Page 18 of Venom and Velvet

“No.” I ran my fingers through his hair. “That’s not true. Don’t think that, Cian.”

His eyes darkened as I caressed his face. I couldn’t decipher the look in his eyes, but I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“I was a coward, Nova. I should have done things differently. My life was a mess and I didn’t want to make yours that way, so I held back, even though I could barely handle it. I wanted to know everything about you, from how you took your coffee to all the dreams you had for this world. But I couldn’t. The roses were just a piece of me I wanted you to have.” He bit down on me again and I cried out. Not from pain or from fear, but because I liked it. Him marking me. Making me his. My thighs quivered as he worked his way up until I was panting. “But never again, Nova. I will not make the same mistake twice.” He pushed my panties to the side and buried his face between my legs. “You’re mine now.”

“Yes,” I whimpered and arched my back. His tongue was satin-like as it brushed across my clit. I was ready for him already, and he moaned in appreciation when I bucked my hips against his face.

“Say it, Nova.” He pushed my legs back so that my knees were bent and pressed to my chest. I was completely exposed to him, and it made me feel wild. This carnal urge to have him devour me was taking over my whole body and mind.

“I’m yours,” I panted and cupped my breasts. “I’m all yours, Cian.”

He lapped up my juices, his tongue dipping inside of me, then back up to my clit. “Good girl,” he purred. In a flash he sat up, pushed his jeans down, then centered his cock at my entrance. “Don’t ever fucking forget it,” he growled and thrust into me.

I gasped as he filled me up, arching my back as I gripped his arms. He fucked me slowly, with steady strokes that kept me on edge. I met him thrust for thrust, wanting nothing more than for him to ravish me until I couldn’t breathe anymore. He had that power over me, the kind that made you forget anything and everything except for him at that moment.

He reached down, strumming his fingers against my clit as he pounded into me, and I screamed out, his name on my lips, before he crushed his mouth to mine.

We lay tangled together, a sweaty mess, our breaths ragged. Everything would be different tomorrow. My heart ached from thinking that these could be the last few simple moments we had together. He gripped me to him tightly, as if he could read my mind, and I let myself get lost in his kiss one last time.

Chapter Six

Day 6

“Operation Black Velvet is a go.”

Delove’s voice crackled over the walkie-talkie, my body tensing as I sat next to Juliet in the back seat of the sedan.

The whole day had been a whirlwind of emotions, and I was beyond exhausted. I had spent all morning cooped up with Cian in our bedroom. He hadn’t wanted to let me go and found small ways to make me stay in bed with him, like bribing me with orgasms and full-body massages. It had been wonderful, and a part of me wished we could have stayed like that forever. Was that what our life would have been like had I not met Ryzen? Filled with laughter, sex, and harmony? I guessed I’d never know.

Delove and Dobbs had come in the afternoon to make sure Juliet and I were prepared. My palms wouldn’t stop sweating, and the more I thought about everything I had to do, the clumsier I became. After I spilled a bottle of water, then my coffee, and tripped over my own two feet, Cian had picked me up and laid me on the couch with a warning not to move until I had calmed down.

I couldn’t help it. I was terrified of messing it all up and disappointing everyone or, worse, getting myself into real danger. But I couldn’t dwell. I had decided that I was going to do this, and I was going to do it right.

I had finally reached a point in the day where I felt more in control, more relaxed. Until Thora brought out my wedding dress and I almost had a full-blown panic attack. My throat closed up and I dug my nails into my palms at the sight of it. Torn, tattered and bloody, it stood for everything I had lost over these past few months.

My face said it all when I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Absolute disgust. Cian stopped in his tracks when he saw me wearing it, his lips set in a flat line. I smiled slightly and threw my hands up. “Well, this sucks.” My voice quivered, and I cleared my throat.

His fists were clenched so tight, his knuckles were turning white. After a moment, he seemed to relax and trailed his thumb over my bottom lip and down my chin. “When this is all over, I’ll help you burn it.”

I chuckled and closed my eyes as he kissed my forehead. That sounded like a great idea to me.

“You know you’re very strong for doing this, Nova.” His eyes burned into me. “You are the most fascinating woman I have ever met. One of the strongest. I know that you can handle this, although it’s gutting me that I can’t be there to help you each step of the way.”

My heart melted at his words, and I fell a little harder for him at that moment.

Juliet and I went outside and eyed the pile of leaves and debris in the yard. It wasn’t like I could show up at the hospital completely clean with a glowing face from having multiple orgasms. I highly doubted our “kidnappers” were the type to give us hot showers and clean clothes. No, we had to look the part, or it would be too suspicious. We rolled around, getting dirt and muck all over our legs, arms and hair. We looked and smelled terrible, which meant we were doing it right.

Sometime later I stood in the bathroom gripping the sink as I stared at the knife. I knew what I had to do but couldn’t bring myself to do it. Cian leaned against the door frame, his eyebrows raised.

“Should I be concerned?” He glanced down at the knife and chuckled softly.

I tilted my head and sighed. “The cut on my forehead. It’s been cleaned up and doesn’t look fresh. We need to cut it open.”

“No.” He narrowed his eyes and stalked towards me. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Cian.” I pressed my hands against his chest. “If Voledetti had kidnapped me and thrown me in a dark room, my wound wouldn’t look this way. It’s not like he would have washed my wedding dress, given me a shower, food, and patched up the cut.”

He closed his eyes and grimaced. “Nova.”

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