Page 44 of Thorn of Sorrow

The possessive look that entered his eyes stole my breath. Wild, raw, and full of so much love. Gently, he lifted me from the bed, carried me to my bathroom, then set me on my feet. I stood at the long counter, two huge mirrors above it. Unsteady on my feet, I had to grip the counter.

Standing behind me, Giovanni gripped the hem of my shirt, but I placed my trembling hands over his.

“You are the most beautiful man in the world, petit oiseau,” he said to my reflection, love shimmering in his eyes. I wanted to believe him so badly. Even after everything I’d just gone through, even deciding to not let the trauma ruin this moment, I was still afraid. Because how Giovanni saw me was everything.

I gave a single nod then moved my hands away from his. Through the mirror, he locked gazes with me, lifting my shirt up and off, but I refused to look at myself.

I never did when I was in the bathroom. The less I saw of my scars, the more I could pretend they didn’t exist.

Giovanni’s gaze lowered, and I had an urge to cover myself with my arms. His brows lifted slightly. I closed my eyes, unable to bear what he saw.

“Open your eyes, Kyson.”

Blowing out a long, slow breath, I opened them. Then I gasped, surprised to see how much my scars had faded. The biggest one, stretching from my collarbone to my waist, no longer resembled a line of putty laid across my skin. It was flush against me instead of being raised. My gaze shot to his. “How?”

He slid his arms around my waist, bending to rest his chin on my shoulder. “Richard is a phoenix.”

My jaw dropped. I knew he wasn’t human or a vampire, but I never would have guessed he was… “What does he have to do with my scars?”

Dick was a phoenix. Now I wanted to go see him. A phoenix. My mind was blown, but in a good way this time. As many hours as I’d spent with him, I was actually kicking it with a bird.

Instead of answering me, Giovanni brushed his lips against my shoulder, causing me to shiver. “Shower.”

“Avoiding the question.” I tilted my head as his lips grazed my skin. Then he lowered himself behind me, taking my pajama pants and underwear with him. My breath caught when I felt him kiss each cheek. The rush of sensation made my heart hammer, stealing the breath from my lungs as my body arched into the moment.

“Lift your legs.” When he spoke, it was with a rough edge, smooth enough to entice but burning just enough to leave a mark.

I did as he asked, then he straightened and turned on the shower. I stood there, cock hard, watching as he stripped. His chiseled muscles were taut and perfectly sculpted, each inch revealed leaving me breathless.

Giovanni gripped my hips in a gentle hold, leading me into the stall. He positioned himself right behind me as the water cascaded down our bodies. Then he turned me around, the water soaking my hair. His fingers worked the shampoo, massaging my scalp slowly. I surrendered completely to his touch, enveloped in a haze of sensation.

He rinsed the shampoo from my hair, then lathered my body, the cloth gliding sensuously over my skin. I’d never experienced anything like this before, having someone wash me, each stroke sending ripples of pleasure through my body.

I moaned deeply when his tongue traced a path down my crease, teasingly swirling around my puckered entrance. My body trembled with anticipation, then I felt the slick warmth of his tongue exploring deep within my tight ring of muscle. Giovanni's tongue expertly teased and probed, sending waves of pleasure through me that threatened to overwhelm my senses. I reached behind me, gripping his shoulders for support as he brought me closer and closer to the edge.

Just as I was about to reach my peak, he pulled away, leaving me panting and wanting more. He spun me around again, pressing my back against the cool tile of the shower wall. His eyes blazed with hunger as he looked down at me, and I knew that he was going to take me right there. He reached for the bottle of lube tucked on a shelf, wetting his fingers before slowly pushing them inside me. I gasped at the intrusion, my body tensing around him as he began to thrust his fingers.

The sensation was overwhelming, but in the best possible way. I could feel myself opening up to him, my body eager for more. I moaned as he added a second finger, stretching me wider. The feeling was intense, but it was nothing compared to the pleasure building within me.

“Do you know how much I cherish being your first?” There was a smoky rasp to his voice, rough and rich, like the first sip of bourbon. I stared lazily at him, sucking my bottom lip between my teeth. Already, I was close to the edge, trembling. Giovanni was a presence that consumed me, wrapped around me in an overpowering way. In that moment, he made me feel drugged and desired, causing my body to ache for him.

I gasped as his fingers probed deeper. Everything in me tensed, and I was close to falling over the edge. But just as I was about to climax, he pulled his fingers free, leaving me gasping for breath.

“Stop teasing me,” I whimpered.

He nipped my jaw, lips brushing my ear as he rumbled, “If I give you what you want now, you won’t be able to handle what comes next.”

“Oh, fuck.” My head rocked to the side.

He slid his lips over my neck before whispering, “Wrap your legs around me, beautiful.”

Gripping my hips, he helped me up, then my legs curled around his waist. With one swift thrust, he entered me, filling me completely. I cried out in pleasure, my back pressing against the cool tile as he began to move inside of me.

“I will never lose you again,” he snarled, driving his cock deeper into my ass. I dug my nails into his back, each thrust sending waves of pleasure crashing through me. “My petit oiseau.” He pressed a kiss to my neck. “I love you deeper than the marrow in my bones, as vast as the skies you were meant to soar. My love will burn for you until the end of time.”

“Go head,” I cried out, arching my back. “Feed from me.”

Giovanni sank his fangs into my tender flesh, my climax tearing me apart. But more importantly, he replaced the violation with love, with reverence instead of pain.

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