Nico chuckles. “The price is taking me with you. When you execute your plan, I want to be part of it. I want to be there to watch your back.”
Turning in his arms, I press against him, grinding my ass against his cock. “Are you sure it’s not another part of my anatomy that you want to watch?”
I make an undignified noise as he grabs a handful of my ass. “It is gorgeous, and I will happily ogle any part of you.” I turn to face him, and he leans down, capturing my lips in an all-consuming kiss, mouthing along my jaw, burning his way down the length of my neck.
By the time he reaches my shoulder, I’m practically a puddle, struggling to put words together. “Love, if you’re there, I’ll be concentrating on protecting you rather thaneliminating the target.” Just as I’m currently finding it difficult to concentrate on this conversation.
I gasp as Nico gently bites my neck. “I am telling you that I have a guaranteed way to get you in the same room as Guild Master Keller. With Leonardo almost guaranteed to be there as well. Are you truly willing to pass that up over a silly thing like unnecessarily worrying for my safety?” His voice is soft, deep, and as hypnotic as ever. “You have spent the past five months training me ridiculously hard for this, Bello.”
Damn him. He’s right, though I hate to admit it. He’s been training, and very successfully. He’d be an asset. But I want him safe.
His hand teasingly dip into the waistband of my pants. “Do you want to hear my solution?”
When did Nico become the seducer and I the seduced? I’m practically swooning as I unbutton his silk shirt, placing soft kisses against every inch of newly exposed skin. “Fine. Tell me your plan. But I make no promises.” I glance at him through my lashes, silently willing him to touch more of my body.
He groans. “Alright, I will tell you, but it is very distracting when you look at me like that.”
“As it is when you try to kiss me into submission.”
Grinning, he holds me tighter, and I don’t mind at all. “Fair point. I have an invitation to a Winterfest celebration that takes place in four days at the Keller compound.” Intrigued, I pause my kissing across his chest. “Father and I receive one every year because of our relationship to Lorenzo, but we never go. I could accept thisyear, sneak you in, and help you to eliminate Keller and Santorini.” The plan has merit and is better than anything I’ve thought of so far. Although security will be intense. I moan as Nico finally wraps his hand around my cock. “So, what do you think?”
As if I can think at all right now. I lean against him and struggle to stay focused. “How do you propose to smuggle me past the guards? I can’t waltz up to the door on your arm.” In a passing moment of clarity, I realize that isn’t completely true. Sister Solène could. “I may have a plan.” I thrust into his fist, and all my focus evaporates. “I’ll tell you when I’m less distracted. Right now I’m done discussing anything. I need you.”
Chapter 28
Soft Words and Firm Plans
Nico effortlessly grips the backs of my legs, lifting me off the ground. I wrap myself around him, and he carries me into his room, tossing me into the center of the bed before crawling after me. “These past days have been very lonely without you, Bello.”
I’m momentarily overwhelmed by relief. He still wants me. I haven’t fucked things up beyond repair. Founder only knows how. “Iamridiculously amazing.” I slide my fingers into his soft curls, tugging gently. “But for the sake of curiosity, what specifically have you missed?”
Grinning, he runs a finger along the vein thrumming in my neck. “Well…” His eyes roam over me like an intimate caress. “I missed that little moan you make.”
I nudge his shoulder and roll my eyes. “I don’t moan.” Nico moves over me, looming predatorily. I shiver with anticipation, my heart thumping wildly as desire pools in my belly.
“Oh, but you do, Bello. Here, let me show you.” There’s a mischievous twinkle in his silver eyes, and my heart ratespeeds up as his beautiful mouth drifts closer, plush lips brushing against my neck. I tilt my head, wanting more of his gentle open-mouthed kisses that drive me wild. I gasp, and my eyes fly open as his teeth close on the muscle at the top of my shoulder. My whole body trembles with pleasure as my back arches off the bed, and a low, needy moan slips from between my lips. In an instant, his mouth is gone, and I whimper softly, wanting it back where it was. He watches me with desire and amusement. “Thatmoan.”
It takes me several moments to realize what he means. When I finally speak, I don’t even try to keep the grudging respect from my voice. “Well done.” I arch toward him, eager for more but very deliberately taking a few breaths to collect my wits, because two can play this game. “But I have a weakness for your kisses.” He’s not the only one with bedroom talents. I brush my fingertips along his shoulders and down his arms, smirking as a small shiver ripples through him. “Do you know what I missed?” I place small kisses across his chest. The spicy smell of sandalwood and frankincense clinging to his warm skin is wonderfully distracting, limiting my progress as I stop to inhale his scent. “Your soft gasps.” Just thinking about them makes me harder.
“Mmmm.” Nico leans down and kisses me tenderly, our tongues caressing until we’re both breathless with desire. “Perhaps you can refresh my memory.”
I call up every ounce of focus to control my lust and refrain from hauling him against me and indulging in a frenetic bout of frotting until we both come. “Happily.”I run my hands along his beautifully sculpted torso, paying special attention to his nipples, gently tugging before rolling them between my fingers and thumbs. Nico’s deep groan rumbles through his chest, reverberating in mine. Ignoring my body’s eager response, I squeeze harder, twisting the already taut nubs. His eyes darken to the color of storm clouds, and desire tints his cheeks a luscious pink. I pull with steady pressure and he inhales sharply. “There it is. So brief but so arousing.” His hips roll against mine, and I grin victoriously. “Do you want me, love?” I’m trying to playfully tease, but worry leaks through, making my tone unsure.
He must hear it, because his smile turns soft as he strokes my cheek. “Always. Forever.”
My heart sings as I slide my hands along his muscled torso, opening the front of his pants so I can slip my hand under the fabric and palm his already stiff cock. The warm, heavy weight of him is arousing and comforting. “I want you. Let me show you how much I’ve missed you and love you.”
Nico crashes his mouth to mine in a hungry, passion-fueled kiss. Arching against him, I moan, biting gently at his lips and flicking my tongue along his. He frantically works at opening my pants before yanking them over my hips. Desperate for him, I kick them off, and we scramble to remove our remaining clothes, ducking to avoid stray elbows. Laughing, he pushes me onto the bed, throwing a leg over mine. “Bello. My beautiful man.” He slides his hand down my body, caressing my skin from my shoulderto my cock. “I love you.” His warm fingers grip me firmly, stroking me deliberately.
“Fuck, that feels good.” I spread my legs, encouraging his exploration. A shiver runs through me as he growls deeply in the back of his throat and teases my hole, pressing gently until his fingers slip inside. “Oh, fucking hells.” I spread my legs further, and press against his hand, panting as his fingers sink deeper.
“You are so beautiful. Look at you, panting and needy.” I caress his hip, sliding my hand lower to wrap my fist around his cock, stroking firmly. There’s very little finesse and definitely no more teasing. We aren’t trying to impress each other or draw things out. This is an ‘I missed you’ moment. A ‘welcome home.’ It’s an emotional and visceral need for mutual release after arguing and too much time spent apart. He brushes the hair from my sweat-dampened face. “I want you, Bello. I need to be deep inside your tight, wet heat.”
“Yes.” He slips his fingers from me and I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, my cock achingly hard between us. “Please.” He devours me with his eyes and rubs the tip of his cock against my hole. I’m desperate, but it’s been weeks since the last time we were intimate. “I hope you have something to ease the way, love. I’m not sure I’m up to going without.”
He dives for the bedside table, frantically fumbling in the drawer for the oil. Sighing in relief, he rolls onto his side, pouring some into his palm before coating his gorgeous cock.
I watch through half-lidded eyes as I stroke myself. “Come here and let me show you how much I love you.”
