Chapter Four

Reaper

Control yourself.

I force myself to repeat those words over and over in my head, but they hold little power in the presence of someone like Holly. With her around, the words are useless.

I could tell that my actions and my confession were overwhelming Holly, so I took mercy on her and let her go. Not to mention that being so close to me in my current state was probably disgusting. After all, I'd arrived at her house wounded and bloody, and I've been mostly passed out since then with only minimal clean up.

After releasing my hold on her so she could stand, I'd convinced Holly to let me get out of bed for a shower. She was nervous about standing, but I argued that I needed to wash the blood out of my hair so she could properly assess my head wound. It took some careful maneuvering, and I was weaker than I would have liked, but she managed to help me into the bathroom where she drew me a bath and found me a spare toothbrush. She'd flushed a deep shade of crimson as she asked if I needed help getting into the tub, but I decided not to push her and managed to get in on my own. God, it felt good to get clean.

Once I was done, I felt immensely better but exhausted all over again. I managed to get out of the tub and wrap a towel around my waist, but I'd had to elicit Holly's help getting back into the bed. My cock thickened at the feel of her pressed up against my naked skin, but I was too tired to really appreciate it.

Now back in bed and grateful to Holly for also changing the sheets while I'd bathed, I let her carefully poke and prod the wound on my skull. Finally, she declares it minimal enough that I don't need sutures, but she is still certain I have a concussion.

"I'll make you something to eat. Eggs okay?" she asks.

"Eggs sound great." She nods at my response, and I watch her leave the room, my gaze following the graceful line of her back down to her full ass.

God, all I can think about is being inside of her. When she'd asked if I'd ever hurt anyone who didn't deserve it, I briefly considered that lying might get me there faster, but I can't bring myself to do so.

A part of me wanted to tell this precious angel that I have never hurt a single soul in my life just so she views me in a different light, but it would be useless to lie considering the fact that my body would be betray the truth; my skin is dotted with scars that I have tried to hide with ink, but many of them run too deep. Now naked in her bed after my bath, those scars are on full display.

She can probably read the truth in my eyes anyway.

Or maybe what's reflected in my eyes is not the horrors of my life, but instead, my desire for her.

Holly returns with a plate full of eggs and a glass of juice a few minutes later, and I accept both eagerly. While I eat, she checks the wound on my arm again. When I've finished eating, I set the plate aside. She's standing so close, rather than dropping my hand back to my lap, I let it snag on her hip. She inhales sharply at my touch and looks up at me.

I know deep down that I should wait, but I don't know how much time we'll have together; I don't want to wait anymore. Who knows what'll happen tomorrow or the day after? We're already on borrowed time.

The need to possess this girl, to claim however much of her I can, and to bind her to me in any way possible is stronger than anything I've ever felt before. I have never entertained such thoughts with anyone else, but looking at this perfect girl in my arms, all I can think about is keeping her forever, even getting her pregnant so everyone knows who she belongs to.

Does that make me a psycho?

I bet it makes me sick in the head that I want to claim this girl when I met her less than two days ago, and I've barely been conscious for most of it. By claiming her, I would be binding her to my fucked-up life, but I can't deny the appeal of spending the rest of my life basking in the warmth of her touch and voice.

I bring my other hand to her waist and pull until she falls against me, then I lift her a little until she has no choice but to straddle my thighs over the bedsheet. Holly braces both hands on my chest to steady herself, and her fingertips press into my bare skin.

No one's touched me the way she does in my entire life, with such care and compassion. I refuse to lose that feeling.

I want her!

My dick is hard enough to hammer nails, and having her so close to me is chipping slowly at the control I'd convinced myself I possess. Her breath catches in her throat when I brush the back of my hand over her jaw and down her neck, my eyes locked on the swell of her tits.

"Reaper . . . W-what are you doing?" she asks shakily, wetting her lips, and fuck if that is not the hottest thing I have ever seen.

"I want to thank you for saving my life." I say the first thing that comes to mind, locking my gaze with hers as I trail a hand down to the swell of her breast. She jerks in my arms, a low whimper escaping her when a finger brushes over her nipple.

"Flowers," she says breathily, shifting restlessly on my lap. "Most people would send flowers and a card as a thank you. I . . . I like tulips."

"I'll remember that," I say, trailing my hand down her stomach and sliding it back up under her top. Every graze of my fingers over her skin sends a raging storm of heat to my rigid cock, and it's taking everything in me not to push her back on the bed, tear off her little shorts, and bury my shaft inside her. "I'll get you the flowers and a card later, but for now . . . let me do this for you."

"We can't . . . Oh, God," she whispers breathily when I cup her perfect tits in my hands. She moans, arching into my touch when I brush my thumb over her nipple, her hips rocking gently against my cock. "Reaper, we shouldn't . . ."

"Why not?" I rasp, dropping my mouth to the slope of her neck and brushing my lips over her skin, sending a shudder visibly rocking her body.

"Your head a-and your arm . . . You're hurt."

"I'm fine," I assure her, which is partly true. My head still throbs, and there's an ache in my arm, but my desire for her overwhelms everything else. I don't know how much damage this will cause to my injuries, and quite frankly, I don't care. Holly, on the other hand, the sweet angel that she is, is clearly worried. "I'll be careful."

My words don't seem to assuage her concern one bit, so I decide to try another tactic: distraction.

I kiss a trail up her neck, gently nipping at the skin before soothing it with my tongue and soaking up her reaction. She whimpers when I kiss her jaw before slowly gravitating toward her mouth, and when I brush my lips over hers, she parts so prettily for me. I tease my lips over hers, our breaths mingling hotly with each other, and the sparks between us growing with every second I hold off truly kissing her.

"Reaper," she whimpers, her voice needy, and that's all the green light I need to dip down and seal our lips together. She moans into the kiss, her hips rocking against me as she leans closer.

Heaven above, there is nothing softer or sweeter than her lip. I can taste her innocence in the way she kisses me back. The shyness and awkwardness should not turn me on, but goddamn it, everything about this girl threatens to send me right over the edge. The way her tongue meets mine curiously has a possessive growl building up in my throat.

I slide my right hand up her neck and bury my fingers in her hair, grabbing a fistful before plunging my tongue into her mouth and engaging in the most erotic dance I have ever experienced.

No, everything feels new with Holly, and all I can think as I kiss her is how I want to be the last person she ever shares herself with like this.

Mine.

Holly is mine, damnit.

Her sexy little body, eager lips, and soulful green eyes that threaten to suck me in every time I look into them belong to me. I will kill anyone that dares try to take her from me.

I want to hear her soft voice call out my name, and her gentle hands . . . I need them to pleasure only me.

"You're so fucking beautiful, angel," I say raggedly when we break the kiss. Her lips are swollen and her eyes glazed with lust as she stares down at me. Her eyes briefly stray toward my bicep, but I tighten the grip on her hair and force her attention back on me. "I'll be careful," I promise again, answering her unspoken protest.

"But—"

"Need this more," I rasp, brushing my lips softly over hers before kissing a trail back down her jaw. Her tits fall and rise quickly as I nip her earlobe before soothing the sting with my tongue. She whimpers when I lick the smooth column of her throat. Her head tilts back as I start the slow descent down her body, trailing my lips on her neck, my mouth watering at the thought of finally kissing the little globes pushing hard against her top, her puckered nipples practically begging for my tongue. "Let me take care of you, angel. I bet you didn't get enough rest last night, looking after me."

She moans. "It's my job as a nurse—"

"We both know that's not true," I interrupt, releasing my hold on her hair and bringing the hand to her shoulder to tug down the thin strap of her top. My hard dick throbs when I tug the top down to reveal her perfect tits, pink nipples swollen and calling out for me to taste. "You broke the rules for me."

"I . . . Oh!" She cries out when I brush my thumb over her left nipple before moving to the other. She rocks her hips, pushing closer and rubbing her barely covered pussy over my cock. A growl climbs my throat as she rocks against me, her movements wild and needy.

"You could have gotten in so much trouble," I tease, watching her reaction as I lean down and swipe my tongue over her left nipple, pinching the other between my knuckles. "Let me take care of you now."

Her eyes swing down to mine just as I close my lips around a rosy bud, losing myself in her taste in a matter of seconds. Fucking hell, every time I think I cannot possibly desire her more than I already do, she proves me wrong.

"Reaper. Oh, God," she moans as I roll my tongue around the swollen bud before moving to the other. "W-what are you doing to me?"

"Taking care of you," I say roughly, nuzzling the spot between her breasts, soaking up her intoxicating scent. "I need to taste the rest of you, angel."

"W-what?" she asks shakily, pushing back for me to see the horrified look on her face. Her wide-eyed expression to my suggestion only strengthens my suspicion that Holly is a virgin, but I can't be sure. She could just be shy, but none of that matters. If she's had any lovers before, I am determined to erase their memory. If not, then I am going to make sure mine is the only touch she ever craves.

"Trust me, angel," I whisper, stroking my hand up her naked thigh, and her breath catches in her throat when I tug the strings of her shorts. My eyes stay locked on hers as I slide my hand into her shorts and dip my fingers between her legs. A low groan slips from my lips when I find her drenched folds soaked with her arousal, and when I drag my fingertip through the valley of her sex, she cries out, her eyes blowing wide and her body trembling against mine. "Trust me to make you feel good."

"O-okay," she whimpers, spreading her legs wider and chasing my hand, but her shorts restrict the movement.

"Take them off," I instruct, and she does so dazedly, revealing her pussy as she settles over me once more. Fuck, she is perfect. My eyes zero in on her drenched folds, and I am panting as my fingers find their way back between her legs, rubbing circles over her feminine lips to part her slit.

After a few strokes, I withdraw my fingers and bring them to my lips, my eyes on hers as I taste her arousal on my skin. Her sweet and salty flavor explodes in my mouth, and I groan deeply at her intoxicating taste. I want more. I need more. Her tits rise and fall as she watches me, and her eyes grow dazed and her breathing labored.

Her mouth opens and closes as she stares at me, and my cock pulses again at the hunger I see in her gaze.

"Under normal circumstances, I would throw you onto the bed and bury my face between your legs, lap up your hot pussy, and let you coat my beard with your orgasm," I tell her, leaning forward and kissing her neck. "But my nurse would advise me against straining so much. She's a feisty little thing, you see."

"Reaper, I—"

"But you can help me bring you pleasure," I whisper, grabbing her thighs and guiding her to move up my body as I lie back on the bed until she's straddling my head, her hands braced on the headboard in front of her. She gasps when I grab her ass and pull her down to my mouth. "Fuck me, you're perfect. Every last inch of you."

She jerks against me when I kiss her inner thigh, closing my eyes as I breathe in her sweet, peachy scent. "Reaper . . . I don't know what to . . . I've never . . ."

A virgin.

I was right after all, and the confirmation that no man has touched or had the pleasure to taste this perfect pussy only makes my need for her grow to immeasurable heights. My cock jerks beneath the bedsheet in anticipation, sending beads of precum sliding down my straining shaft.

"I'll take care of you," I rasp against her heated flesh, bringing my hands to her hips as I pull her to me and kiss her parted flesh. She jerks hard against me, and I look up, my eyes locking with hers as I slide my tongue through her wet valley. She sobs at the move, her eyes fluttering to a close as I bathe her pussy with long licks.

"Reaper . . . Oh, fuck."

I press my fingers into her skin to hold her still as I slide my tongue wetly over her sex, moaning deeply as her flavor explodes on my tongue. She starts rocking her hips against my face, hesitantly at first before her moves grow restless. She sinks the fingers of one hand into my hair and starts pumping her hips over my hungry tongue. She cries out as she rides my face, coating my mouth and beard with her arousal.

My cock throbs desperately as I lap at her smooth skin and commit her taste to memory. She jerks against me when I stiffen my tongue and tease her swollen clit with fast strokes. Her pussy starts to quiver against my mouth, telling me she's close to an orgasm, and the need to feel her explode above me grows. I close my lips around her swollen bud and apply light suction, slowly increasing the pressure until she's practically sobbing for more.

"Reaper," she whines, the sound of my name on her lips fueling me on. "Please!"

She orgasms with a scream, one that no doubt makes its way out of her home. She pulls my hair as she rides out her orgasm, falling apart beautifully above me, and all I can do is watch and revel in what a vision she is. Face flushed, tits heaving with every labored breath. I am tempted to pull her down onto my aching cock and make her ride me until I have planted a baby inside of her.

Her eyes are drowsy, and her breathing ragged as she lowers herself to the mattress next to me. I run my tongue over my lips, gathering the moisture she left behind even as my eyes drop to her puckered nipples.

"Take me out," I say roughly, and she nods, her fingers shaky as she pulls the sheet away to reveal my throbbing dick. My head presses back into the pillows as her soft fingers close around my leaking cock.

"W-what do I do?" she asks, the innocence in her voice threatening to send me to the edge. I'm on a hair trigger at this point.

"Kiss me," I demand, bringing my hand to her nape and pulling her mouth to mine with a rough groan. She whimpers into the kiss as I twist my lips hungrily against hers, letting her taste herself on my tongue. Her fingers tighten around my cock, and I break the kiss as my balls draw up. That's all the warning I get before I coat her fingers with long streaks of white. I'm panting when my hand joins hers in working my cock, drawing out my orgasm and unloading the rest of my seed over our joined fingers. Stars explode behind my eyelids from the intensity of it.

My body slumps, boneless, as my climax eases, leaving behind a satisfied feeling in my chest that is soon overshadowed by a wave of exhaustion. "You're beautiful, Holly," I manage between breaths, cupping her jaw and pulling her down to lie beside me, the intimacy of the maneuver shocking me.

I don't remember a time that I've ever been so intimate with someone. Sex is one thing, but this is something else. Usually, once orgasm is achieved, I want my space. But with Holly, everything feels different.

Mine.

I want to feel every inch of her body pressed against mine so tightly, I can't tell where she ends and I begin. There is no me without her. Not anymore.

We lie in silence for a long time, and when she speaks, I am not surprised by her words. "I need to check your injury. I should—"

"How about a nap first," I ask, my eyelids struggling to stay open. Although I don't want to worry her, the burning sensation in my arm and the throb in my head are slowly making their presence known. But I don't mind the pain.

For the first time since getting shot, I am glad it happened. Otherwise, I would never have met Holly.

The light in my otherwise dark world.