Page 110 of Heartless

“Okay, here’s the deal,” Hawke said. “Beginning right now, there is no OZ. There is no Iris Gates. And there is nothing evil under the sun. There are no past hurts or pain. It’s just you and me…Livvy and Nic.” He glanced over at her, love and hope simmering in his eyes. “How does that sound?”

“Perfect,” she replied softly.

She closed her eyes and, still holding his hand, fell into a peaceful, dreamless sleep. Vaguely, she felt arms beneath her and knew she was being carried. She opened her eyes as soon as they entered the air-conditioned house. This place was the perfect getaway spot, filled with everything two people could want.

Nic carried her to the bedroom and then stopped to let her take it all in. The phone call he’d made to Ash hadn’t been all he’d been up to. Flower petals were strewn on the hardwood floor and bed. A table held a bottle of her favorite wine, two glasses, and a tray of tropical fruit. Soft, romantic music played in the background.

“This is beyond perfection,” Olivia said.

“Just like you,” Nic growled and laid her on the bed.

She looked up at him, loving the dark passion in his eyes. Cupping his face with one hand, she said quietly, “This is like all my wishes coming true at once. When you were gone… When I thought you were dead, I prayed every night that you’d return to me. I prayed that one day, I’d be in your arms again. My prayers have been answered.”

“I want all your prayers and wishes to come true, Livvy.” With that, he covered her mouth with his and began a slow, sensuous seduction. His mouth and hands were everywhere at once, caressing, touching, molding. In minutes, she was breathless, panting. Need rose within her. Nic was doing everything in his considerable power to arouse her beyond her ability to think.

Urging him softly, she said, “I want you, Nic. Please. Now.”

Kissing his way up from her feet, he stopped at her core and looked up at her, his eyes heavy and glinting with the same heat boiling within her. “Soon, my love. Soon.”

His mouth was on her, licking, kissing, teasing. Olivia groaned, raising her hips, needing, wanting. This was too much…it wasn’t nearly enough. It would never be enough. Just when she could take no more, when she could feel everything rising within her about to be torn apart, he stopped. Before she could protest, Nic rose up and slid inside her, going deep, going forever. Nothing mattered but this. Only and always this…

When she finally recovered a shimmer of her senses, she gazed up at him. His face was fierce, his eyes gleaming with passion. He was still moving, still thrusting.

A moment of clarity hit her like a rocket. She whispered urgently, “Nic…wait. You’re not wearing a…”

“Shh,” he growled. “I know.” Lowering his mouth, he plunged his tongue deep and thrust hard one final time.

A sob catching in her throat, she wrapped her arms and legs around her husband’s body and gave him all that she had to give.

* * *

If a period of time could be captured and replayed on repeat for the rest of his life, it would be this time he was spending with Livvy. Not a minute, not a second went by that he didn’t feel absolute peace. Perfection couldn’t begin to describe it.

The first day set up a routine they followed each day since. Long, breathless hours of being in each other’s arms, sun, sand, delicious food that he and Livvy prepared together, and the sheer joy of being alive. In the mornings, they would walk on the beach, come back for breakfast, and then laze around. Snorkeling became their afternoon activity. In between all that, they talked, they laughed, they shared silly, inane stories. The future was never mentioned, and the past was in the rearview mirror. The only thing they had was the present, and his intent was for them to concentrate only on that.

Not since that first time making love had they mentioned birth control. They both knew what was happening, what could happen. It was what he wanted. He couldn’t change who he was, but he could give her this. When she had been near death, when he had thought he would lose her, he had made her a promise. He wanted this for her.

After a sweaty, mind-blowing hour of incredible morning sex, they were lying side by side, facing each other. He had never seen her look lovelier or more relaxed. Sun, good nutrition, and hours of restful sleep had given her skin a healthy, golden glow.

He remembered the first time he’d seen her, and while he’d thought then that she was the most stunning creature he’d ever seen, she was even more so now.

Caressing his jaw, she asked softly, “What’s that smile for?”

“I was just wondering how you keep getting more beautiful.”

“Well, I’d say it has a lot to do with being thoroughly and passionately cared for.”

“You are definitely that, my love.” He grabbed the remote lying on the nightstand and clicked a button. “Remember this?”

The music swept through the small house, its gentle strains giving him the best kind of chills. The memories it invoked bringing a smile to his face, he watched to see if she recognized the significance.

Beautiful blue eyes sparkled, telling him before she said anything that she remembered. “‘Musetta’s Waltz.’”

“That’s what was playing the first night I held you in my arms. I fell in love with you at that moment.”

A teasing smile lifted her mouth. “I always thought it was my voice you fell in love with first.”

“Your voice turned me on and made me want to sweep you away and take you in every way possible, but it was the feel of you in my arms that made my heart recognize yours as mine.”

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