“It’s true, Jules,” he says gravely. “What if whatever switch that went off seven years ago goes off again? I wouldn’t fucking survive it if I ever hurt you again.”
This time I force him to let me go. With a kiss to the center of his back, I climb from the bed. I flip on the lamp on the small table beside the bed and wedge myself between his legs before getting to my knees and sitting back on my heels. His head is no longer in his hands, but it still hangs, his hair falling forward and blocking my view of his face.
When he lifts his head and I get a good look at his eyes, the stark pain I see in them makes my heart feel like someone drove over it with a semitruck. The pain is crushing and has me sucking in a breath.
This man isn’t simply feeling sorry for himself. His guilt is all-consuming and slowly obliterating him.
I grab his hand and lay it against my cheek. “Do you know why your touch doesn’t repulse or frighten me?” I ask quietly. He shakes his head. “Because it’s gentle and soft. It makes me feel safe and protected. It doesn’t take or force, but gives and soothes. It isn’t cold and unforgiving. It’s warm and gentle. That first day, even through the panic attack I had, I still felt a connection to you. One that, after I calmed down, intrigued me. One I wanted more of. Those few times you visited me while I was sleeping, my dreams didn’t torment me. Even if you didn’t know it, you scared my nightmares away. You’re a good man, Luca. You take care of the people you love. You protect and cherish them. Aria adores you. So do your parents and Ella. I don’t remember what happened before, but whatever was in you then, isn’t now. I have zero doubts in my mind that you would never hurt me.”
His expression is pained as he listens to me, but his eyes never leave mine. Once I’m finished, he slides his hand to the back of my head and pulls me forward until our foreheads meet.
“You humble me way too fucking much, Jules,” he mumbles gruffly.
“Do you feel like you could ever hurt me again, Luca?”
“No.” His answer comes immediately and without reserve.
“Then listen to your heart,” I reply.
He closes his eyes for a moment, and I wonder what’s going through his mind. When they open again, some of the self-doubt is gone. I slide my hands up his bare thighs until my hands meet his briefs. His head lowers to mine and he gives me the softest of kisses. My hands continue their path up his body and around his waist. His wrap around me, and it makes me feel just as I told him: warm and safe.
The kiss deepens and a groan rumbles from his throat, causing my own needy moan to slip past my lips. Our tongues explore each other, tasting, stroking, and nipping.
His arms tighten around my waist and he effortlessly lifts me to his lap. I wrap my legs around his waist and my butt settles on his upper thighs. His hard shaft bumps against my wet center and tiny shocks of pleasure form in my lower stomach and work their way across my whole body. His hands slip under my tank top, and he slowly pushes the material up. Our lips break apart and he pulls the top over my head. Cool air meets my heated flesh and my nipples pebble.
Luca gathers my hair in one hand and pulls it over one of my shoulders, then drops his mouth to the skin he exposed. The scratchiness of the scruff on his face feels good and sends shivers racing up my spine. His lips move across my collarbone and down to the top of my breasts.
He lifts his head and gazes down at me. “You’re so fucking gorgeous it makes my chest hurt.”
He plumps one of my breasts and presses against my back with his arm, causing my back to arch and my chest to push out. He devours me with his hot mouth, and I throw my head back and moan deeply. I never knew the pleasure of having a man suck on my nipples could be so intense. Not just any man, but Luca. He’s the only one who could ever make me feel this way.
One of my hands goes to his hair, and I gather it between my fingers. I love the feel of his hair. It’s soft and thick and feels good against my fingers.
His mouth leaves my breast and does the same to the other. When he pulls away, I press my mouth back to his, needing more of his taste. Fitting his hands against my butt, he rocks me against his hardness. My panties are soaked through, and for a moment embarrassment hits me because I know it must be seeping through to his briefs, but when I feel the metal ball of his piercing nudge my clit, all embarrassment flees as pleasure consumes me.
When his hands slip inside my panties and palms my bare butt cheeks, I curse the material and wish it was gone.
As if sensing my thoughts, he murmurs against my lips, “Do you particularly like these panties?”
“Not really.”
I gasp in shock and pleasure as I hear the material rip then feel it fall away from me. More moisture rushes to my center, and I know it definitely must be leaking onto him now.
“Sorry, baby. I didn’t want you off my lap long enough to take them off,” he explains.
“It’s okay,” I breath.
His lips quirk up into a sexy smirk that does absolutely nothing to help my worries of soaking his briefs.
“Do you want this?” The smirk drops from his face and he turns serious.
“More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
His eyes flare at my response, the blue turning darker from his pupils expanding. His lips hungrily latch on to mine and we devour each other whole. A cry bubbles up my throat when his fingers slide through my slick folds, then two push inside.
“Fuck me. You’re so goddamn wet,” he groans.
I drop my gaze from him, suddenly feeling shy. His fingers stop moving inside me.
“Jules, baby, look at me.”
I lift my gaze back to him.
“I fuckin’ love that you get so wet for me. There’s no better feeling than having my woman react to my touch the way you do.”
I smile. “I like that. Being called your woman.”
“As long as you’ll have me, you’ll always be my woman.”
I peek at him through my lashes and ask him nervously, “Forever?”
Something passes over his face. Joy, wonder, happiness… maybe love? Whatever it is, it matches my own feelings and is positively beautiful.
“Forever,” he confirms deeply.
I can’t help but smile, his answer filling me with so much bliss I can feel it in my bones. Moving forward, I press my lips against his. “I need you, Luca. Make love to me.”
He groans and slips his fingers from me. Leaning back and looking down, I see him pushing his underwear down far enough to free his shaft. The metal ball twinkles in the light from the lamp and a bead of moisture leaks from the tip.
Mesmerized and feeling brave, I reach between us and run the tip of my finger across the drop of precome. He hisses out a breath, then groans when I lift my finger to my lips, tasting his essence.
“Fuckin’ hell,” he growls, the heat in his tone sending tremors through me. He grips the base of his cock. “Lift up.”
I do so, and he places the tip at my opening. We lock eyes as I slowly sink down on him. Luca is big, so I feel incredibly full when he’s only halfway inside me. He stops my movements by grabbing my hips, then lifts me, only to sink back inside. He does this several times, and each time I slide down his shaft, he slips a little more inside.
Once he’s in all the way, I sit back on his thighs and gently rock my hips forward and backward. This position feels incredibly good because my clit scrapes across his pelvis bone with each forward movement. Whimpers leave my lips as sparks start to ignite in my stomach. My legs tighten around him, and I move faster, chasing the erotic bliss I know awaits me.
Luca grabs my hips and starts lifting me up and down. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hold on as he beautifully uses my body to bring us both over the precipice of ecstasy. My release starts in my clit and magically works its way through each part of my body. Shivers, tingles, and tremors fill me, leaving my limbs feeling weak.