Page 8 of The Secret of Pain

“You like it?” he asks, sliding off his shoes and coming to stand beside me as I take everything in.

“Like it? How could I do anything but love it? This is more than I ever dreamed. This view is everything!” I look out of the windows to the sparkling sea of lights below us, and the beauty that is Central Park.

“Thank you so much, Jack, this is amazing.”

“I just want you to be happy, Remy. If I can be a part of that, I’ll do everything in my power to make it so.”

* * *

Not that I like it in this instance, but I was right.

The weekend did not go to plan. I’m not that surprised really. Being on top of each other, even for three days… well it had me worried for a reason. That, plus his work kept calling, despite him booking time away, something to do with one of his patients… but needless to say, Jack turned from loving and caring to the guy who blows up at me breathing too loud.

I’m just glad we’re home, even if it is a day early, and that he’s back at work. This might hit the top three of worst birthdays ever. It had so much potential, but well, it is what it is, I guess.

Instead, today, I’m going to have a me day. Jack has a twenty-four hour shift he picked up, no one knows I’m home—and I can’t deal with the fallout of telling them, having to explain the disaster with the judgment and I told you so’s—so I’m thinking pj day, ordering all the pizza and tacos I can eat until I made myself sick, and binging TV.

Happy Birthday to Me.

CHAPTER FIVE

I laugh as I run up the stairs, the bright light pouring into the bedroom that’s full of windows, and the white curtains swaying with the breeze coming in through the open doors that lead to the balcony. The sound of gulls outside lures me toward the fresh air, and the smell of the ocean gives me a sense of tranquility.

“I know you don’t think that running is something that will save you from me.” His deep but happy voice fills me with joy, and I’m instantly at peace as my body relaxes back into him.

“Then don’t give me a reason to need saving.” I laugh as he wraps his arms around me from behind, his hot breath on my ear. I have never needed to be protected, but that’s exactly how I feel right now and it’s so freeing.

A groan unwillingly slips from my lips as he kisses my neck, and his hand reaches round to cup my breast, squeezing gently. His teeth scrape down my neck, and I can’t help shivering in his arms.

“You are wearing far too many clothes,” he breathes as he spins me to face him, and his bare chest ripples under my fingertips.

“I guess you should do something about that then.” I smile, reaching up on tiptoes to capture his mouth with my own. It doesn’t matter how many times I kiss him, I lose myself in him as if each one was the first. Reaching behind me, he rips apart my bindings, releasing me from the corset which falls to my feet.

He kisses down my neck, working his way down my now naked chest, capturing one nipple in his mouth, while pulling at the other with his hand, before swapping his attention. My hands plunge into his hair and pleasure shoots through every inch of me, from my toes to the top of my head.

Who knew someone so forbidden could be exactly who I needed?

“Please.” The moan falls from my lips, and I feel him smile against my skin before his lips move south. His fingers make quick work of the leather and he peels the pants down, taking my panties with them.

I gasp as his tongue laves against my wetness; his growl makes my knees weak and I have to grip his head for support. Wrapping his arms under my thighs he lifts me, his head still between my legs, and he carries me back into the room before depositing me on the bed.

“Fucking divine.” His voice against my skin shoots electricity through my body before he licks my clit again, making me shudder and moan incoherently.

“Oh shit.” I bite down on my lip as he slides one, then two fingers inside me, hooking them just right to reach the part of me he knows drives me insane. His attention doesn’t let up as he drives me over the edge, making me cry out.

With slow and predatory moves he crawls back up my body to lean over me and kisses me, still covered in my juices. I can taste it, and that combined with feeling how hard he is against my thigh makes me want him even more. I stroke down his body, undo the button on his pants, and reach inside. He groans as I grasp him in my palm, and he kisses my neck again before biting down, leaving his mark on me. He pulls back and looks down at me, his eyes wild.

“I need to feel you, baby.” He pushes down his pants and underwear before lowering himself down to me, kissing me again as he takes both of my hands and raises them above my head, pinning me with one hand. He slides into me in one thrust as his head rests against my forehead, giving me a second to adjust to how big he is. The pain quickly subsides, and I raise my hips to let him know I’m good. His free hand finds my clit as he fucks me, holding me prisoner beneath him. The noises he pulls from me don’t sound human, but at this point, I have no control of my body—I am his play thing. An orgasm rips through me as he releases my wrists and grabs my hips, and he slows until I start to come down before he pulls out and flips me on to my stomach.

“Ass in the air, Rem,” he rasps, as if he’s barely maintaining control of himself. I get onto my knees, and his big hands grasp my waist and pull me back toward him before gripping my hips. If I was anyone else, that shit would leave a bruise, but I love that he isn’t gentle with me. He plunges back into me and steals my breath, fucking me like he’s scared he’s going to lose me. He reaches around me and pulls me up so I’m kneeling, his chest against my back, and he wraps his hand around my throat.

“Mine,” he growls and bites my shoulder as I come again. He doesn’t let up, his movements becoming faster, less rhythmic before he quickly follows. As he lets go of my hair I fall forward and he falls with me, shifting us on the bed so I’m lying on his chest.

“Always, Angel. In this life or the next. There’s no one else out there for me. It’s you and me,” he says, kissing the top of my hair, and I breathe contentedly.

“Always.”

* * *

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