“She inspired me to apply to art schools, it would be really cool to study it,” I tell everyone. There’s a chorus of approving sounds and looks, and Tania steals a glance atme like it’s a surprise she inspired me to go to art school. Or maybe she’s never felt like she’s had an impact on anyone before, but she sure has on me. This woman has absolutely no concept of the many, many thoughts she inspires in me, some so much dirtier than others.
The evening goes on like this, with everyone catching up and getting to know Tania, while she gets to know the people I love most in this world. I get peppered with more questions about studying art, and what the application process was like. My parents and sisters look so happy for me, and I don’t feel like quite as much of a black sheep anymore. They’re looking at me with pride instead of their usual amusement. I’m sitting here at family dinner for the first time feeling content and settled, and that’s because of the woman sitting next to me. Eventually my parents slip off to relax in front of the TV while we set up poker at the table after everything is cleared off. It’s low stakes, even though Lyra and Daniella act like it’s the final table at the world series of poker. I’m internally laughing that I’ve finally found something Tania is not incredible at, she has zero poker face whatsoever and is the first one out. When we begin our goodbyes, my sisters and Lyra make promises with Tania to get together for girls’ nights while exchanging huge hugs. I clasp her hand as we walk to my car, and when we get in and start toward home, I see just the barest sheen in her eyes. She gives them a hasty wipe before glancing back at me.
“Sorry, I’m not normally such an emotional person. It was just a lot tonight in the best possible way,” she says.
“No matter what happens between us, you’ll always be a part of the family, you realize that, right? Everyone adored you, they’ll all probably disown me if I mess this up.” She huffs a laugh.
“Not to get all weepy and weird, but that’s the first timesince I was 5 that I’ve been hugged like that, and felt so at home. You have an incredible family, Carlo. Thank you for bringing me tonight.” My heart squeezes uncontrollably, and I reach for her hand across the gear shift, threading our fingers before bringing it to my mouth to kiss it.
“It’s not weird at all, mi sueño. You have no idea how happy it makes me that my family made you feel so welcome. They’re also very overwhelming in their wonderful way, so I get it.” She just nods, and picks up my hand to kiss it back.
Chapter 15
TANIA
The sun is starting to stream in through the closed blinds as I feel a fluffy tail flicking my nose, making me stir. I can’t go far though, because I’m surrounded by inked muscle. Carlo’s hand is splayed on my stomach, his head buried in my hair, breathing softly and evenly. My ass is right in his lap, and I can feel exactly how much he likes it, even while he’s unconscious. The dinner with his family last night flashes through my mind, and the tsunami of emotions it evoked. The chaos and the banter and the bickering were all so full of love, and once again Carlo brought something so healing into my life. Over the past few weeks, he has slowly and methodically started to knit my torn and bruised heart back together piece by piece. There’s no doubt I still need therapy at some point, but simply being held by him like this keeps my demons at bay. I nestle further back into him, greedy for his warmth since the morning is a little chilly. His arm tightens around me as he groans, giving the barest little thrust into my backside. My core starts to heat immediately when I feel his length.
We always wake up spooning like this, him sportingmorning wood and a deep ache throbbing in me. It’s become maddening and something finally needs to be done. I check the time, and it’s a quarter to 7, so I make a quick and easy decision. I extricate myself from his hold and the bed as gently and quietly as possible, and he makes a small sound of protest in his sleep. As soon as the furballs see I’m up, they follow me into the kitchen while chattering away. I give them their breakfast and start the coffee like usual, but instead of getting ready for work like I’m supposed to, I quickly splash some water on my face and run a little toothpaste over my teeth. Then I go back into his room and shut the door. When I crawl back into bed with him, he immediately stirs and reaches for me to draw me to him. I smile at what a cuddler he is.
“What time is it? Is it my turn for the bathroom?” His voice is so adorably thick with sleep that the words come out in a mumble. I run a hand through his gorgeously rumpled hair and he practically purrs, leaning into it. He’s addicting in all ways, but most of all like this. I love seeing him first thing in the morning, all soft and warm and mussed. His scruff is always the most grown out at this point, before he does any shaving or trimming, and I relish how it tickles my arm while I play with his hair. I feel the hard planes of his chest and the smattering of chest hair, his powerful legs twining with mine. His skin is like burnished gold in the sunlight, and smells like a combination of his spiced soap and clean linen from his sheets. This man is heart-stopping in how gorgeous he is inside and out.
“It’s 7, but it’s also Sunday. You can rot all day in bed with the furballs if you want while I have my shift.” My heart is pounding, both in excitement and nerves. He’s been so damn patient, and I feel even closer to him after meeting his family. Another important brick in the foundationof this relationship was put down last night, and it makes it stable enough for me to feel safe to do this. His eyes open more, taking me in with a furrowed brow since this is not the usual routine when I have work.
“Is everything ok?” he asks drowsily. I run my hands up his chest and give him a kiss.
“Everything is great,” I say onto his mouth with a grin. He kisses me back and it immediately gets heated, our tongues tangling. My hand trails down his chest, to between our hips where I lightly palm him. Holy shit, I can feel multiple piercings through his thin pajama pants. It’s a Jacob’s ladder. I’ve never experienced that before, and it’s intimidating. I’m up for the challenge, though. He’s rock hard, and I love how his breath hitches when I touch him.
“That seems painful. Want me to do something about it?” He pulls back, searching my face to see how sincere I’m being. I palm him just a little harder in response to show him how much I want to do this.
“Fuck yes,” he groans. “Only if you’re sure, though.”
“I’m sure,” I say as I start gently stroking him through his pants. “You might need to guide me a little through the piercings, I don’t want to mess them up or hurt you.”
“Sweetheart, I may come just from you lightly stroking me like this, but sure.” He turns onto his back and brings me with him so that I’m straddling him. I tug his pajama pants down and get my first look at what is definitely the most gorgeous cock I have ever seen. Veined, thick, rock hard, with four silver bars going down the underside. I may or may not be drooling. Dying to take a taste, I bend down and lick away the precum at his tip, dipping my tongue into the slit. My hand works his base a little at the same time. He moans, his hands brushing through my hair to cradle my head but not pushing me down.
“Did I actually wake up, or am I still dreaming?” Ican’t help but smile around him at the question. He’s almost panting, shallow breaths sawing in and out of him as I take his tip into my mouth and suck. I run my tongue along the rim while I hollow out my cheeks, and he gasps, gripping my hair a little harder.
“Can you take more?” he asks roughly. I nod, opening wider, and he pushes in further to the first bar of his piercing. He gradually keeps pushing in and out until I have him at the back of my throat. My jaw can barely fit around his girth. I was worried his piercings would hurt my mouth or I would accidentally hurt him, but they just smoothly glide in and out along with the rest of him.
“This is actual heaven, I died in my sleep and somehow made it to heaven,” he moans as he starts gently moving his hips to meet my mouth. I look up at him through my lashes, and his eyes are black pools of lust when they meet mine. I can’t help the delighted giggle that escapes me as I pull off him for a second to breathe. His muscles are bunched with restraint, his abs contracted, and I get a little lost looking at his chiseled contours before coming back to myself.
“Tell me what you like,” I croon as I work him with my hand a little. He grunts when I put my mouth back on him.
“What you’re doing is perfect. I’ve wanted this for so long, mi sueño, and it’s better than I could have ever dreamed of. Fuck, your mouth is sweet. Your lips were made to suck this cock.” His voice is strained and hoarse with pleasure, and I love it. The praise pouring out of him spurs me on even more to take him deeper. After a few more thrusts, I feel him start to stutter and pulse in my mouth. He asks where I want him and I just keep my mouth where it is to swallow it all down. The most guttural groan leaves him as he finishes. When he comes downfrom it, he quickly flips me over onto my back and kisses me so fervently that I get lost in it.
“Easily the best wake-up I’ve ever had in my life,” he rasps, smiling against my lips. “What brought that on?”
“I just wanted to do it and make you feel good, the way you’ve been making me feel good without even trying,” I tell him honestly.
“Well, now it’s my turn to actually try to make you feel good,” he says as he nibbles on my neck and drops kisses down to my collarbone.
“This was meant to be just for you, I have to get ready for work,” I say on a giggle as his stubble tickles my ribcage through my thin sleep shirt.
“If I get off, you get off, sweetheart. I promise I’ll have you screaming my name in less than 5 minutes so you can get to work on time,” he says with a cocky grin as he moves down my body. The open mouthed kisses and bites he leaves on my inner thighs have my protests dying on my tongue, little whimpers coming out instead.
“I’m going to time you. Less than 5 minutes,” I tell him in a voice that is shamefully breathless. He just looks up at me with the most devilish glint in his eyes before he pulls down my shorts. I squirm a little self consciously since I’m bare to him now, but he’s looking at it like it’s the goddamn Mona Lisa.
“Such a pretty pussy, all wet for me. I can’t wait to taste it.” Then he dives in as if this is his last meal on earth. He flicks my clit with his tongue before sucking it into his mouth, making me arch off the bed as I cry out. I’m so damn touch starved that this is sensory overload in the most incredible way. He pulls me closer and throws my legs over his broad shoulders to get better access. My orgasm is building like a coil ready to spring through me, delicious heat spreading with every expert lap of his tongue. Whenhe pushes two fingers in and curls them at the exact perfect spot, I detonate with the most spectacular orgasm I’ve ever experienced. My entire body is shaking as he works me through it, and I do in fact scream his name in a mindless chant. It’s as if he intuitively knows my body, and how to press every button in it. When my soul rejoins my body, I realize that it most definitely took less than 5 minutes to get me off. He looks at me with so much smug pride as our eyes meet, while he smooths his hands up and down my legs to keep me grounded.
