32. Adelbert

Chapter thirty-two

Adelbert

The rain comes down hard around us but in this moment, everything ceases to exist besides Florence.

I cradle her face between my palms and take a moment to drink her in while her arms wrap around my back, holding me close.

Unable to stop myself, I go back for another kiss, capturing her mouth and letting my tongue slide in. Florence's tongue meets mine and our kisses get greedier.

My hands glide across her wet skin, moving to her shoulders, her arms, threading into the hair at the base of her neck. Little mewls escape from her and my grip tightens, wanting, needing her closer.

Florence fists the back of my shirt and pulls me into her so our bodies are flush, as eager as I am to devour one another.

Thunder and lightning go off around us and the rain pelts us with its cold, sharp needles, but I can't seem to tear myself away from our hungry kisses and roaming hands. Yet, with unnatural inner strength and the desire to keep her safe trumping my body's needs, I'm finally able to ease my lips from Florence's and I rest my forehead against hers. Breathing hard, I skim my hands down her neck and arms, moving to her waist, then around to her lower back.

"Let's get you inside, Liebling," I say into her ear, my voice barely audible above the pouring rain.

I hoist Florence up by the back of her thighs and her legs wrap around my waist like we've done this a thousand times before. She throws her head back and laughs with absolute delight as I marvel at how perfectly we fit, how perfect she is for me.

There's no use denying how I feel about her. That this was always going to happen. That I was only delaying the inevitable. I knew she was meant to be mine the moment I saw her on that island, but I fought it every second of the day. Only blaming the bond for my attraction.

Not anymore.

I stride quickly toward the house with Florence in my arms, her breath warm against my neck as she nuzzles into me. Even though I can't see it, I can feel her smiling and it is utterly contagious. I sport my own grin as her sunshine radiates through the rain, warming me up from the inside in ways I long to reciprocate.

Lightning lights up the sky again and I pick up my pace, wanting to get Florence safe and dry from the storm.

When I step onto the porch, I take quick note of Sir Purrington waiting in the dimly lit entryway and it's as if he gives me a subtle nod of approval before he saunters off somewhere.

That cat is smarter than I've been giving him credit for.

"What were you thinking?" I ask Florence when we cross the threshold.

I slide her down my body and pin her to the wall with my hips. Shutting the front door behind us, I blink as we're plunged into semidarkness, unwilling to live without the sight of Florence's face before me for even a second.

Rain splatters against the windows, drumming a sound that rivals the beating of my heart.

"I embroidered something new to the hem of my dress this morning and I wanted to save it," she says sheepishly, arms still slung around my shoulders and fingers toying with the hair at my nape.

"At the risk of your life?"

"It was sentimental," Florence says with a tiny shrug.

"What was?"

Florence bites her lip and traces a button on my shirt, her gaze focused on the movement of her finger.

"Our picnic. I wanted to remember it so I embroidered some cornflowers into my dress."

"I'll sew your cornflowers myself next time. I can't lose you," I say vehemently, grabbing her face so she's looking directly at me and understands how serious I am.

"Okay," she breathes, as if not certain what to make of my declaration.

Florence's eyes are wide as she stares up at me with open vulnerability and she stretches onto her toes to place a featherlight kiss on my lips. My heart ricochets against my chest as emotions I have not ever allowed myself to feel rush through my body, setting off all kinds of reactions.

A tingling sensation works its way from underneath my skin, spreading out from the center of my chest, rippling through my body, all the way down to my toes.

The house's wooden floorboards creak and groan as if in answer and my vision narrows until I can only see Florence.

Beautiful Florence with her flushed cheeks and parted lips, patiently waiting for me.

"You are so enchanting, Liebling," I whisper to the woman who has had my heart in a vise grip for weeks, even though I hadn't allowed myself to fully acknowledge it.

"You're going to have to tell me what that means."

"I will, but later. Right now I want to fuck you until you scream my name."

Florence grins at me with a little mischief dancing in her eyes.

"I'd like to see you try."

Unwittingly, a laugh bursts out of my chest and Florence's smile grows even brighter.

"There are those dimples. I missed them." She reaches up and frames my face, her thumbs brushing over the indentations in my cheeks.

"Only yours," I say, meaning it.

Florence's breath hitches and she stills. I lean my forehead against hers and time suspends as we breathe each other in. The weight of the moment is almost tangible, enclosing us in our own bubble of safety while the rain continues to pound against the house.

Lightning cracks outside and it jolts us into action.

Simultaneously, our mouths find each other and our kisses become voracious.

Florence's hands move to the buttons of my shirt, her cold fingers fumbling in the dim light with the wet material, sending goose bumps careening across my skin despite the way my flesh burns for her. I reach behind me and pull the drenched shirt off my back and it hits the ground with a wet splosh.

I reach for her sodden dress and tear it up and off her body with quick efficiency, throwing it behind me while I guide her deeper into the house.

The rest of our clothing leaves a trail in the hallway as we stumble toward my bedroom, devouring each other with eager kisses. Mouths almost fused together, our limbs tangle as we caress every bit of flesh we can reach.

I spin, barely feeling the sharp pain that shoots up my hip as I hit the corner of a table. The piece of furniture rattles, then settles as I push us onward.

Florence's breath whooshes from her as I press her to a wall, needing a moment to feel her body fully against mine. With a light nip on my bottom lip, she shoves me back, moving us toward the bedroom.

A crash sounds a second before my shoes crunch on the broken bits of a very expensive vase. I didn't even feel myself hit the credenza it was on.

It doesn't matter. Nothing matters but the woman in my arms.

Needing to get closer again, I press Florence's naked body up against the closest wall with mine and she hikes a leg over my hip, just as needy as I am.

I dip my head and nip along her neck, licking a stripe across it to ease the sting and Florence moans in response, hips rocking toward me, searching for friction I know she desperately needs.

"I don't think I can wait until we get to the bedroom," I rasp out, hands moving over her flesh, caressing, kneading.

"I hope not," Florence pants with blunt nails digging into my back. "If you don't fuck me right now I might combust."

"Take my cock and guide me home, Liebling."

Florence reaches down between us and I groan at the feeling of her soft hand wrapping around my aching cock. She gives my cock a squeeze and my hips buck forward.

"Liebling, please," I grit out and grab her thigh, hitching it higher and opening her up to me.

"Since you asked so nicely," Florence purrs and guides me into her warm, wet pussy.

I drive forward painstakingly slowly but don't stop until I'm fully sheathed. I hold absolutely still, afraid I'll come too soon from the exquisite feel of her, and also to give her a moment to adjust.

Florence's head thuds against the wall behind her, her eyes closed and her chest heaving.

"Adelbert, you feel so good, baby," Florence moans and something in my chest takes flight.

"Say my name again," I demand hoarsely, needing her to say my name while I make her mine.

Florence opens her eyes, her gaze half-lidded and looking just as affected as I am.

"Adelbert." Never has my name sounded so sweet and I'm afraid there is zero possibility of me ever growing tired of hearing her say it in that breathy tone.

"Whose pussy is this?" I growl.

"Yours."

"Whose cock is this?"

"Mine," she says fiercely and squeezes around me.

"All yours, Florence. Now, let's see how loud I can make you scream."

And then I'm thrusting hard, branding Florence from the inside out the way she has branded herself on my very soul.

I lift her up and bring her hips away from the wall, angling her so my cock can hit her G-spot at just the right angle that is sure to make her scream.

It works perfectly.

Florence rides me just as hard as I'm fucking her, mewling, panting, moaning, and soon she starts tightening around my cock.

Knowing she doesn't like to be edged, I keep my rhythm exactly as it is and encourage her through my own panting, "Look how well you're riding my cock, Liebling. It's like it was made for you. Now, I want you to come and scream my name, knowing you belong to me."

My words have the desired effect and Florence clenches around me, throwing her head back and screaming my name. It only takes two more thrusts for me to find my own release, and I fall over the edge with her, steadying us with one hand braced against the wall and my other arm wrapped around Florence's waist while I come.

It's like my soul is being pulled from my body and into Florence's as pleasure surges through me, twining around every fiber of my being until it shudders out of my cock.

Breathing hard, I collapse against her, resting my head in the crook of her neck as I wait for my heartbeat to return to a sustainable rhythm.

"Good thing I have an IUD," Florence pants.

"I take a tonic too. Double coverage," I reply breathlessly.

Florence's chest heaves against mine, her hard nipples jutting into my bare chest while a hand gently glides through my hair.

"I've always wanted to do this," Florence whispers once her breath is a little steadier.

"What? Fuck in a hallway?"

"No, you silly goose." Florence giggles. "I've always wanted to see if your hair was as soft as I thought it was."

"And is it?" I ask and dare a glance up at her.

She smiles serenely down at me and nods.

"It's even better."

Then, Florence places a gentle kiss on my forehead and my heart just about grows two sizes.