Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Fred

It had been so long since I hadn't heard the chaos in my brain, so long since every emotion hadn't been vying for my attention. I was in a state of bliss. Vincenzo had control, and I could drift away in it.

He pulled out of my mouth, and I chased his cock like the lifeline it was.

He stepped back slightly and my eyes roamed over him. His body was a work of art and while I didn't know art, I knew what I liked, and hot damn I liked what I saw.

"Lie down," he ordered and I did so without hesitation, awaiting my next command.

"Good boy. Slide up."

Last time anyone had said those words to me was Rushmore Abernathy the Second. I'd thought he loved me, but I was nothing but a toy to him…a tool. Just like I was for most people…no, I wasn't going there.

"Hey," Vincenzo whispered. When had he gotten so close? "Stay with me, Fred, in this moment."

I gazed into his dark eyes, hoping I wasn't a toy for him too. But what else could I be?

"No," he snapped, and in the next breath I was lifted, spun, and repositioned until he sat on the bed and I straddled him.

"Fuck yourself on my cock."

What? Oh. I moved my hips, his hardness resting between my cheeks.

"Now, Red!"

I lifted up and wrapped my hand around his dick. How had I missed him putting on a condom?

"I'm lubed up; take it slow. Let the pain center you—I know you need that."

How'd he know? I wanted out of my head, so I positioned his cock against my hole and so carefully, I lowered my body. The pain was like a choir singing, the heavens opening…Shit, who was I kidding? This was sinful and everything my body and mind craved.

Once I was fully seated, I released a breath.

"You're so good." He pressed a kiss to my lips. "Now, fuck yourself."

Without hesitation, I did just that. I held on to his broad shoulders and used him just the way he wanted me to. As each stroke hit my prostate, the pain ebbed and pure pleasure washed through me. I was no longer chasing the demons in my head. I was chasing relief.

"Faster," he growled as his nails dug into my ass. My legs burned and shook. "Fuck," he shouted, and once more I was spun before my back hit the mattress.

Not a second of momentum was lost. One minute I was fucking myself on his cock and the next, he was giving me the dicking of a lifetime.

"Vin, oh shit, I'm going to come."

"Yes, Fred, do it. Come for me."

The world disintegrated; it was just Vincenzo and me and the greatest orgasm of my life. The buzzing in my ears, the thumping of my heart, and the peace… Oh God, the peace.

It felt as if I were floating; I'd cling on to this feeling forever if I could.

Something wiped across my stomach, and I peered down. Vincenzo was cleaning me up, a huge smile on his face.

"You look pleased with yourself."

He shrugged. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't." He tossed the cloth onto the nightstand. "How do you feel?"

"Amazing," I answered without hesitation and just like that, contentment was overshadowed by fear. Did I sound too eager?

"You're doing it again." He pulled the blanket over me and moved to the other side of the bed and got in.

"Doing what?" Wait, was he expecting me to sleep here?

"You're letting your doubts do the thinking and feeling for you." Under the covers, he rested his head on his hand and faced me.

"How do you know what I'm thinking?"

He snorted and reached over my body to the side table and slipped my glasses onto my face.

"I can see it in your eyes. They cloud over. It's as if your mind takes you somewhere else…somewhere dark."

"Oh, well, I'd deny that, but I have a lifetime pass on the trauma train."

He hummed and traced his finger along my chest. "Your past, it's not pretty, but you've overcome."

"Have I?" I turned so I was facing him. "Right now, I feel like a game piece being shoved along the board until I'm where everyone wants me to be."

"You feel that way because that's exactly what's happening."

"Wow, that's not helpful at all. Attention, passengers, our next stop is brutal honesty, be careful of the gap."

He chuckled. "I won't lie to you, Fred. I've told you that. You're not a piece to me, or a toy, or whatever crazy thing your doubts are telling you."

"I'm supposed to believe you're here because, why? You believe in me, think I have a great personality, am an amazing fuck?"

"Yes to all of those things. Listen, Fred." He sat up, and I followed suit. "I'm a private man. I have dalliances that last a couple of days, and then I disappear or they are sent away. You're the first person I have ever"—he inched closer to my face—"ever exposed myself for. You're also the only person I'd start a war over."

"But why?"

"Do there need to be reasons or words to describe it? I've watched you, and you're too good for the circumstances you've been forced into. I'm intrigued and amazed by you. You're brilliant, gorgeous, and even though you've walked through hell, you choose to care for a world that hasn't been kind to you a day in your life." He smiled softly. "There. I gave you words, and I meant every single one."

I searched his eyes for a lie, just one, but dammit, I saw none. I knew in my heart that he was everything he swore he was, and if he was telling the truth and everything he had told me about Aiden was true, where did that leave me?

"Thank you for those words, Vincenzo."

We lay down again, his arms wrapping around me as I rested my head on his chest.

"Vin."

I tilted my head, not understanding.

"I like it when you call me Vin."

I snickered. "Okay, Vin."

"Now rest."

I wanted to tell him I had to return to my room, but the exhaustion of not sleeping the night before and the long day weighed down on me like a blanket of stone.

Instead I said, "I'll trust you to set up the security for my visit to the police station tomorrow."

I closed my eyes, and a kiss was pressed to my forehead.

"Thank you."