me, but I can’t muster the strength to cry out. My vision tunnels further as darkness presses in from all sides.

Stay awake, I tell myself desperately. Stay alive.

But it’s too late. My strength fails me entirely as consciousness slips away. The last thing I see before succumbing to the void is the resolute expression on his face.

And then there is nothing but darkness.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ZOE

My heart aches for Virgilio and the life he's had to endure. Words escape me as I try to convey my emotions. All I can do is show him. So, I kiss him, pouring every ounce of my gratitude, my love, and my sorrow into that kiss.

His lips meet mine, and our kiss becomes a powerful exchange of emotions too intricate and convoluted for words. I feel his strong arms wrap around me, lifting me off the ground, and I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist. With our mouths still joined, he starts walking, carrying me upstairs to his bedroom.

I don't want this moment to end—I need it to continue forever.

His hands find my hips, guiding me as we continue to kiss. I can feel the heat in his touch, and my entire body ignites in response. My fingers grab on to his hair him, never wanting to let go.

My breaths come in sharp gasps as he lays me down on the bed. He hovers over me, his eyes dark with desire. With a gentleness that contrasts the urgency of our kisses, he brushes my hair away from my face. His thumb grazes my cheek, and I shiver at his touch.

I feel delicate and cherished under his attentive gaze. It's as if he's memorizing every inch of my face.

Pulling back slightly, he traces my lower lip with his thumb. I sigh, my body arching towards him.

"I want to see you," I whisper, my heart hammering in my chest. Virgilio's eyes widen at my request.

I reach for the hem of my shirt and pull it over my head, tossing it aside. Virgilio watches my every move, his eyes burning with intensity.

He pulls away from me and slowly begins to undress, revealing his muscular body inch by inch. My breath catches as I take in the sight of him and the scars marring his skin. My fingers trace the contours of his shoulders, feeling the raised lines of old wounds. It hurts to see the marks on his body, but I also see the strength and courage they represent.

Virgilio's hands tremble slightly as he reaches up to remove his colored contact lenses. I hold my breath, waiting to see his true eyes—the eyes I remember from our youth. As the lenses come off, his eyes shine with a vibrant green hue, vibrant and alive.

I gasp softly, unable to look away. "You're so beautiful," I whisper, reaching up to touch his face. He closes his eyes at my touch, his expression softening.

Leaning forward, I place a gentle kiss on his eyelid, then another on the scar that bisects his eyebrow. My lips trail down his cheek, kissing each scar with reverence. I want to erase the pain etched into his skin, to replace those wounds with tenderness.

Virgilio shivers beneath my gentle touch, his breath coming in sharp rasps. My kisses move downward, exploring the terrain of his body, mapping the contours of his torso with my mouth. My tongue flicks out, tasting the salt of his skin. I want to brand him as mine, to leave my mark on him just as he has left his mark on me.

His hands thread through my hair, guiding me, urging me on. I kiss the hollow of his throat, nipping lightly at the sensitive skin there. Virgilio groans, his head falling back.

My mouth finds his, and our kiss deepens. It's a hungry, desperate kiss, fueled by years of longing and separation. I pour all my pent-up desire into that kiss, my hands roving over his body possessively.

I want to make him feel loved. I want to chase away the ghosts of his past and fill him with light and life. With each kiss, I'm saying all the things I couldn't say before. I love you. I'm here.

My kisses travel down his neck, tasting the salt of his skin. His breaths come in ragged gasps, each one like a whisper of desire. I let my lips wander lower, tracing the hard lines of his chest, feeling every ripple and scar under my tongue. Virgilio's fingers thread through my hair, gently guiding me, encouraging me to continue.

I move lower, placing feather-light kisses on his abdomen. Each touch sends a shiver through his body. My hands roam over his hips, savoring the warmth of his skin. I pause for a moment, looking up at him. His eyes are dark with need, and it fuels my own desire.

My mouth moves to the waistband of his pants. With deliberate slowness, I unbutton them and pull them down, revealing the hard length of him. My breath hitches as I take him in—so perfect and commanding.

I kiss the tip of his cock softly at first, my lips brushing against it like a whisper. Virgilio groans deeply, the sound vibrating through me. I wrap my hand around the base and press another kiss to it, this time firmer, more insistent.

"Zoe," he murmurs, his voice thick with desire. His hands cup the back of my head tenderly.

I open my mouth and take him in slowly, inch by inch, savoring the feel of him against my tongue. Virgilio's groans deepen as I suck gently at first, then harder. I can feel him pulsing in my mouth as I move up and down his length.

His grip on my head tightens slightly—not forceful but guiding—his hips bucking involuntarily as he pushes deeper into my mouth. My tongue swirls around him, exploring every inch as I take him further down my throat.

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