Page 119 of Their Reckless Thief
Celeste blinked her eyes open. “What time is it?” she mumbled.
“Late enough that you needed this breakfast in bed,” I replied with a grin, handing her the coffee first.
She frowned, though there was a softness behind it. “You didn’t have to do that. I can make my own breakfast, you know.”
“Yeah, but where’s the fun in that? And you know just as well as I do that Vincenzo’s cook would be making your breakfast.” I winked, sitting down beside her, making sure the tray was balanced so she could eat comfortably. “Besides, you’re sore as hell. I’m taking care of you today, like it or not.”
She gave me a look, stubborn as always, but I saw the gratitude in her eyes. “I’m fine, Dorian. Really. I can take care of myself.” One of these days she was going to accept that allowing herself to rely on me or the other guys was safe. I would show her. For now, I would tolerate her stubborn resistance.
“And yet,” I said, brushing a lock of her hair away from her face, “you’ve got a damn army of cuts parading across your body. Humor me, please.”
She grumbled something under her breath but didn’t argue more as she picked at the fruit. Every movement appeared to take effort. Her muscles were stiff, and even sitting up looked like it hurt.
“All right, enough,” I said after watching her wince for the third time. “I’m officially proclaiming that you’re not doing anything else today. You won’t lift a finger without my assistance. And before you argue, I’m drawing you a bath.” She started to protest, but I held up a hand. “Nope. This isn’t up for debate. Let me take care of you.”
She stared at me for a long moment, her expression softening just a bit before she sighed. “Fine. But I’m not helpless, Dorian.”
“Never said you were,” I shot back with a smile. “Just saying you deserve a little pampering today.”
After she ate, I led her into the bathroom. As the tub filled with warm water, I watched her undress. The bruises and cuts across her skin twisted something deep inside me. Anger. Possessiveness. A fierce need to make sure nothing like this everhappened to her again. But even now, she was the most stunning woman I’d ever beheld. Her strength, her stubbornness, drew me to her in ways I couldn’t explain.
I didn’t trust myself to speak as I got into the tub behind her. I pulled her gently into my lap, her back pressed against my chest, her body fitting perfectly with mine. The water swirled around us, warm and comforting, but all I could think about was her. How close she was. How much I wanted her.
“Dorian…” she said softly, her voice almost uncertain.
“Shh,” I murmured as I washed her slowly, carefully. I ran the cloth over her shoulders, down her arms, then to her back, watching as the water gently kissed her skin. I was careful to avoid the cuts. Every bruise and cut felt like a personal affront, but I didn’t want her to see that. She needed peace and comfort.
“You’re too good at this,” she said, nestling her head into the crook of my shoulder. “Too damn good.”
Chuckling, I brushed my lips brush against her ear. “I’m just a guy who knows how to give a bath, that’s all.”
She turned slightly, looking up at me, her gaze locking onto mine.
I swallowed hard, my pulse beating erratically. Her gaze was heated, and before I knew it, she’d turned around in the water and straddled me. Her skin slid against mine, slick and warm, and every nerve in my body went on high alert.
“Celeste…” I whispered, gripping her hips, unsure where this was going but already wanting more.
Her fingers traced over my six-pack, her touch light but sending a shockwave of heat through me. “Stop talking,” she whispered before leaning in and pressing her lips to my jaw. So close to my lips it hurt.
It was soft at first, tentative, but then I felt the hunger, the need. She kissed my skin like she’d been wanting to for a long time, and I was powerless to stop it. Not that I wanted to.
My hands slid up her back, pulling her closer, my lips ghosting over her neck. She tasted like heaven, like everything I’d ever wanted but never thought I could have. And then her hips moved, grinding against me, and I lost it.
I gripped her tighter, pulling her against me as our movements turned frantic, passionate. My entire body was on fire, every inch of her igniting something deep inside me. My hands roamed over her, exploring, caressing, worshiping.
“Fuck, Celeste,” I groaned against her skin, my heart beating so hard she could probably hear it. “You’re driving me insane.”
She smiled, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Good.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer. I needed her, needed every godsdamned inch of her. I lifted her slightly, guiding her as she lowered herself onto me, and the feeling of her wrapped around me was so perfect it nearly undid me.
She moved, her eyes half-lidded with pleasure, her lips parted as soft moans escaped. Gods, she was perfect. Completely and utterly perfect. And I was completely and utterly fucked, in more ways than one.
Because I knew, at that moment, I was in love with her. So fucking head over heels in love. How had she captured my heart so fully?
But I couldn’t say it. Not yet.
Instead, I poured everything I had into the moment, into her. My hands gently gripped her hips as she rode me, the water sloshing around us, spilling onto the floor, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was her. Her pleasure. Her body.
