The pessimist in me whispers,Give it time.
The optimist in me, much quieter and always on vacation, doesn’t disagree, but clarifies,Give this place a chance. It has more to show you.
The cemetery is next to the flower shop, which feels like top notch city planning, and is much bigger than I was expecting. I know monsters die too, but there are several species who live for hundreds of years, and some are even immortal. Beyond that, I assumed the rest had their own rituals for honoring the dead that didn’t include having a standard burial.
We pass hundreds of gravestones, though, and I’m impressed by the tidy condition in which each one is kept.
“It’s beautiful here,” I say, taking in a deep breath of the crisp New England air. “So peaceful.”
“The dead are a quiet bunch,” Nic agrees with a smirk. He stops to lean against the waist-high stone fence that surrounds the dearly departed, and pulls me into his arms, my back pressed against his front. “Almost a full moon.”
I look up and bask in the moonlight, warm in Nic’s embrace, taking in the smattering of visible stars.This trip was a great idea,I think.How soon can I come back?I turn in Nic’s arms and press my chin into his hard chest as I gaze up at him. “I still can’t believe you’re the skinny boy I kissed twenty-seven years ago.”
He chuckles softly. “Quite the glow-up, right?”
His tone is sarcastic, but I know he knows how pretty he is. Somehow, I don’t think that’s what he means, though. There have been times, few and far between, when he seems unsure of himself, or that he knows he’s lacking and wishes he could disappear. It could be old wounds from when his brother bulliedhim, or maybe something else. The only thing I do know is that I hate the sight of it. I want to reach inside his mind, track down the memory that’ll tell me who put those wounds there, and beat the hell out of that person.
For now, I offer him the truth as I see it. “You’re remarkable, Nic. I’ve never known anyone like you. I felt that way when we met the first time, and it’s still the case today.”
His features soften, and his blue eyes swirl with gratitude. Rather than respond, he cups my jaw and kisses me. He drinks from my lips as his hands get lost in my hair. It’s unhurried and sweet, but as soon as I feel his hardness pressed against my belly, my hunger for him steers my movements, and I change the tempo.
Our coats come off quickly, then his shirt. When I remove my sweater and my bra, he gives me a scandalized look and wraps his arms around me to cover me up. “It’s too cold to do this here.”
“No, it isn’t,” I reply, pulling him back in for a messy, passionate kiss. “I’ll be fine.” Then my skirt drops down to my ankles, my underwear with it, and I stand before him in nothing but my boots.
He scans our surroundings. “Someone might see.” I raise an eyebrow, and he smiles wide. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”
I let my hands do the talking as I undo his belt and unbutton his pants.
For a second, he looks like he wants to protest this whole thing, but when his eyes drop to my nipples, hard and aching to be touched, I hear him mutter, “Fuck it,” under his breath before he gets himself seated on the fence. He pulls me between his spread legs and wraps his lips around my nipple.
I grip the ends of his soft, fine hair as I moan at the contrast of his hot, wet mouth on my cold skin. It feels fucking spectacular. A gust of wind lifts the ends of my hair as he insertsa finger into my pussy, and I’m so wet the squelch of him fucking me with his hand echoes around us.
“Do you think the dead are offended?” he asks before running his tongue up the center of my chest.
“By us? Not a chance,” I reply confidently. “If they still had the ability to fuck, they would be, doesn’t matter where.”
“Mm,” he grunts with a laugh. “Good point. And it’s not like we’re on top of someone’s grave.”
I climb into his lap and straddle him, his hands gripping my hips tight enough to leave handprints. “Exactly.” I’m panting now, desperate to mold myself to his body and feel the sweet friction of him rubbing against my clit. “They’re getting a show.” I reach between us and remove his hard cock from the slit in his boxers. It’s hot and already pulsing beneath my gaze.
As I sink down on his length, he cups my cheek. “Hey,” he whispers, demanding my full attention. It’s not easy to provide, given the thick pole that’s currently rearranging my insides. “You’re incredible. Every part of you is incredible.”
The words have me dropping the rest of the way down until I’m fully seated. I cry out, the stretch overwhelming, while feeling utterly filled by him balancing the discomfort.
“Hold on to me,” he commands, and I obey. I love him like this, bossy and in charge of my body. It’s a side of him no one else gets to see, and knowing the boundaries of my safety that he’d never dream of pushing allows me the freedom to let go. It’s the most vulnerable I’ve ever been in bed with someone, and the best sex I’ve ever had.
His fingers dig into my back as he slams me down until our hips meet. My arms are wrapped tightly around his neck, and I’m kissing his scalp between moans as his suckler teases the hell out of my clit.
“Oh g-god,” I whimper.
He pulls back to look at me. “Okay?”
Something thrums in my belly at him checking in like this. Something warm and new. I nod, and he kisses me like he needs me to survive. It’s messy and rough. Our teeth gnash, but I love it. There’s no time to do it the right way, or the most aesthetically pleasing way. We need each other too badly for that.
“Nic,” I beg as his tongue traces my jawline. “Bite me, please.”
He stills and pulls back. “I can’t.”
