A low growl came from deep within my chest, the anticipation, tension and desire erupted under my skin. There was no holding back.
Nadia moaned, and a barely audible“oh”was the closest she got to a word. I couldn’t speak either, too focused on lasting more than five minutes, but the frantic pace of my thrusts, and the way her boobs bounced and eyes glistened, were too arousing.
The second Nadia started pulsating around me was the second my restrain came back to bite me. We climaxed together in perfect sync, bruising each other’s lips as an outlet to the overwhelming, long overdue orgasm. Nadia dug her nails into my back and her delicate body trembled beneath me for the longest time.
She opened her eyes, a blissful, fulfilled look on her gorgeous face, skin glistening with a mist of sweat.
“Again,please.”
I kissed her temple, smiling. “I’ll give you everything you ask for, but forthis, you’ll have to wait half an hour.”
She chuckled, pushed me to rest on my back and nestled her cheek on my chest. I stroked her back, careful not to touch the still-fresh tattoo. The bruises faded to light green, but I did my utmost not to look directly at them.
I hoisted myself up when my heart rate slowed and walked over to the master bathroom, trading the usual post-sex shower for a hot bath with Nadia. I turned the faucet, set the right temperature, and poured too much of the Lavender bubble bath in the water.
If it weren’t for Amelia, I wouldn’t even know shit like that existed.
She had one rule when it came to buying birthday gifts—choose something that absolutely doesn’t suit the recipient. Back in May, she bought me a Deluxe Bath Time Pamper Hamper. Since I moved into the house, I took a bath a total of three times, just because I had strained my back working out and the warmth helped with the pain.
“Come on,” I said, entering the bedroom.
Nadia laid under the duvet, eyes closed. For a second, I thought she had fallen asleep which would have been atotalwaste of bubble bath, but she opened one eye, peeking just a little.
“I can’t move; my legs are too weak.”
I pushed my chest out proudly and lifted her off the bed, carrying her into the bathroom. I didn’t let go until she was in the tub.
Two bucket loads of water spilled onto the floor when I joined her, raising the water level. Nadia giggled, turning the faucet off. Bubbles were everywhere, reaching as high as her chin.
I caught her shoulders, and she rested against my chest. I couldn’t get enough of her closeness. Our friends were in for a few weeks of feeling uncomfortable in our presence before I would be able to control the need to touch Nadia.
“This is perfect,” she whispered, eyes closed. “I missed you.”
A kiss to her temple was my first answer. “This is…uncomfortable.We need a bigger tub.”
“Do you want to talk? Is there anything you want to know?” She sprawled her legs forward until her feet rested on the other side of the bathtub. “I don’t want you to act like everything is fine if…”
I pressed a kiss to her head. “Everythingisfine. I understand why you went back to New York, and as much as it hurt, I admire your strength even if I think you’re too strong for your own good.”
She shifted, pressing her back closer to my chest, and her bum closer to my… well, my dick. Way to throw me off-topic.
“There is something I want to know, though,” I said after a moment of consideration. “Why did you take my t-shirt with you?”
“You calm me down,” she said matter-of-factly. “For a while I slept okay while your scent lingered on the fabric, but it faded quickly…” Embarrassment was clear as day in her voice. “At some point I was so desperate that I bought a bottle of your cologne.”
My heart squeezed again, the thought of Nadia, scared, clutching my t-shirt close to get a hint of peace was too much. I hated that she was so vulnerable and felt the need to push her fear aside to help someone who hurt her.
“Did you…” I tilted my head back, looking into the ceiling. “Were youclosewith Adrian during the four months?”
I couldn’t even ask straight up if she had sex with him as if it was some ancient fucking spell capable of waking the dead. The idea of them together gave me a migraine. My hands balled into fists, but Nadia chose that moment to shake her head a firm no.
“He kissed me twice,” she confessed, and although the images that popped into my head were the last thing I wanted to see, I was grateful for her honesty. “I’m sor…”
“Don’t,” I snapped, cutting her off short. “I don’t want you to keep apologising. I don’t want you to feel like you can’t be yourself around me because you’re scared that you’ll push me away. You won’t.” I caught her hand and brought it to my lips. “You couldn’t if you tried. Drop the mask and understand that I love the darkness you hide underneath.”
She relaxed under my touch, and for a moment, we enjoyed the silence. I reached behind me to grab more of the fancy pampering items from the shelf. A unicorn-shaped bath bomb landed in between Nadia’s legs. I squirted some luxurious vanilla body wash onto my hand, then lathered it onto Nadia’s neck, arms and chest, taking extra time and care when it came to her breasts.
She arched, tilted her head back, and kissed the sensitive spot behind my ear. I submerged my hand under water, ghosting my fingers down her stomach until I reached ground zero.