Page 58 of Merciless King

ELIO

It doesn’t seem right to have sex right now. But as I look into her eyes, I see that something deeper is going on. Perhaps she needs hands that love her, not ones that brutalize her. That I can give her.

I trail gentle kisses over Piper's bruises and scars, wishing I could erase every mark that bastard left on her. My blood boils thinking about what she's endured, but I force myself to stay calm. She needs tenderness now, not more violence.

"I'm sorry," I murmur against her skin. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you all these years."

Piper trembles slightly under my touch. "You're here now.”

I plan to be here forever. But I’m not sure she’s ready to hear that. She needs to feel in control. It’s taking more effort than I thought I had to hold back and not state that she’s mine.

I cup her face gently in my hands, careful to avoid the bruise on her cheek. "I'm not going anywhere. You and Elysse are safe with me." I lean in and kiss her again, giving her what she asks for. My lips and fingers glide along her body, revering her. I never want her to be afraid of my hands.

I knead her tits, gently sucking on her nipples. She lets out a sweet mewling sound that makes my dick harder than steel, but I tell it to calm down. This isn’t about me.

I kiss her again as my hand slides over her abdomen. I think about Elysse growing there. A sharp pain pierces my heart at how much I missed. The pregnancy. The birth. Elysse’s first steps. Did she call Gabriel “Daddy”? I shake my head of these thoughts because they’re starting to piss me off and that’s not what Piper needs right now.

I brush my finger on her clit. She gasps against my lips. I lift her leg, hooking it over my hip, giving my fingers greater access to her warm, soft pussy. I slide one, then two fingers inside her.

She moans. Her hips rock. “Elio…”

“I’m here, Baby.” I glide my lips down her neck, over her tits, stopping to suck her nipples again. Then I continue down, dropping to my knees. I lift her leg again, hooking it over my shoulder. I hold her hips steady with her back against the tiles. I swirl my tongue around her clit.

“Yes. Oh… mmm.” Her fingers grip my head almost painfully. But I stay with her, using my mouth and tongue to drive away the demons and fill her with pleasure. I slide my tongue inside, lapping at her pussy walls. Her body trembles. Her hips rock. She cries out, and her juices flow over my tongue and down my chin.

I guide her down and then stand, gathering her into my arms. “You’re safe.” You’re mine. Forever.

Her hand wraps around my cock, but I take her wrist and move it away.

“What about you?” she asks.

I reach around Piper to turn off the shower. “My dick is fine.” He doesn’t think so at the moment, but he’ll be fine. I grab a fluffy towel and wrap it around her, then get one for myself.

"Let me help you.” I gently pat her dry.

She winces slightly as the towel brushes over some of her bruises.

“I’m sorry.”

"I'm okay," she insists, but I can see the pain in her eyes.

I retrieve a soft robe from a hook on the wall and help her into it. It’s mine and so too big for her, making her look small and vulnerable. "You don't have to be strong all the time. Let me take care of you."

Piper leans into me, and it feels like a gift that she’s surrendering at least in this moment. I press a kiss to her forehead, savoring this moment of intimacy and trust between us.

I help Piper into my room, sitting her on the side of my bed… our bed. My heart swells with love for her, but there's also an ache of longing for the daughter I've just discovered. A daughter Gabriel raised as a father. The rage tries to ignite, but I clamp it down. Still, I don’t want to be left out any longer.

"We should tell Elysse about my being her father."

Piper's eyes widen, and I can see the conflict in them. Perhaps I misworded that. It was a statement, not a question. But this isn’t a choice Piper needs to make. I’m Elysse’s father.

"I… I don't know, Elio. It's a lot for her to take in, especially after everything that's happened."

Her hesitation stings, but I nod, trying to understand. "I know it's complicated, but I've missed so much already.” The guilt and anger about that builds and I can’t hide it in my tone. “I’ve lost seven years of her life, Piper. Seven years! I can't get that time back. I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose any more."

Piper’s eyes flash with equal irritation. “It’s not my fault that you?—”

“Fuck!” I turn away as I rein in my anger. Then I look at her again. “I’m not blaming you. But fucking hell, Pipe, I’m her father. Are you really going to keep me from that any longer?”

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