Page 78 of The Rook’s Obsession

“Nick…” she starts, but I cut her off, rubbing slow circles where she’s soaked through the lace.

“Answer me,” I say against her throat, teeth grazing her flesh.

“Yes,” she breathes, arching into my touch. “God, yes.”

I hook my fingers in her underwear and rip them at the seam, tossing them aside. She’s completely bare now, thighs trembling. “Look at that pretty pink pussy, all wet and open for me,” my voice coming out rough.

I push two fingers into her without warning, feeling her clench around me.

“Fuck,” she gasps, letting her head fall back against the mirror.

“Look at me,” I command. Her eyes immediately find mine, pupils blown wide. “I want to see your face when you come.”

I fuck her with my fingers, curling to find that sweet spot. She’s panting, fingers white-knuckled, gripping the edge of the small counter, lips pressed firmly together, trying her hardest to stay quiet.

Leaning down to bite her earlobe, I say, “Don’t hold back. Let me hear what I do to you.”

“Please,” she whispers, grinding against my hand. “Nick, please, I need…”

“What do you need, Ivy?” I ask, merciless now. Purposely slowing my fingers to make her whine. “Say it.”

“I need you inside me,” she says, voice breaking. “I need your cock. Please, Nick.”

With one hand, I free myself from my trousers, the other gripping her hip hard enough to bruise. Without warning, I push into her, feeling her tense around me.

She wraps her legs around my waist, heels digging into my ass, pulling me deeper. “Fuck me, Nick. Hard.”

I do, setting a brutal pace, her tits bouncing with the force of it.

“Touch yourself, Ivy. I want to feel you come.”

Her fingers find her clit, and she tightens immediately. “I’m so close,” she gasps. “Nick, I’m…”

“Come for me,” I growl, pounding into her. “Now, Ivy. Give it to me.”

She breaks, calling out my name, her pussy clenching around me in waves that pull my own release from me. I bury my face in her neck, groaning as I spill into her.

We stay connected, her legs still wrapped around me, both of us breathing hard in the small space. I press my forehead to hers, feeling her heartbeat against my chest.

“Still scared of flying?” I ask, my voice rough.

She laughs, breathless, and kisses me slowly. Soft. “Shut up,” she murmurs against my mouth.

I smile against her lips. “I’ll take that as a no.”

IVY

Aurora is waiting by the elevator when the doors slide open silently. With all the security in here, there’s no doubt that an alert came through as soon as we stepped onto the elevator to make the ride up to the penthouse. “You’re here,” she says with a wide smile. Then she hugs me.

I wasn’t expecting that. My body goes rigid before something in me remembers. This is allowed now. People who care about you put their arms around you and hold on, and the correct response is not to look for the exit or count the seconds until it’s over.

I hug her back. She smells like vanilla and something floral. Her belly presses against mine, round with life, reminding me there’s more to existence than ugliness and death. She’s smiling wider than ever when she pulls back. Her eyes are bright and damp, and she’s completely unembarrassed by it.

“Don’t worry about Liam,” she whispers. “He’s pretending he’s fine, but he’s been pacing ever since he found out you two were on your way back.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything else,” Nick murmurs, chuckling. We walk further into the penthouse and find Liam waiting outside the kitchen. His arms are folded across his chest, and Aurora is completely right. He’s pretending to be fine. Meanwhile, his jaw is set in what I’m learning to recognize as the face he makes when he’s feeling too much and has decided the appropriate response is to feel nothing at all. It turns out we have more than our eye color in common.

“Hey,” I offer.