Page 61 of His Gift
"Okay then." I settle comfortably on his thighs, and cup his face. His dark eyes meet mine, a flicker of something I haven't seen often enough softening their usual guardedness. I trace the sharp line of his jaw and as I move to his forehead, smoothing away the sheen of sweat, his eyes drift shut. I brush my thumbs on his closed lids and down his nose. Then I reach his mouth. My fingertips pad across his lower lip, feeling the slight tremor there. His breath hitches, and his eyes flick open, locking on mine. The air thickens, that familiar pull tightening between us.
I pick up the travel-size bottle of shower gel and pour a little in my hands, my gaze still holding his captive. I wash the strong column of his throat, brushing the sensitive hollow. His Adam's apple bobs. His hands clench on the tub's edge. Lowering my head, I press a soft kiss to the pulse point I just cleaned. His scent—soap, a hint of his cologne andConrad—floods my senses. A low groan rumbles from him and vibrates through me. His lips part, but the angry red lines of the stitches ground me.I must get him out of here soon.
I move to his injured shoulders, slowly, carefully. Down his arms, his chest, his V-line.I must get him out of here soon.Yeah… that boat might have sailed.
"Fuck the stitches, sweet girl. If you want to fuck me, I want nothing else."
"I want to."
"My perfect gift." I move closer, and he slides his hand between my thighs, brushing my clit. "Let me see how much you want it. I want to watch you come first." He's everywhere, caressing, thrusting, circling, pinching. "Come closer. My right arm is not exactly working as it should." I go on my knees, my tits in front of his mouth, his fingers tangled in my hair, supporting my head. "That's it. Make yourself come all over my hand and then you'll come on my cock. Eyes on me, my sweet gift. Slow. Like that." I'm rolling my hips, but he controls the rhythm. I won't come until he says so. My head lolls back, my spine arching, but he brings me back up, pinning me with his eyes. The haunted look has completely disappeared, swallowed by lust and tenderness. He's looking at me so sweetly I want to kiss him. Conrad doesn't yield, though. His fingers stay deep inside me, following my movements, his thumb applies pressure on my clit but notquite enough and his hand keeps our eyes locked together. "Holy shit, you're beautiful."
"Conrad…"
"Let me watch a little longer. Let me burn this image in my brain. I want to dream about it every night. I want it to be the reason I wake up hard every morning and fuck you silly after eating you out."
Pleasure builds up inside me with his every word and finally he strokes my clit just right and I explode, my skin tingling, my hands gripping the tub so much it's hard to let go. Conrad pulls me close, and we hold each other tightly—just hold each other—for what seems like forever.
"I need to get out of here, sweet girl." I raise my head and Conrad gives me a smile that turns into a grimace.
"Yes. Right now." It's easier said than done. I'm not myself yet, and exiting the tub is anything but graceful. Conrad's movements, too, are stiff and strained. And I just start sobbing.
"Hey, hey, what happened?" Conrad engulfs me in his arms and wraps a towel around us. "Come. Let's go to bed. We both need it." There's a hint of humor in his tone, but it only makes me bawl harder. "Here. Come here."
He arranges us on the bed, our bodies pressed closely together, caressing my face, waiting for me to speak without pressure or demand. And I realize how far he's come. How much he understands me now.
"I'm sorry. It's just so unfair. We shouldn't be moving like a pair of old cronies. You shouldn't have gotten so badly injured. I'm sorry. Are you okay now? Do you need something?"
"I'm okay. We will be okay. It's just a bump in the road. And you've nothing to be sorry about. I promise you're safe from now on. I'll make sure of it."
"Let's go back to your house. I bet no one knows about it. We can stay there."
"No, my sweet girl. No." I feel Conrad's body go solid beneath my fingers.Why?I thought he'd be happy about my proposal. It's what he wanted from the start, right? "I'm selling that place. You're not made to hide in the mountains. We'll find a place where you can thrive, make new friends—"
"I just put everyone in danger. Irene's boss told me they're keeping an eye on Jasper and his family, but still… And you love that place. You don't like to be around people. That's the perfect solution."
"It's not. No solution that kills a part of you I love can be perfect. I'll be happy wherever you are. I promise we'll find the perfect trade-off. I love you exactly as you are, Harper. And I promise we won't put other people in danger. Do you trust me?"
I do. And I tell him just before he kisses me. As he does, taking everything and leaving me light-headed and sated. But when he suggests we shouldget some sleep, I refuse. We are not done for tonight. I'm not done. I don't want our safe bubble to break just now.
"You promised I'd come on your cock, didn't you?"
forty-eight
Conrad
Idon't fall asleep after Harper blows my mind. I stay up, watching her. Her eyes still puffy from crying but her lips raised in a soft smile. Every curve of her body. The scars that I hate she has to wear because they run deeper than her skin. My cum leaking between her thighs.
I wanted to say yes when she proposed to go back to my house. With every fiber of myself. I didn't. I can adapt. It won't change me as it would change her. It won't make me as miserable as it would make her. I dreamedI'd feel something I didn't even understand, but now… I love her. I'd never have imagined what that meant. It still baffles and scares me. Yet, it means her happiness comes first. Her safety too. And keeping her fire alive. She's come out of the other side of so many storms with her head held high. She'll do it again.
Soaking for so long wasn't my brightest idea, but when I finally drag myself away from my gift and check in the mirror, everything looks fine. Stitches holding, no sign of infection. For good measure, I disinfect the wounds anyway, but stiffness and a lingering ache are the only consequences. And it was worth the price. I'm grounded again and Harper has made a leap forward. She might regress tomorrow, I know. I'll take the victories I can get.
Careful not to wake her up, I settle beside her and watch the darkness outside the window fade as dawn colors everything with a faint blush of rose. Spring is coming. I can only hope we will spend it somewhere safe.
I need to speak with the Feds. Not—
"Hey, what are you doing up already? It's still early."
"I thought you were gone."
