“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” I murmured, my lips brushing against her breast before moving lower.
“You make me feel beautiful,” she said.
I kissed my way down her stomach, savoring every shiver, every hitched breath. She was exquisite, her thighs trembling slightly as I settled between them, my hands framing her hips.
I pressed a kiss to her inner thigh. “You’re mine.”
She gasped as I pressed my tongue against her gently, tasting her. She gasped, her hips shifting, but I held her steady, my hands firm on her thighs as I began to worship her. I took my time, exploring every inch of her with my mouth, finding the rhythms and touches that made her moan, that made her tremble.
“Raffaele,” she moaned as I circled her clit with my tongue.
I focused on her clit, sucking gently as I slid two fingers inside her, curling them just right. She clenched around me, and I felt the tension in her body coil tighter and tighter. She cried out, her back arching off the bed as her release hit her, shuddering beneath me as I coaxed every wave of pleasure from her.
As she came down, I kissed my way back up her body, capturing her lips in a kiss that was hot and messy, filled with all the emotions we couldn’t say. She reached for me, her hands tugging at my shirt, and I pulled it over my head, letting her explore me.
Vivian’s eyes shone in the dim light of the fire crackling in the hearth, her gaze locked on mine as she whispered, “I need you inside me.” Her voice trembled, her vulnerability as palpable as the bond that thrummed between us. Her hands slid down to the waistband of my pants, her touch sending a jolt of electricity through my entire body. “Now.”
Her words were a plea, but they held a strength that mirrored her spirit, a strength that had endured so much and yet still shone brightly. I didn’t make her wait. I stripped off the rest of my clothes and climbed back onto the bed. Settling over her, I positioned myself at her entrance. I brushed a strand of hair from her face and stared into her eyes.
“I love you, Vivian.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but her smile was steady. “I love you too,” she whispered, framing my face with her hands. The raw honesty in her words pierced through me, filling the cracks I didn’t realize were there.
Slowly, deliberately, I thrust into her, groaning as her warmth surrounded me, pulling me deeper into her world. She gasped softly, her hands gripping my shoulders as I filled her completely. We stayed like that, perfectly still, perfectly connected. Our foreheads touched, our breaths mingling, the space between us dissolving until there was no separation, no past, no future—only this moment.
When I finally began to move, it was with purpose, every thrust deliberate, every motion meant to convey the love I couldn’t always put into words. Her body arched beneath mine, her nails raking down my back as soft moans escaped her lips. Each sound was a symphony.
I lowered my head, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both tender and demanding. Her response was immediate, her arms wrapping around me as if to pull me even closer. She was everything—my anchor, my salvation, my home.
“I’ll always protect you,” I whispered against her lips, my voice ragged with emotion. “Always.”
Her response was a soft whimper, and she tangled her hands in my hair as I drove her higher, our bodies moving in perfect synchrony. She met every thrust, her body tightening around me as if she never wanted to let go. Her moans turned to cries of my name as she shattered beneath me.
I followed her over the edge, my own release crashing through me, leaving me raw and vulnerable in its wake. A low groan escaped my lips as I buried my face in her neck, holding her tightly as we rode the waves of ecstasy together.
We collapsed onto the bed, our limbs tangled, our bodies still pressed close. I cradled her against me, stroking her damp hair as her breathing evened out. She looked up at me, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glowing with the aftershock of passion and contentment.
For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace. Truly, deeply at peace. The chaos, the pain, the betrayals… it was all muted in this moment, replaced by the quiet certainty of her love.
“You’re safe with me,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Always.”
Her arms tightened around me, and she buried her face in my chest, her soft breath warming my skin. “And you’re safe with me.”
The fire cast flickering shadows across the room as we lay there, holding each other. Neither of us spoke for a long time, content to let the silence stretch, to let our hearts do the talking. Her body molded perfectly against mine, her warmth grounding me in a way nothing else ever had.
Eventually, I shifted slightly, adjusting so I could look at her more fully. She rested her chin on my chest, gazing up at me with a small, tired smile.
“We’ll figure it out,” she said softly. “All of it. Together.”
“Together,” I agreed, brushing my fingers along her jaw. “But not tonight.”
Her smile widened, and she nodded, closing her eyes as she nestled closer. “Not tonight.” She yawned and nestled closer to me.
I pulled the blankets over us, tucking them around her as her breathing slowed, her body relaxing into mine. My own eyes grew heavy, and as the warmth of her presence seeped into me, I allowed myself to let go. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. I felt her, and that was enough.
We fell asleep intertwined, our bodies and souls as one, both determined to face whatever came next—but tomorrow. Tonight was ours.
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