Page 77 of Love Over Time

“I know.” His lips brushed my temple.

“No more cons. If you want me in your life, I’m here. I’m yours.”

“Why does it feel like it’s been an eternity since the last time I tasted you?” His hot gaze sent goose bumps down my back and arm.

Sighing, I fell back on the mattress. I completely forgot I was mad at him. I couldn’t even remember why I’d been angry. All I could focus on right now was his mouth, soft and warm on my skin. “Oh my God, Henry.”

“I’m right here, sweetheart.” He slipped his fingers inside me, his thumb running circles on my mound, while his mouth continued the glorious torture on my body. One wave after another, my desire mounted and expanded from my navel down to my toes.

“Tell me again. Tell me you’ll stay.” He breathed out as his fingers went in deeper and a long, intense orgasm ripped through me. I raised my hips and rubbed against his hand until every sensation was spent.

“I’ll stay.” Heat still pulsed through me. I needed to see him. I sat up and let my legs fall over the side of the bed. “Take off your clothes.”

With a grin that said he’d do anything for me, he reached behind him and pulled his T-shirt over his head. When he stood, his jeans were already undone, and his erection out for me to see. I ran a hand over the ridges of his abs and walked a full circle around him, letting my fingers inspect every inch of his skin. I wanted to know for certain he wasn’t hurt and that he was really here. My Henry. When he turned to face me, I skimmed my arms around his neck and kissed him.

He moaned, burying his hands in my hair. “Christ. Nikki,” he muttered. His thumb slid across my cheek. “I was an idiot for running away the first time. I’m never letting you go. I love you. I always have.”

His words filled me with a kind of content I hadn’t felt since the day he asked me to run away to Paris with him. “I love you too. It’s always been you, Henry.” I reached for the hem of my makeshift nightgown and pulled it over my head.

Henry captured one of my nipples in his mouth while he kneaded my other breast. “I want to be inside you so bad it hurts.” He gripped my waist and pushed me up onto the bed.

“I know. Me too.” I panted. Jesus, the man had a way to get me to this state fast, to make me feel this intense desire I’d only felt in his arms. “Condom.” I pointed to my emergency pack on the bedside table.

He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to mine. “Thank God.”

I’d never seen him move so quickly, ripping the wrapper with his teeth and smoothing it over his cock. Watching him roll it on, his big hands wrapped around his erection, made me ache with want. “Now. Henry.”

He braced a knee on the edge of the mattress, placed my hands over my head, and entered me. The terror from last night, all the bad memories faded away. I wanted a life with this man, doing this, loving him, together. Always.

From day one, Henry had seen right through me, knew who and what I was and loved me regardless. Even when we were kids, it hadn’t taken him long to understand what I needed from him: a friend, a partner in crazy escapades through the tunnels. Time hadn’t changed him or his feelings for me. He still knew me better than I knew myself. He still loved me.

He rocked his hips slowly and deliberately, teasing my sensitive spot, sending an electric current to my core, over and over, until I was a puddle of want under him.

I lay there caught up in his rhythm, taking in everything he had to give—the sucking, his fingers rubbing me, and the incredible accuracy of his cock hitting me right on.

“Henry.” I arched my back. He stilled my hips and pumped hard, staying with me until I came again.

“I know.” He covered my mouth with his and held me tight while he rode his orgasm through to the end.

God, the man was beautiful. I ran a finger down his jaw and then up, going against the stubble on his cheeks, before I tunneled my hand through his soft hair. “Well, this is something we never did in this room before.”

He laughed, propping himself up on his arms. “Can’t say I never thought of it. After we kissed in the tunnel, I spent a whole day in here thinking of nothing else, thinking of what my life would be like if I had you.”

His words sent flutters to my stomach. I was so in love with him. And he was in love with me.

“You have me.”

Chapter Thirty

Don’t Apologize to Me

Henry

Nikki curled up next to me on the bed, a long leg thrown over mine, while her head rested on my shoulder. The rays of the afternoon sun shone through the window and touched the edge of the bed. We’d been like this for hours. Every time she moved, she clung tighter to me. The nightmare was truly over.

I never thought I’d ever be back in this room. The last time I was here, I’d spent days locked up. At the time, I hadn’t cared. Not after Nikki had left me. Not after I’d thought I’d lost her. Jonathan and Francesca had won ten years ago because Nikki and I hadn’t fought back. I’d been in so much pain then. I had no idea what was really at stake or why Jonathan needed me far away from this place.

After last night, I finally understood why he hadn’t wanted us running away together. He knew that eventually we’d figure out what he’d done to Mom and Dad. And all for a woman who only cared about herself, what she wanted, and what Dad couldn’t give her. How could Jonathan spend his life with someone who was in love with his brother? Did he hate himself that much? Think so little of himself?

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