Victorious (31 page)

Tears leak from the corners of her eyes, and I kiss them away.
 

“Are those tears of pain?”

She shakes her head, and I’m filled with relief.

I continue to caress her clit, hoping to give her something else to focus on. Her thighs begin to quiver, and she rocks against me, coming with a scream that allows me to enter her fully. Holy God… It’s the most amazing feeling. Her entire body is convulsing around me, so I hold on tight to her, riding wave after wave of incredible sensation.

When she finally begins to calm, I start to move, slowly withdrawing and then pressing back in, over and over again, rocking gently against her.

“God, Nat, you’re so fucking hot. You’re making me crazy right now.”

She raises her hips, and that tiny bit of encouragement is all I need to let loose, giving her deeper thrusts that have me on the brink of release. I hold off, wanting her to come again before I give in.

“I’m staying right here until you come again,” I whisper against her ear.

Her deep moan makes me smile.

I press deeper and begin once again to stroke her clit, thrusting into her in small, tight increments. Next time we do this, I’ll use a finger vibe so I can keep her coming the whole time. I keep up the dual actions until she’s writhing under me, coming again, harder this time than the last, which is all it takes to trip the most intense orgasm of my life.
 

Though I never take my eyes off her face, I nearly lose all sense of time and place as I hammer into her, taking as much as giving.

She clings to me, crying out as the release overtakes us both.

Gripping the condom, I withdraw from her as slowly as I went in, watching her the entire time. I use a tissue to dispose of the condom so I don’t have to leave her for even a second.
 

“Sweetheart…”

“Hmmm.”

“Can you open your eyes?”

It takes a minute, but they flutter open, glassy and moist and full of love that fills me with relief.

“Good?”

“Mmmm.”

“I need the words.”

She licks her lips. “Good. Different but good.”

“Hurt?”

“Yeah, but not as bad as I expected.”

“Would you do it again?”

“Now?” she asks, seeming alarmed.

Laughing, I say, “No, not now.”

“I’d do it again. You were right about the orgasm… Phew… It was so powerful.”

I’m so glad to hear her say that. It’s not for everyone, but I love it, so I’m glad to know she wasn’t so put off by our first time that she wouldn’t be willing to do it again.

“Thank you for trusting me enough to do that with me.”

“Thank you for being so gentle with me.”

“I’ll always be gentle with you.” I kiss her and hold her close. “Let me clean you up, and then we’ll get some sleep.” I release her only long enough to retrieve a warm washcloth from the bathroom that I use to clean us both.

She releases a satisfied-sounding sigh as the rough terrycloth rubs her sensitive flesh.
 

I look up to find her watching me tend to her, a small smile on her lips.

“What?”

“Just looking at what’s mine.”

I love that she’s possessive of me when that quality has driven me insane with other women. This woman is welcome to be as possessive of me as she’d like to be. “So am I.”

She holds out her arms to me.

I toss the washcloth on the floor and go to her, dragging the covers up and over us. We come together, arms and legs wrapped around each other, bodies pressed tightly. It’s the only way I can sleep now, with her warm, sweet softness snug against me.

“Are you hurting, sweetheart?”

“No, not really. I’m still throbbing.”

“And throbbing is a good thing?”

“In this case, yes.”

“I want you to know that I wish I’d told you the truth about myself from the beginning, that I’d had the faith I should’ve had in you and that core of inner strength that is so much a part of who you are.”

“While I wish I’d heard it from you rather than your ex-wife, you were probably wise to hold it back from me. I wouldn’t have been able to handle it at the beginning, and I might’ve done something stupid like run away from you.”

“I would’ve run after you.” I stroke my hand over her hair. “Go to sleep, sweetheart. We have a very special day ahead tomorrow.”

“Can’t wait to marry you all over again.”

“Me, too.” Long after she’s asleep, I remain awake, enjoying the simple pleasure of holding her while she sleeps.
 

Chapter 16

My entire body is sore from what we did last night. I can’t seem to move as I force my eyes to open on a new day, one in which we will celebrate our marriage with Flynn’s family. I’m disappointed that neither of my sisters could get the time off from school and work, and that Leah couldn’t get anyone to cover her shift at the bar. Aileen had another round of chemo on Friday, so she can’t come either.

I tell myself I’m okay with none of my people being here, but I can’t deny I’m disappointed that none of them could make it work, even after Flynn offered to fly them out for it.

I need to get up. I need to take a shower and wash my hair so I’m ready when the hair and makeup people get here to help me get ready. I told Flynn and Addie I didn’t want all that, but he insisted on full pampering today.

“Hey, you’re awake,” he says when he and Fluff come into the room. Wearing only a pair of basketball shorts, Flynn is carrying a tray, and the scent of coffee has my full attention. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

I try to sit up and instantly regret moving.

“Oh God, baby. Is it bad?”

“I’m okay.”

“Tell me the truth.”

“I’m sore.”

“I’ll run you a hot bath after you eat.” He gestures to the plate with eggs and bacon and pancakes.
 

My stomach growls loudly. “Did you make all this?”

“No, Fluff did. But I supervised.”

I laugh despite my aches and pains.

Fluff barks and jumps up on the bed to “help” with my breakfast.
 

I struggle to find a comfortable position, and when I’m settled, he places the tray on my lap. “I’ve never had breakfast in bed before I met you.”

“What do you think of it?”

Taking a bite of bacon, I smile at him. “I could get used to it.”

“We’re fine with that.”

“Have you been up long?”

“Couple hours. I took a run and did some work.” He accepts the bite of pancake I offer him. “It’s no fun being awake without you.”

I waggle a finger at him to bring him closer so I can kiss him. “Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too. Sorry I slept so late.”

“Don’t be sorry. You were worn out.”

“Extremely.”

“Are you sorry… Do you wish…”

I lay a finger over his lips. “I loved it. No regrets, no second-guessing.”

He takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. “Ready for that hot bath?”

“Sounds heavenly.”

“You should have plenty of time to soak before the masseuse arrives.”

“
Masseuse?
”

“You heard me right. I want my wife nice and relaxed for her big day.”

“You’re too good to me.”

He leans over to kiss me. “You’re good to me, too.” Then he’s gone to the bathroom to turn on the tub for me, Fluff following close behind him.

 
I meant what I said about having no regrets. I love happy, satisfied, relaxed Flynn, who isn’t wound so tightly he might burst from trying to deny who and what he is. I said I wanted all of him, and I got that last night. I have absolutely no regrets.

Flynn returns to the room with Fluff once again hot on his heels.

“Have you noticed she follows you around now the way she used to follow me?” I ask.

“Does it bother you that she likes me now?”

“Of course not. I want you guys to be friends.”

“I thought you wanted us to be father and daughter.”

I giggle at his indignant expression. “That, too.”

He comes over to the bed and removes the tray, placing it on a nearby footstool. “My love, your bath awaits you. Put your arms around my neck and allow me.”

Because I’m so achy, I do what I’m told and enjoy the way his strong arms scoop me up like I’m weightless. “Hey, what happened to my garters and the rest?”

“I took them off after you conked out last night.”

“I’m worried about how much time you spend awake while I’m sleeping.”

“I’m always watching over you, sweetheart.” He deposits me into the tub, which is full of bubbles and something else.

“What is that? What do I smell?”

“Eucalyptus. It’ll fix what ails you.”

“This is very decadent.” I reach for his hand. “Come in with me.”

He drops his shorts and climbs in behind me. The tub is even bigger than the one in his New York apartment, so there’s more than enough room for both of us.
 

With his arms around me, I recline against his chest and sigh with contentment. “Already the best Valentine’s Day ever.”

“For me, too, sweetheart. Are you excited for the party?”

“Very. I can’t wait to see what your mom put together for us. I’m sure it’ll be amazing.”

“She does love to throw a party. At this very moment, I picture her with a clipboard and a bullhorn, ordering everyone around. My sisters are probably nowhere near there. They know better.”

“A
bullhorn
?”

“She does her best work with amplification.”

I giggle madly at that image of his classy mother barking orders into a bullhorn.

“Don’t worry. With Stella at the helm, it’ll be a hell of a party.”

“I have no doubt. I just wish my sisters could’ve come, and Leah and Aileen.”

“I know, sweetheart. I feel so bad that they can’t make it.”

“It’s not your fault. Even you can’t make other people’s bosses give them time off.”

“We’ll celebrate with them the next time we see them.”

After my bath, I stroll out of the bedroom to find the living room has been filled with red roses that perfume the air with their fragrant scent. The blinds are drawn against the bright morning sun, and a massage table has been set up where the coffee table usually sits.
 

Flynn is in the kitchen with a tall blonde woman he seems to know well. “There’s Nat. Sweetheart, come meet Jasmine.”

Her name is Jasmine, and the only thought in my head is whether or not he’s slept with her.

“Could you come here for a quick second, Flynn?”

“Excuse me for one second, Jas.”

Jas
… I want to growl with jealous rage.
 

“I’m going to take this call,” Jasmine says, holding up her phone as she heads for the pool deck. “I’ll be right out here when you’re ready.”

He comes over to me. “What’s wrong?”