His attention.
The touch of his hands, his mouth, the hot feel of his breath.
The sweet words he murmurs in French.
“Je t’aime.”
His love.
Slowly, while holding my gaze, he begins to unfasten my bonds. With every restraint he loosens, he massages my tender flesh until it’s heated and warm.
His fingers are warm and strong when they entwine with mine, long enough to give me a gentle squeeze. Silent words pass between us.
The restraints fall to the bed like discarded ribbons until the only bond left is the one across my mouth. Leaning toward me, he presses his forehead to mine. Our breathing mingles. I try to assess his unreadable features, but to no avail. Both of his hands cradle the back of my head.
“I want your mouth free,” he says in a tremulous whisper. “I want to kiss you.”
I nod.
“I love you, Nicolette. I’m sorry. I love you.”
The moment the satin tie falls from my mouth, he kisses me. My calm shatters when his mouth meets mine. My heart threatens to come out of my chest, pounding so hard I’m dizzy. His tongue meets mine and I let him in. Spirals of pleasure ripple through me.
Still kissing me, he wraps his arms around me and lifts me. Still kissing me, he takes off the rest of my clothes.
I’m wet and eager for him when he slides me on top of him and touches me. My hips jerk. I cry out when I feel his hardened length at my entrance. My pulsing need joins his.
The first thrust feels so perfect, I release a strangled sob in relief.
“I love you,” I whisper as our bodies rise and fall, joined together.
“I love you,” he whispers back, as my need for him builds.
But when I finally shatter and my orgasm rocks me, his own release on the heels of mine, we say nothing more.
We’ve already said it all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Fabien
Nicolette and I make love all night long.
I take her hard and fast, then slow and sultry. In the bed, on the couch, in the shower. When we’re exhausted but not yet replete, I order food in the wee hours of the morning for more sustenance. We take turns feeding each other cheese, crackers, and berries, washing it all down with chilled wine before we’re energized and at it again.
When the sun begins to peek over the horizon, painting the mountaintops with golden light in those magical hours between night and day, we collapse into bed, wrapped up in each other and falling into a deep sleep.
When I wake late the next morning and open my eyes, she’s already awake. Naked, lying next to me, her head is on my chest. Silently, she traces the outline of my jaw.
I realize she has no obligation to be here anymore. I owe it to her to honor that, even though I hate to think of us being separated.
“Our time is up,” I tell her. My voice is a little dry and husky. I don’t want to sound detached, but I don’t want to influence her either. If she stays… it has to be her choice.
“It is.” She continues to trace methodically. I reach for her hand and kiss her palm.
I don’t want to pressure her. I want her to know what she does next is fully up to her.
“What will you do about whoever kidnapped your brother?”
“We’ll find them,” I tell her. I draw in a breath and release it. “We always do.”
When she frowns, I want to ask her what’s on her mind, but I need to give her space.
I made love to her because I wanted to remember her like this. I wanted to break down the wall she put up between us, to bring her back to me. And it seems what I wanted worked. She lays in bed with me, without a hint of anger or resentment remaining.
“I’ve been through a lot, Fabien.” I want to kiss the sad downturn of her lips until she smiles. I want to hold her until the tension in her shoulders ebbs. I want her to know she’s safe with me, that she doesn’t have to hold everything on her own anymore.
I want her to know she’s priceless.
“You have.”
When she draws in a deep breath, her gaze comes to mine. “It takes a lot for me to trust someone.”
“I understand.” It’s why earning her trust means so much to me.
Her face relaxes into the hint of a smile. She looks almost… shy. “Good. I thought you would. Then I think it’s safe to assume that we can forget about whatever arrangement we had.”
I nod. My throat feels all tight. I hold myself back from squeezing her to me so I don’t smother her.
“I mean, I am absolutely taking that money. You can stand to part with it.”
I laugh out loud, and it feels so damn good. “It’s yours. You earned it.”