Part 55 (2/2)

I did not know Maddie very well. She'd gone before all had happened at the Winter Palace with me. But I still did not quite understand her and Apollo's relations.h.i.+p.

It was none of my business, this was true. And it was without doubt I shouldn't have spoken my mind to Madeleine.

However, the circ.u.mstances were dire, my lover was being tortured by malevolent witches, I was in the middle of being caught committing treason against my country, and, at least in that instance, I felt I should have some leeway.

”It was also the way you had to be because of what those parents of yours did to you,” Noc concluded.

Suddenly afraid to touch him, but needing to do so, I lifted my hand and wrapped it around his jaw before I said quietly, ”Noc, I fear you're making excuses because you hold feelings for me and this allows you not to see me for me. Or the me I used to be before all that occurred.”

”Franka,” he replied instantly, s.h.i.+fting so he was completely on top of me, his hands gliding all the way up my back so he could use both to cup my head, ”no offense, baby, but that's complete bulls.h.i.+t.”

Noc.

b.l.o.o.d.y annoying.

Even in moments like these.

My hand still at his jaw moved to his shoulder and shoved as I snapped, ”It is not.”

”It's what you tell yourself so you don't lose hold on everything you know, and I get that, sweetheart. The way your reality has s.h.i.+fted the last months, all you've known gone in a blink, that's gotta be pretty f.u.c.kin' scary. But everyone knows it was all an act. It was always an act. They know the real you. The only one who doesn't is you.”

This was a refrain I'd heard before.

He was right about the new Franka.

But he was also very wrong for the new Franka was just that.

New.

”It's impossible for people, including you, Noc, to know me better than me.”

One of his thumbs started drawing soothing circles on the skin under my ear (which felt nice) while his other hand s.h.i.+fted and he started stroking my jaw with that thumb (which arguably felt nicer).

He did this while he murmured, ”See I got more work to do to get you out of that bad place.” His thumb at my jaw s.h.i.+fted further and he rubbed it across my lips before he dropped his head and did the same with his own lips. Once he'd done that, against mine, he stated, ”But I'll get to that later. That's too heavy for now. And anyway, it's time for number four.”

Number four?

Had he gone mad?

”Just to say, after arguing with you and all the rest, I'm really not in the mood for another o.r.g.a.s.m,” I shared waspishly, saying words I never thought I'd ever say.

Especially about o.r.g.a.s.ms delivered by Noc.

He nipped my lower lip with his teeth.

I couldn't stop it...

I s.h.i.+vered.

”Bulls.h.i.+t,” he whispered, his amus.e.m.e.nt in that one word abundantly clear.

”You do know you're b.l.o.o.d.y annoying,” I declared. ”And that part of you I do not cherish, Noctorno Hawthorne. That part of you I also did not miss. Not even slightly.”

That was all a lie. I missed every part of him. Including him being irksome.

”Mm,” he hummed against my lips, and, drat it all!

I s.h.i.+vered again.

”You don't care that at times I find you annoying, do you?” I asked.

”Baby, you cherish me. Don't give a f.u.c.k there's some parts you don't. That s.h.i.+t's gonna happen.” He slid his mouth to my ear and whispered, ”Just f.u.c.kin' thrilled there are parts you do.”

”I see,” I told the ceiling, ”that I should learn when to shut my mouth.”

He slid his lips back to mine and stated, ”Now is not that time.”

I started to say something and didn't finish because Noc was kissing my open mouth and doing it deeply.

And then he set about proving that it was, indeed, bulls.h.i.+t that I was not in the mood for another o.r.g.a.s.m.

Apparently, I was.

In fact, apparently, I was in the mood for two.

Noc's hands insistent on my hips, he murmured, ”Faster, sweetheart.”

I did not move faster.

Sitting astride him, I gazed down at him lying on his back before me in the faint early morning light and took my time moving up and down on his shaft, s.h.i.+fting my hips or torso minutely to change the angle, give him a surprise, offer him more, all while I watched his enjoyment.

As did he, watching me do my work.

His fingers dug into my flesh.

”Frannie, baby, faster.”

I again didn't go faster.

That night, I'd had eight o.r.g.a.s.ms. He'd had one. I could take all the time I needed to give him the depth of pleasure I was right then intent to give him.

Moving at the same speed, I bent over him, trailing a hand lazily down his chest. My hair falling over my shoulder and brus.h.i.+ng his pectoral, I squeezed my walls around his c.o.c.k, filled myself with him and started undulating.

”f.u.c.k, Frannie,” he gritted, his eyes aflame, his fingers now biting into me.

”Allow me to give you something, darling.”

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