“What round did I win in?”

“I think it was the second.”

I watch as his face changes. His eyes close as he realizes which fight I saw. His handsome face is pained and I’m not sure if it’s the memory of that night or if it’s because I’ve just told him I was there. I say nothing because I’m not sure what to say. I only know that seeing him in pain hurts me. Physically.

I reach out and take both of his hands into my hands and gently squeeze, imploring him to look at me. He doesn’t move for a long moment. His head still bowed down, he eventually looks up at me. What I see breaks my heart. Raw pain in his eyes and sadness etched on his face.

“You know.” His voice is strained and I get the urge to make it better. Make him better. Make him forget the memory that causes him so much pain. Sometimes it can be unbearable, I know all too well. All those years I had no one to help me forget.

I nod my head once. His words weren’t a question, but I gave him the answer anyway. I watch as Nico closes his eyes for a long moment before looking back at me. Something hits him and I’m not sure what it is, but some of the pain that was there a minute ago flees from his face. Some of it is still there, but it’s less pronounced now.

“You’re here anyway.” His face is so serious and intent. It’s such an odd, surreal moment. His eyes are locked with mine, filled with intensity and pain and everything in the background falls away. There is nothing in the moment except me and Nico. The here and now, everything else is just a blur because he holds my sole focus.

I don’t even know where my response comes from. I’m a think before you speak type of person. But I hold his gaze as the words fall from my lips, time stops for my simple five word response and when it starts back up again, everything is different. “Where else would I be?” My words are spoken softly, but they connect with Nico instantly.

For a split second I see something in his eyes that I can’t place, but it warms me all over. Like being wrapped in a warm blanket when you’re cold, it brings me comfort and heat and I just want to crawl under and stay there. Nico is silent as he stands. I look up just as he reaches down and scoops me up into his big arms. He cradles me tightly as he walks. Neither of us say a word, we just watch each other.

We enter what must be his bedroom and he gently sets me down in the middle of his big bed. But he doesn’t join me right away. Instead he stands up and takes it all in. Me, laying in the middle of his bed. I think he’s taking a mental picture, as if he wants to sear it into his brain and remember it forever. It makes me feel adored. It’s the sweetest thing a man has ever done and it took no words.

His long, slow, heated gaze sweeps up my body and when his eyes finally reach my eyes, I can barely take the wait anymore. I want him. So damn badly. It’s actually more of a need than a want. It should scare me to feel what I’m feeling, but it doesn’t. There is no room for scared between us. I reach up and offer him my hand, and Nico looks between my eyes and my hand and back again before taking it. The silent confirmation of what I need is enough and I finally get what I want.

Slowly, he half covers my body with his, the other half of his weight supported by the bed. The part that is touching me is thick and hard and I wish that his body was completely over mine so I could feel each and every rippled muscle pressed against me. Instead, he uses the space between us to brush his big hand over the side of my body.

His hand starts at the middle of my thigh and painstakingly slowly runs up my side. Nico’s eyes don’t leave mine as his hand travels. When his hand reaches the side of my breast, his thumb gently reaches out and feels the curve of my swell. A small gasp escapes me, it’s small, but Nico catches it and I can actually see the green in his eyes darken at my response. He’s watching me, taking in my every reaction to his touch and I get the sense that he’s as aroused as I am from his simple touch.

My eyes close when his hand reaches my face. He softly caresses my cheek with his calloused thumb. Gentle, soft, barely a brush. His tender touch makes me feel worshipped and I try to fight back emotion from flooding. It’s my instinct, but it’s a losing battle. One I never surrendered to until now.

I open my eyes and watch as Nico’s eyes drop to my mouth and back again. His head leans down and I think he is finally going to kiss me, but instead he buries his head in my neck and breathes deep, scenting me. He lets out a low growl as he exhales and I swear it makes every hair on my body stand upright. It’s as if an electric current ran from the top of my head to the tips of my toes and I’m frayed from the bolt that shot through me.

Nico draws his head back from my neck and his eyes take mine again. He’s so close to me now, I can’t help but reach up and touch him. My pointer finger slowly comes up and I trace his beautiful full lips with a gentle touch, slowly, etching their shape into my memory. His mouth parts and he takes a deep breath before closing his eyes. I can see he’s straining for control when he reopens them a few seconds later.

It’s incredibly sexy to watch such a strong man so close to losing control. It fuels my need to push him. Push him over the edge of restraint, where his control disappears and the feral male I see lurking beneath takes control. I want to see what it will take to get him there.

After I’m done tracing his lips, I push my finger into his mouth. It’s warm and wet and he takes my invitation. I watch as he gently suckles on my finger at first. I bite down on my own bottom lip as his sucking gets stronger. My eyes tear away from his mouth to find his eyes and he’s still watching me. Watching me watch him. I see a glint in his eye and I catch the corner of his mouth turning upward in a smirk just before he bites down on my finger. Hard. Pain shoots through me mixed with need and desire, and I’m momentarily stunned at his action.

Nico releases my finger and I think I hear him say, “There’s the fire,” and then he’s on me. His mouth covers mine and we fuse together. It’s a desperate kiss, all tongue and slippery, with sucking and biting. One that consumes me the moment it starts and I instantly need more.

My hips mindlessly push up into him and I’m met with hardness. Thick, long, rock-solid hardness. My body trembles at the feel of his arousal so closely against me and another low moan escapes me. I don’t think I’ve ever moaned uncontrollably, but now it pours from a deep place within me. Nico tries to pull his head back, but I wrap my arms tighter around his neck and keep him where I need him.