Any tragedy was survivable if the right person was holding her hand.
“They don’t hurt.”
He winced. “Probably because you’re numbed out, and you’re about to not be.”
He eased the first clamp off and the blood flooded back into her nipple, making her bite back a scream. Hutch was immediately on top of her, his lips and tongue on the abused flesh, soothing it.
The pain had been momentary, but arousal started to flood through her. Between the ache in her ass and the sensation of having her nipples tortured and then loved, all she could think about was having his hands on her.
She could make it through the night if his hands stroked her.
She could make it through life if his hand held hers.
He dealt with the other nipple and then started to kiss his way down her body.
He’d given her a safe place to cry, and now he seemed determined to lavish her body with the affection she needed to connect to him. He ripped the thin material of her underwear and exposed her pussy. She didn’t need a command to spread her thighs wide and offer herself up to him.
He took her up on the invitation, covering her pussy with his mouth and immediately spearing her with his tongue. He licked and sucked and fucked her pussy with ruthless precision, every touch pushing her toward the edge.
Her whole body tightened as the orgasm swept over her, making her shake with pleasure and something more—emotion poured through her. Love and affection and relief.
She wasn’t sure what would happen next, but she would face it with him.
“Hutch, please,” she whispered as he continued to lave her pussy. “I need you inside me.”
He kissed her again and then moved up her body, covering her.
She placed her hands on his shoulders and knew this was forever.
* * * *
Hutch stared down at her for a moment, knowing what he wanted but still unsure. She’d had such a rough night and they hadn’t talked yet. Still, what had begun as a desperate play to break her out of the spiral she’d been in had turned into the best night of his life. “I know I said I wouldn’t take anything for myself, but you said it. You said you love me, and I won’t let you take it back.”
Her eyes were still red from crying, but there was the sweetest smile on her face. “I love you. I was wrong to deny it and I’m sorry I took it…”
He didn’t need an apology. He knew damn well sometimes the pain was so great a person lashed out at the one they shouldn’t. It was human nature, and she hadn’t exactly tortured him for long. She’d been dealt a horrible blow, and he’d made it worse for her. “I’m here when you need me. For anything.”
“Then kiss me and tire me out so I can sleep, and we’ll face everything in the morning. Together.”
There was a light in her eyes he’d worried had died. He was going to make this right for her. But first he was going to give her what she needed. What he needed.
He kissed her, well aware that her arousal was still on his lips and coating his tongue. He gave it all back to her because she should know that she was the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted. She should know that he would crave her for the rest of his life.
He kissed her until his cock couldn’t last a second longer. Then he worked his jeans and boxers off. He didn’t have a problem finding a condom. Not at Sanctum.
Someday in the future he wouldn’t wear one at all. Someday he and the glorious woman underneath him would have nothing between them and they would make babies. They would start a family—the kind he hadn’t had. Their babies would be smart and beautiful.
Just like their mom.
Everything he’d been through, it had been worth it to be here with her. “I love you.”
He kissed her again as he brought them together. He sank his cock deep, surrounded by her heat. She wrapped her legs around him, winding her arms around his neck and enveloping his whole body.
This was what he needed every day for the rest of his life. He needed to surround himself with her.
“You feel so good,” he whispered against her lips as he thrust in and dragged out.
Her nails bit into his back as she gasped and said his name.