chapter forty

I held her tightly as she cried into my chest. My shirt muffled her sobs, but I could feel each one reverberate through my body. I hated seeing her like this, so broken and vulnerable. It made me want to tear apart the world to fix it for her.

“It’s okay, Ness,” I whispered, stroking her hair gently. “I’m here now. I’ll never leave you again.”

She looked up at me with tear-stained eyes, her face red and swollen from crying. “You promise?”

“I promise,” I replied, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll always be here for you.”

Vanessa nodded and snuggled closer to me, her warmth seeping into my skin. I could feel her heart beating against mine, steady and strong. It was a comforting feeling to know that she was alive and safe in my arms.

After a while, her sobs subsided, and she fell silent. I held her for a few more minutes, savoring the closeness between us. Then I felt her shift in my arms, her body language changing. She looked up at me with a new determination in her eyes.

“I want to forget,” she said firmly. “I want to forget about all of this: Saul, Orpheus, everything. I just want to be with you.”

I frowned, concerned. “Ness, are you sure that’s what you want? We can talk about this—”

“No,” she interrupted, shaking her head. “I don’t want to talk. I just want to feel something else, anything else.”

I hesitated for a moment, but then I nodded. If this was what she needed to heal, then I would give it to her. I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers, tasting the salt of her tears on my tongue.

She responded eagerly, her tongue darting out to meet mine. I deepened the kiss, my hands sliding up her back to cup her face. She moaned softly, her body arching into mine.

I pulled away slightly, my breath coming in short gasps. “Are you sure about this?” I asked, searching her eyes for any sign of doubt.

She nodded, her eyes dark with desire. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m sure.”

I smiled and kissed her again, this time with more passion. Our tongues danced together, exploring every inch of each other’s mouths. My hands wandered over her body, memorizing every curve and dip.

She gasped as I cupped her breasts through her shirt, my thumbs rubbing circles over her nipples. She pressed herself closer to me, her hips grinding against mine. I could feel her heat through our clothes, which drove me wild.

I broke the kiss and trailed my lips down her neck, nipping and sucking at her sensitive skin. She moaned and tilted her head to the side, giving me better access. I smiled against her skin, my hands working to undo the buttons on her shirt.

Once her shirt was open, I pulled it off her shoulders, revealing her bra-clad breasts. I groaned at the sight of them, my cock throbbing in my pants. I reached behind her back and unclasped her bra, freeing her breasts from their confines.

She let out a small gasp as my hands cupped her breasts, my thumbs flicking her nipples. She arched her back, her hands tangling in my hair as she pulled me closer.

I continued to tease her nipples, my lips trailing down her stomach. I unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her legs, revealing her black lace panties. I hooked my fingers into the waistband and pulled them down as well, leaving her naked and exposed before me.

I took a moment to admire her body, my eyes roaming over her smooth skin and toned muscles. She was so beautiful, and I was one lucky bastard.

I kissed my way down her body, my lips brushing against her inner thighs. She shivered and let out a soft moan, her hands gripping my hair tighter. I smiled to myself and continued my journey, my lips finally reaching her pretty little pussy.

I took a moment to savor the moment. The taste of her skin and the scent of her arousal filled my senses. I could feel her body trembling beneath me, and I knew she was ready for what was to come.

With a gentle touch, I parted her folds, and my tongue immediately lapped up her slick. She gasped and arched her back, her hands digging into my shoulders as she held onto me for support. I continued to tease her, my tongue flicking against her clitoris before delving deeper into her folds.

I felt her body responding to my touch, her hips bucking against my mouth as she sought more pleasure. I moaned softly, my own arousal growing with each passing second. I knew I had to be careful not to go too far, but I couldn’t resist the urge to give her everything she desired.

I increased the intensity of my touch, my tongue swirling around her clit and pressing against her entrance with two of my fingers. She moaned louder, her body trembling as I entered her and curled against her G-spot. I knew I was close to making her come, and I wanted to make it the best one she’d ever experienced.

I stiffened my tongue against her clit, applying just the right amount of pressure as I sped up the pace of my fingers inside of her. She gasped and cried out, her body convulsing as she reached her orgasm. I didn’t stop, my tongue working tirelessly to bring her to the brink of another orgasm.

I was determined to make her forget her own name, not just the clusterfuck of what just happened.