He released me in shock. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
My knees dug into the bed as I found my equilibrium over him and leaned forward. “You didn’t, Julie. You haveneverhurt me.”
His hands magnetized to me again, this time landing on the hem of my shirt, rough fingertips rubbing under the fabric.
My breath caught in my throat. “Take it off.Please.”
The request appeared to shock him, and he froze for a singular instance before doing as I obliged. In the ethereal glow, I was able to watch as he took me in. As his eyes lit in desire, his mouth opened and his eyebrows lifted.
I was able to see when he found the scars. The ones hidden beneath my clothes. Each a memory I never wanted to fall into again. A nightmare that would wake me in the middle of the night.
“Julian, you next,” I pressed, distracting him.
The words seemed to shake him from his shock and he reached down, rolling out of his pants, his hard cock bobbing up into my sensitive skin.
A hiss escaped my lips as it provided some of the friction I craved. I didn’t wait for him, tugging his shirt up and over, forcing him to lean into me and then I threw it as far as I could for good measure.
I froze, staring down at him. The scars I had expected…
All of the piercings that had previously adorned his face were still missing, but these weren’t.
“You pierced your nipples?” The metal rings reflected, catching my attention, and I used my hand to touch one.
Julian drew in a sharp intake of breath, his muscles rippling. “Yes.”
Gently, I played with it, my finger tracing the circle, offering it a soft flick.
“Fuck!” One of his hands buried in the sheets, the other landing on my cunt, cupping it.
“I see.” My lips twitched in satisfaction at his reaction. Continuing to tease him, I watched in fascination as he came undone. As his cock jerked under me, as his fingers explored on their own.
He unexpectedly pinched down on my clit and I let out a moan at the sensation.
“Raven, please, bunny. You’re going to make me embarrass myself.”
But I was in no rush. Julian was a man who had made home in my heart long before I realized he was there. He had kept it warm and protected without ever expecting anything in return.
“You have been selfless for all this time,” I whispered the words into his neck, nuzzling my nose against it. “I want you to be selfish, Julian. What doyouwant?”
“I don’t deserve anything, Raven. Just being here, with you. Alive. It is more than I had ever hoped to wish for.” He panted, his hips rolling on their own as I flicked his nipple ring again.
“That’s not a good answer. What do you want, Julian? What did you do this all for? For yourself?” I asked gently, rocking myself along his hardened cock.
“Raven, please. I can’t answer that, I—"
Growling, I burrowed into the crook of his neck, sucking and lapping at it. I knew it would leave a mark, but I didn’t care. He squirmed underneath me, a low groan vibrating from his chest.
“For you. For myself. It was selfish. I hoped that one day I would find you, and I could tell you I did everything for you. That it would save my soul from all the wrongs I committed if it meant it was for you—”
I had heard enough. Using my free hand, I aligned his cock at just the right spot and fell all the way down onto it. Taking him in one go, allowing him to stretch me past the point of comfort.
This wasn’t for me.
It was and it wasn’t.
“You are forgiven, Julian.” I offered kisses on the neck I had just hurt. “You are loved.” I undulated into him, finding a rhythm. “You are safe with me.”
“Fu—ck!” The word was broken.
