Chapter 32

When he realized that she was moving towards him instead of away, Jon pulled her even closer, but kept his kiss gentle. One hand tangled in her curls, the other stroked her body from shoulder to knee. He rocked his head back and forth slightly while his tongue explored her mouth, savouring every texture and flavour. When she moaned softly and returned the favour, he let his hand slide between them to cup a breast and held his breath. This is where she’d pulled back previously. But not this time. This time she arched into his touch, silently asking for more. His grip firmed and he squeezed and kneaded, pinching her nipple when it hardened for him, inhaling her gasp. Her hand fisted in his hair and pulled him closer. Encouraged, he reached for the top button in the line that ran down the middle of her nightgown from neck to knee and opened it. When she didn’t protest, he moved to the next one, and the next, stroking her skin with the back of his fingers as he went.

Veronica felt the side of her opened nightgown slide away from her body, exposing her to his view. Her hand fell to his shoulder when he raised his head to look his fill. She shivered as his hand coasted lightly from her collarbone to the triangle of curls at the juncture of her thighs.

He glanced up to find her watching him. “You’re so beautiful.” His head dipped to taste her again while his hand roamed her torso.

This time when his hand cupped and caressed her breast, there was no cotton to mute the heat of his touch or the feel of his calluses lightly scraping the velvet of her skin. She groaned deep in her throat and her torso twisted. At first he thought that she was trying to pull away, but quickly realized that she was shifting to give him access to her other breast. He obliged, squeezing and pulling on the hard tips.

She bent the arm that was pinned between their bodies until she could reach his own stiff nipples and flick them with a nail while her other hand dug into his shoulder. With a rumbling growl, he deepened the kiss even more, tongue thrusting rhythmically. Unable to resist, he let his hand smooth over her stomach and nudge her legs apart to explore the sensitive flesh between her thighs, only slightly surprised to find her already open and moist.

For long minutes he explored her swollen folds, stroking and teasing her pulsing tissue, plucking at the sensitive nub at the top of her cleft. Then one long finger slid inside. Her back arched in response and she moaned. His hand began to move and so did her hips, rubbing against his hardening shaft as she matched his rhythm. He added a second finger and thrust deeper and faster, adding a twisting motion that quickly sent her over the edge. Her orgasmic scream was swallowed by his mouth and he held her tighter while shudders racked her body, his fingers continuing to stroke her until her tremors subsided.

She was still panting when he raised his head to look down at her. He licked his lips and tried to speak despite his own laboured breathing. “Nica, I don’t know how to tell you how sorry....”

A shaking hand slid from his shoulder to cover his lips and halt his apology. “I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to think about it. Not right now. Make me forget Jon. Even if it’s just for a little while. Please.”

He studied her eyes for a moment, then stood with her in his arms, and walked to the bed, where he gently laid her down. Straightening, he met her gaze, a question in the blue depths. She held her arms out to him in answer. Jon drew in a slow steadying breath, shucked his sweats and laid down beside her.

This time he explored her with his mouth, relearning every nook and cranny, pausing over her sensitive spots. When she tried to return the favour, he shook his head. “No. Not yet. Just let me....touch you....taste you....love you.” She acquiesced with a sigh of appreciation.

His lips traced a path of fire down her neck causing a shiver to run down her spine. After pausing briefly at the notch in her collarbone to feel the rapid beat of her heart, he continued down her chest to the stiffening pink peaks of her breasts. There he lingered, switching between her firm mounds, alternating between kissing, licking, nibbling and sucking until she was whimpering, her lower body undulating, urging him on. He obliged, sliding down her abdomen to the triangle of dark curls. He spread her thighs wide and dropped his shoulders in between, and settled in to feast.

Her hands fisted in his hair as his tongue lapped at her moist flesh. “Mmmmm Johnny.”

“Sweet, so sweet.” He slid his tongue as deep as he could into her pulsing channel, withdrew it, then sucked her clit. Hard.

“Oh, oh OH JOHNNY!” Her body went rigid and her back arched off the bed with the force of her climax.

When her tremors subsided he lifted his head, met her eyes, grinned and went back for another taste. This time when her peak was close, she tugged on his hair. “Johnny, I need to feel you.”

He took one last lick, then moved upwards, rubbing his body over hers. Bracing himself on his elbows, he bent to kiss her. He raised his head and watched her as he flexed his hips and slowly filled her, his own eyes drifting shut briefly at the snug fit. “Jesus.” Beyond the feelings of pleasure and desire was a sense of....homecoming....like he was finally where he truly belonged. The strength of that feeling shook him to the core. “Nica.”

At his whisper Veronica smiled into his eyes, and stroked her hands down his back. “Johnny.”

He started to move, thrusting slowly, deeply. “God you feel good.” She clutched him to her, urging him closer. Jon eased down until he was lying fully on her.

For long minutes the only sounds in the room were sighs of pleasure and soft moans as their bodies moved in sync to a languid, fluid, rhythm that was as instinctive as breathing. Every movement, every shift of position by one was answered by a complimentary shift by the other, like they’d done this a thousand times over a hundred years. When he felt her start to tighten around him, he slid his hands under her hips and tilted her towards him and thrust deeper. She cried out as the sensations became too much and her orgasm overtook her. A shout was pulled from his throat when her flesh squeezed him like a vice and took him with her.

Veronica savoured the feel of his weight on her. She cradled his body with hers, her hands stroking the damp skin of his back while she panted and waited for the world to stop spinning. Blowing out a deep breath, she kissed his shoulder and hugged him.

Jon smiled at the familiar caresses and felt oddly comforted. He levered himself up on his elbows and brushed stray strands of hair away from her face. A gentle smile curving his lips, he bent and kissed her softly. He didn’t say anything – words would only spoil the moment. Instead, he brushed his lips over her forehead, eyes, cheeks, and jaw before nipping her earlobe and nuzzling her neck. At the same time, he leaned on one arm and sent the other hand skating over as much of her as he could reach.

She shivered, raised a brow and flexed her internal muscles around his resurging erection. “Haven’t had enough yet?”

He shook his head slowly and put voice to what he had just realized himself a few minutes ago. “I’ve been missing this for nineteen years. I’m not about to let it be over quickly.” His lips twitched. “Besides, since when was once ever enough for you?”

She couldn’t argue his point. Her body was already showing how much it welcomed his attention. Ignoring his comment about missing her, she smiled and gave in to the sensations his touch sent along her nerve endings. Once again, he kept it slow and gentle and they came together on a sigh.

When he was able to move, Jon rolled off of her onto his back and pulled her into his arms. Veronica settled comfortably against him and quickly drifted off to sleep. Jon smiled down at her, kissed her forehead and stared at the ceiling. Her earlier recitation of the horror of their son’s death robbed him of the ability to sleep. His self disgust ran deep. He knew he was an arrogant, controlling, perfectionist, but he’d never thought he was a cruel, selfish, monster. But apparently he was. Once again he had to face his true self, and he didn’t like it. He had to find some way to make it up to her. But how did you make up for something like this?

Heaving a deep sigh, he slipped from the bed and went to the connecting door and his room in search of a cigarette. He paced while he smoked, staying in his own room, knowing that Veronica didn’t like the smell of smoke and not wanting to disturb her. A rustling of sheets had him glancing through the doorway to see her stirring restlessly. Stubbing out his cigarette, he rushed back to her side and stroked her hair. “I’m right here sweetheart. It’s okay. I’m here.” His heart ached when she calmed at his touch and the sound of his voice. How could I let you suffer like that alone? What kind of man am I?”

He spun away from the bed and headed for the mini bar. Pulling out several small bottles of whiskey, he threw himself into a chair, twisted off the tops and tossed back the shots, wishing he had a bigger bottle. He sat and drank and brooded for an hour and was no closer to an answer. When Veronica started to toss and turn again, he sighed, shut off the lights, crawled in beside her and wrapped her in his arms. It was a long time before sleep finally claimed him.