She’s still bundled in her fleecy robe, the material soft on my bare thighs and cock. As good as it feels, however, I know her naked flesh will feel even better, so I grasp the tie at her waist, pulling on it. At the same time, I lift my head and open my eyes to look at her.

As the tie unravels, her robe parts, exposing a V of smooth, tan skin. I can see the inside curves of her breasts and the taut flatness of her belly, but her nipples and lower body are still covered, as if by design.

It’s an erotic visual, made even more sensual by the way she’s breathing, her ribcage moving up and down in a fast, panting rhythm. Her lips are reddened from the kiss, and her skin is softly flushed.

My little pet is turned on.

As if sensing my gaze on her, she opens her eyes, her long lashes sweeping up. We look at each other, and the aching need inside me grows. It’s a feeling that’s somehow different from the lust surging through my body, a complex want that’s layered on top of my usual obsessive craving.

A yearning that terrifies me with its intensity.

“Tell me you love me.” All of a sudden, I need this from her. “Tell me, Nora.”

She doesn’t blink. “I love you.”

My arms tighten around her. “Again.”

“I love you, Julian.” She holds my gaze, her eyes soft and dark. “More than anything else in the world.”

Fuck. My chest constricts, the ache intensifying rather than easing. It’s too much, yet somehow not enough.

Bending my head, I claim her lips again, putting all the things I can’t express in words into that kiss. I feel her breathing growing shallow, and I know I’m holding her too tightly, but I can’t help it. Mixed with the overwhelming longing is a strange, irrational fear.

Fear that I might lose her. That she might slip away, like some beautiful, ephemeral dream.

No. I angle my head to delve deeper into her mouth, letting her taste, her scent, absorb me, chasing away the shadows. She won’t slip away. I won’t let her. She’s real, and she’s mine. I kiss her until we’re both gasping for air, until the fear inside me abates, burned away by the scorching heat.

Then I make love to her, as tenderly as I can.

When I drift off to sleep some time later, it’s with Nora cocooned safely in my embrace.

6

Nora

It takes all of my willpower to remain awake as I hear Julian’s breathing take on the even rhythm of sleep. My own eyelids feel heavy, my body lethargic from exhaustion and sexual satiation. All I want to do is close my eyes and let the comforting darkness swallow me, but I can’t.

There’s something I must do first.

I wait until I’m certain Julian is asleep, and then I carefully wriggle out of his hold. To my relief, he doesn’t stir, so I get up and find the robe that had fallen on the floor during sex.