He circled her clit and released her hands. “Hold yourself open for me.”
Trembling, she slid her hand down her body, until her fingers could slide over her pussy. She made a vee of her fingers and spread her lips.
His hand left her for a second, and then three fingers landed on her clit in a gentle slap. She tilted her head back, crying out, but his big palm was there to capture the sound.
Her breath came in shallow gasps, and she stared into his dark, merciless eyes. “Do you like this kind of spanking too?”
She nodded.
His lip curled up, and he delivered tap after tap, alternating with lazy fingering, speeding his motions up when she grew grasping and greedy.
He captured her cries with his lips when she came, making sure no one could hear them. When she was finished, he drew away and carefully buttoned her shirt. Then he dropped a chaste kiss on her cheek. “Come to my place tomorrow.”
He’d just spanked and finger-fucked her, but that innocent, careless kiss was what made her blush.
Intimate.
No. Talking was fine. Putting their past to rest was fine. Dreaming of more was not. She shook her head. “Not your place. Someone might see.”
His lips compressed, but he only said, “Right. I’ll text you a location then.”
His thumb stroked over her cheek, the caress making her feel temporarily cared for and protected.
She shivered. That was the key word. She couldn’t lose sight of that qualifier. Temporary.
Chapter 16
LIVVY BLEWon the surface of the hot coffee she held, the silence of the café calming her. She’d only stopped by Kane’s after hours to pick up some of the day’s excess sandwiches for dinner—she’d officially given up on navigating the kitchen at home—but she was glad she’d accepted Sadia’s offer of a cup while her sister-in-law got the food together.
Livvy took a sip, a frightening level of contentment filling her. For most of her adult life, Livvy hadn’t been able to experience happiness without pain. Guilt and sadness and darkness were like a fine overlay on her entire life, a veil with the power to tarnish anything good that came her way.
For the past week, though, every night she’d spent with Nicholas had been simply... happy.
There had been a little twinge when she’d snuck out to see him. A prick when she had to creep back into her mother’s house or lie about having a shift at work. A wince when she drove up to another hotel room. A trickle when she grew relieved that her mother was rapidly improving in stability andmobility so she didn’t feel so bad about not being home when she wasn’t working.
Other than that, though, she was wallowing in this extended-pleasure portion of her Nicholas Pleasure/Pain Cycle.
They didn’t just fuck, though—Livvy shifted in her seat, wincing a bit—yes, there was definitely fucking happening. When they were finished, she snuggled into his arms, her head on his chest, and they would talk.
They spent most of their time discussing the things they’d done separate from their shared history, tip-toeing around their families and the company. The places she’d been, the things she’d seen, how she’d grown her skills and business while moving constantly. He’d traveled internationally quite a bit, while she’d never gone farther than Canada. They’d had the money for it when she was a kid, but her mother had been terrified of long flights.
She listened quietly as he told her about Paris, and then badgered him about his visit to the Louvre, forcing him to recount in excruciating detail every exhibit he could remember.
She’d ached when he’d drowsily pressed a kiss to the top of her head and murmured, “You should go there sometime.”
She’d go, maybe. But not with him, and she wanted his perspective on every painting and sculpture.
The first night, she’d woken up after they’d fallen asleep, certain he’d left the hotel room. But, no,there he’d been next to her. She’d been so relieved she hadn’t even minded the way his big body had sprawled across the majority of the bed. She hadn’t minded, but she’d still nudged him until he rolled over with an annoyed mutter, giving her more space. It was the principle, after all.
She’d contemplated leaving, but finally decided against it, marking another subtle shift in their relationship. They left together now, no one around in the predawn hour to catch them.
Livvy was no dummy. She knew what was coming. There was pain on the horizon.
She’d deal with it. It would be hard, and possibly bad, but this was worth it.
Her best friend bustled out of the kitchen and dropped a tray in front of her. Livvy eyed the tower of sandwiches and baked goods covered by cling wrap. “You weren’t kidding. That’s a lot of leftovers.”
“Business was slow today.” Sadia placed two plates in front of them and sank into the seat with a sigh. “Here, grab a bite before you leave.”
