I didn’t even have time to smile before I had him free. The ropes dropped, and he grabbed me instantly, tossing me onto the bed with a force that stole my breath. Even injured, he was strong enough to ruin me if he ever wanted to—yet he always waited for my permission.
His fingers shoved inside me without warning, and I clawed at his shirt as his mouth collapsed against mine. I didn’t want gentle this time.
“Oh god, Cezar, don’t stop, fuck,” I moaned between kisses.
He stroked himself with his free hand while working me open with the other, hitting every spot he knew would tear me apart. Neither of us lasted long. His breath stuttered, mine tangled with his, and we came hard together, shaking in the same messy rhythm.
Before I could even breathe properly, he buried himself between my thighs and pressed his mouth against me. His tongue cleaned me with slow, greedy passes that sent sparks upmy spine. When he finally climbed up to kiss me, he was smiling against my lips.
“Come on. Let’s rinse off. I want to cuddle.”
The shower was quick because if we stayed any longer, neither of us would’ve slept. Crawling into bed, he pulled me against him, his arm around my waist.
It had become our normal. The way he held me. I didn’t want to admit it, but it made me feel safe in a world where nothing ever was.
Chapter 45
CEZAR
Pacing around the room wasn’t doing shit to help me build the courage to ask Lina if she wanted to take a trip with me. I hadn’t been to Piatra Verde in a long time. I never went unless things were calm on my father’s side and I’d shown my face enough to keep the suspicion down.
The last visit helped a little. Codrin kept telling Father we were working together on certain tasks, which bought me a bit of space. Not much, but enough to get away for a few days before he started sniffing around again. I’d even stopped by yesterday, handled what he wanted, and then got dragged out by Codrin before anything else could be dumped on me. At some point, it wouldn’t be enough.
My thoughts derailed the second Lina stepped out of the shower, not wearing a damn thing. Every time I saw her like that, I wondered what sick twist of fate handed me something I didn’t deserve. I ceased mid-pace, just watching her get dressed. I could watch her forever.
“You know, you could at least pretend you’re not a creep,” she joked while tugging a shirt over her head.
“Nah, I’m good.” I crossed the room, sliding my fingers in her damp hair, before pressing my lips to the back of her neck. My hand curved around her stomach, and I drew her in. We swayedgently, almost like we’d practiced it. Strange how tenderness kept sneaking into whatever this was.
At first, it felt like an arrangement. Now… who was I fooling? She’d been mine since the moment she jumped me.
“Mmm… whatever you’re doing, it feels nice,” she whispered, pressing her hand over mine. Her skin radiated heat from her scalding shower. “How’s your… body, Cezar?”
“I’m good. Always good. But you…” I inhaled, sinking into the scent of her skin. “Fuck.”
I shoved aside the memories from a few weeks ago and focused on her. The way she smelled. The way she tasted. The way she made the world stop spinning for the first time in my miserable life. I buried my face in her neck, earning a small giggle—my new favorite sound.
Not counting the one that happens when she—
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, but you don’t always have to be strong,” Lina affirmed.
I whipped her around, puzzled by her words. “You think I’m strong?”
She gave me a look that said she couldn’t believe I even asked. “Yes. You’re strong in ways most people wouldn’t survive. Look at everything you’ve had to carry. Look at what you endured up until now, alone, for so long.”
Her hands crawled up my chest, tracing the scars, then rested on my face.
Up until now… alone…
“Does that mean you are never going to l—”
No. Stop. Don’t go there. Don’t put that on her. Don’t cage her the way you were caged.
I wanted to ask the question, wanted to hear her promise something she didn’t owe me, but I couldn’t make myself say it.
She turned slightly, expecting me to finish, but I kept quiet. She pressed a soft kiss to my mouth before digging around forpants. “Why do you have to put all these clothes on?” I chuckled, though my tone was serious.
“Would you prefer if I just walked around naked for all to see?”
