When he was at full attention, I stroked him again, my fingers smoothing the thin skin of his heart and shaft. Placed a kiss at his crown and he jerked in my palm, so I did it again.

And again.

“Hope—”

Whatever he was going to say was lost on a sharp inhale as I opened my mouth and sucked him in, the foreign taste exciting against my tongue.

It was my turn to moan as the clean, salty taste hit my tongue.

I circled his head, then sucked in deeper, letting my instincts drive my movements.

I took him in deeper and heard a sound that I realized later was my own moan.

He curled his fingers in my hair, pulled, the stab of pain only making me moan more.

I sucked him in deeper, and then deeper, but paused when I started to gag.

But only for a moment.

I felt possessed, my need to taste him driving me.

I went farther, then swallowed.

His big body shuddered as I took him deeper, and he tightened his fingers in my hair.

I let out a surprised moan when the first splash of cum hit my tongue.

On instinct I swallowed, surprised when I found the taste so pleasing. I continued to swallow and then held him as he softened in my mouth.

He pulled out, then pulled me to my feet, his eyes locked with mine.

I shrieked when he picked me up as though I were weightless, and carried me into his bedroom.

NINETEEN

Nico

“Put your shoes on,”I said to Hope one morning.

“Should I ask why?” she said.

She was standing in the kitchen, but moved into the living room where I was, looking at me warily.

“No, you should put your shoes on,” I said.

Her eyes flashed, but she said nothing, and instead complied.

But I hadn’t missed the flash of fear in her eyes. She was still wary of me, but her spirit, that essential part of her that had allowed her to survive, took charge.

She slipped her feet into the leather flats that she tried to pretend she didn’t love, then stood and adjusted her jeans. She still refused to wear the nicer clothes I had gotten, but it didn’t make a difference.

She was a vision in everything—and nothing—so I didn’t push the point.

She flashed me a quick smile, and I looked away, refocusing on something else. My reaction to her had changed, deepened, and despite my best efforts, I felt a connection.

Told myself it was just me being protective.

After all, she was in this predicament because of me, and thus my responsibility.