He shivers at the title, then pumps his hips. The sounds of our skin connecting and our moans mingling has me close to combusting. Stars dance in my vision, but I fight the feeling, needing to prolong our ecstasy.
He lifts my legs into his arms, changing the angle, hitting a magical spot inside of me. Curses fly from my lips of their own accord. And when he lifts one leg at a time up against his chest and over his shoulders, my curses turn to howls.
“Fuck, look how flexible you are,” he says with a growl as the cords of his neck bulge.
I reach an arm up and trace them. He yanks my hand away and brings it to his mouth, sucking on my fingers. I clench around his member as he sullies my digits. I never realized something like this could be so sensual.
Then he pulls my fingers from his mouth. As the light hits them, they glisten with his saliva. He moves our hands lower, placing them over my little swollen nub. But he doesn’t pull his hand away, just rests it on top of mine.
“Show me how you like it,” he demands.
The first little circle shoots up my spine and, by the third, I’m on the edge. I start to slow, trying to make myself last longer, but he growls in my ear, “Keep going.”
“But I’m so close,” I whimper.
Bash meets my helpless gaze with a needy one of his own. “We can go again. But right now, I need you to come, because I’m about to combust.”
He starts moving my hand over my clit how I had been, controlling the movements. I let him lead, and my legs start shaking. He lets out a low groan, as I tip over the edge. Lights dance over my vision as I’m transported to another dimension. I can barely hear my name on his lips, a chant praising me, as ropes of cum fill me.
When I come back down, he’s hovering over me, his muscles trembling from his release. He doesn’t pull out though; he just hovers over me, giving me a full display of his body.
For the first time, I really study him. Or, well, I study the tattoo on his left pectoral. I noticed it earlier, but between the attack and confessions, I didn’t really look at it.
And when I decipher what it is, his lone tattoo, my head spins. Looking up, I burn under his expectant gaze. Glancing back at the tattoo, the only one he has, everything locks into place. Everything he’s been telling me about his love and obsession for me. Because he inked me into his skin. Permanent and forever, like us.
Lightly, I trace my fingers over the five-lined skink on his chest. The symbolism isn’t lost on me. He first saw me saving one. His first memory of me, of me taking Fern home and caring for him is inked over his heart forever. And suddenly, his pattern change makes sense, because someone did break into my home and switch out my sick lizard with a replica.Because Bash would do that for me. I bet Fern passed away while I was at work and my sweet Bash wanted to save me from that pain.
“Oh, Bash,” I murmur in a heavy voice.
His large hand covers mine, and he presses them against his chest on the tattoo right over his heart. “Of course I marked you on my chest. You’re my Lizzy, my lizard queen. That day changed my life. You changed my life and gave me a purpose. You’re my purpose, angel.”
It’s hard to form words over the lump in my throat, because this is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me. He didn’t know if he’d ever get to be with me if, if he’d ever even get to introduce himself, but he still marked me permanently over his heart.
“I love you,” I whisper as I cup his cheek. I lean up and kiss him. It’s sweet and loving. Soft and gentle. And soon, it turns into lovemaking.
And when we finish, he cleans us and carries me to bed. I succumb to sleep before my head even hits my pillow.
Chapter 32
Lizzy
Clanking noises in the kitchen wake me. I check the other side of the bed, and sure enough, it’s empty. Bash must be cooking. My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven’t eaten since the party last night.
Before I attempt to find Bash, I make a pit stop at the adjoining bathroom. After using the toilet, I look in his cabinets for a toothbrush. When I open the one under the empty sink, I laugh. All of my skincare products and toiletries are organized under the sink, all unopened. Of course, my sweet stalker stocked up on all my essentials.
After going through my usual morning routine, I leave the bedroom, follow the racket, and end up in the kitchen with Bash. He looks up from where he’s frying eggs at my entrance.
Upon seeing me, his face drops. “I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.” His devastated expression has me holding back a smirk.
“I can go back to bed,” I offer.
“Well…” He’s silent for a moment, then shakes his head. “No, of course not. That’d be ridiculous. We’ll eat together at the table.”
Walking towards him, I freeze when the time on the microwave catches my eye. “Oh my God. Is it really noon?”
Before he can answer, I’m halfway across the kitchen toward… I don’t know where I’m going. I’m late for work and need to change. But I don’t want to go back to my apartment. I can’t. I’m not ready to face the aftermath of the break-in. Icy tendrils of fear curl around my ribs at the idea of going alone. Maybe Bash will go with me over there? Or, at least, will watch over me from his cameras.
“Lizzy, wait!” A warm hand wraps around my bicep, halting me in my tracks. Bash turns me towards him. “I called Janine and informed her of the break-in last night. She insisted you either take the day off or come in whenever you’re able to. I told her I’d pass the message along, but that I wasn’t going to wake you.”