“Nori?”
It wasn't until he said my name that I realized I hadn't given him an answer.
“Do I have permission to touch you?” I asked softly.
He looked puzzled but nodded. I reached out and cupped his face, watching his eyes light up as he realized I wasn't turning him down. I bent my head and brushed my mouth across his.
“Yes,” I whispered, my face still close to his. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you too.”
It was his turn to stare at me, and I wondered what he was thinking. Had he not expected that answer?
Then he was reaching for me, pulling me down to my knees, and I knew everything would be okay. His mouth covered mine, devouring, greedy. He buried his fingers in my hair, and I made a sound that was half pleasure, half pain. I leaned into him, needing to feel his hard body against mine.
“Need you,” he growled as his hands tugged at my shorts. “Now.”
I nodded, my own desire just as desperate. It still felt too much like a dream. I needed to feel him inside me, needed him to make it real.
“Turn around.” His voice was hoarse. “Hands and knees.”
Fuck.
I did as he said, and by the time my palms were on the cheap, scratchy carpet, X was yanking my pants down over my ass. He didn't bother with my panties. Instead, I heard his zipper, then felt him pull the crotch of my underwear to the side. I gasped when he nudged at my entrance.
“This will be fast,” he said. His fingers dug into my hip. “Can you handle it?”
“Please.” I pushed back against him and the tip of him slid inside me. I moaned. “Please, X.”
His name turned into a scream as he snapped his hips forward, burying himself inside me. I was too tight, and not even close to wet enough.
He curled his body over mine, scraped his teeth over my neck. A shudder ran through me, and he groaned. The sound made me shiver, drawing another noise from him.
“I need to move,” he muttered.
I nodded, unable to manage any words, any sounds. My arms were shaking, my body on fire. Every inch of me was intimately aware of the man above me, behind me.
Inside me.
His first thrust made me whimper. The second drew a strangled cry. After that, I lost count, lost myself. He filled me over and over, drove the air from my lungs even as I tried to scream. The hand on my hip slid around and under, fingers moving over my clit until I was sobbing for release.
“Come for me, Nori.” He wrapped my hair around his hand. “Come on, baby. Come for me.”
He pulled hard on my hair, my back slamming into his chest. His teeth bit down on my neck, and I shattered.
Except I didn't shatter alone. He was there, my climax bringing his. And we weren't two people having separate orgasms. We were one. Complete. Whole.
“Mine.” X's arms tightened around me as he lowered us both to the floor.
I nodded. “Yours.” I sighed as I settled against him. “But once we can move again, I'd like to see my ring.”
Chapter Twelve
Xavier
June in San Antonio, Texas, was fucking hot, I thought as I walked back up the driveway. Not quite as hot as it was in July, and definitely not as hot as it was during the day, but still enough so that I breathed a sigh of relief when I opened the door and stepped into the air conditioning.
It'd been nearly a year since Nori and I had moved from Philadelphia to San Antonio, and I didn't miss it at all. I missed Father O'Toole, of course, but I'd always miss him. Especially at times like this. I didn't miss the city though, or even the house. I knew it was being put to good use as a shelter for homeless veterans. The Doron O'Toole House. I knew the father had never been big on recognition, but I figured he'd have understood this one.
Nori and I had only gone back to Philly once since our engagement. The day of Father O'Toole's funeral, we'd flown back, taken care of all of the legal stuff, and then returned to Texas. Tanner had lent us his private jet for the trip.
I had to admit, I actually did like the guy. I really thought I'd hate him, knowing about his history with the woman I loved, but he was such a great guy that it was nearly impossible to hate him. Hell, I couldn't even really dislike him.
He'd be there tomorrow, at the wedding, as one of the witnesses. Since Nori and I's circle of friends and family was small, we were going with a non-traditional ceremony. Tanner and Zed would be the witnesses, and the only other guests aside from my soon-to-be in-laws.
At least they were getting along better since the accident. Nori had ended up essentially forcing them into therapy, and it'd done them a lot of good. Even though neither of them had said anything, I suspected they were sleeping together sometimes. I didn't know if they'd ever get back together officially, but I was just happy that I didn't have to worry about them ruining the wedding.