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I swirled my tongue around her clit before sucking it into my mouth, and she rewarded me with a gasp and her fingernails against my scalp as her legs curved over my shoulders and her heels pressed against my back. I grinned against her before plunging my tongue inside her and stroking her with my thumb.

“Nic.” She breathed out my name again. Once, twice, until it seemed to be all she could say as she moved against me and I stroked her over and over with my tongue, fully focused on her pleasure as I sucked her into my mouth and toyed gently with the most sensitive part of her.

I kissed her through an orgasm, my fang grazing dangerously against her as I grinned and she cried out again, and then I lapped softly as she relaxed and moaned, becoming little more than Jell-O on the bed.

I kissed the insides of her thighs again as I drew away, and I finished undressing her before tucking her under the comforter and joining her, drawing her against me as we both lay naked in her bed. She fell asleep quickly, totally relaxed, and I held her for a while longer, aware of her every breath and small movement, gratitude swelling in my heart that she was safe with me.

14

Leia

I

 woke slowly, aching, my head thumping, drifting to an awareness I wasn’t ready for. I snuggled farther under the comforter, seeking oblivion again, but Nic’s arm tightened around my waist like his protection was reflexive, and I relaxed.

He was warm, and he was safe, and memories of him made me tingle. He’d pleasured me last night without asking for anything in return for himself. Helping me forget when I’d asked him to, helping to relax me and take care of me.

My head throbbed again, and I winced. I hadn’t even had very much to drink in Vibrer, but I felt like I’d been run over by a truck. I sighed.

“Good morning.” Nic pressed a soft kiss to my shoulder, and I shivered at his touch.

“Hi.”

“How are you feeling?” He kissed me again, and I leaned back against him, pushing against his warmth.

“Tired. A bit achy. Kind of drained.”

“Hmm.” He hummed against my skin as he trailed small kisses toward my neck. “Anything I can do to help?”

I wriggled around to face him, sliding my right arm over his waist, and laying my palm over his bare ass. “Your help last night was much appreciated. Can I return the favor?”

He drew away, his eyes narrowing a little as he cast a gaze over me. Then he shook his head. “I think you need breakfast more than I need…” He paused and swallowed. “More than I need…” He shook his head before softly claiming my lips. “Raincheck.” Then he drew away. “Breakfast in bed for you, Miss Boucher.”

He walked across the room, and I admired the ass I’d just had my hand on.

After he’d finished on his phone, he climbed back in the bed and drew me close again, grinning as he nuzzled his nose against mine. “Baldwin is bringing breakfast up, but we’ve got a couple of minutes.”

I palmed his cock, and he gasped in mock shock, his hand on his chest over his heart.

“I’m horrified that you think I might only need a couple of minutes.” He drew my hand away. “Besides, I can’t answer the door with a boner.”

I giggled and kissed him again. “Okay.” Then I snuggled against him and listened to his heartbeat as he stroked his hand over my hair.

When there was a knock on the door, Nic stirred, but I rested my hand on his thigh, and he sighed. “Baldwin, just leave the breakfast out there,” he called. Then he looked at me. “I’ll grab it in just a second.”

I leaned up and kissed him, making it lingering, full of promise.

“Eggs,” he murmured.

I kissed him again.

“Bacon.”

I gave him a third kiss, and he chuckled quietly.

“Beignets.”

I laughed too. “Well, why didn’t you say that first?”

He shrugged. “I like your kisses more than I like beignets.”

As he walked toward the door to collect breakfast, wrapping a throw blanket around his waist as he went, my heart melted just a little. A man who liked my kisses more than he liked beignets. I could live with that—even though he also liked my blood more than he liked beignets.

“Chef might have gone a bit overboard again,” he announced as he approached me with an actual cart, laden with two trays and too many plates to be breakfast simply for me.

“I think he enjoys having someone to feed. A human here in your house.”

Nic grimaced a little, then quickly grinned instead. “I know he enjoys having someone appreciate his food.”

“Is he still advising Benedict for The Pour House?” I took a bite of beignet, the powdered sugar puffing up around my nose. That first bite of the morning was always the best. “I never want to stop appreciating Chef’s food,” I mumbled.

“Knowing Chef, his involvement with The Pour House is probably a step beyond advice.” Nic settled next to me and dipped his fingertip into some of the powdered sugar on my plate. “But I can guarantee your customers are getting some of the finest food this side of the Mississippi.” He licked his finger and shook his head. “Nope. Still prefer your kisses.”

I leaned forward and nibbled softly at his lips. “Then it falls to me to sustain you.”

His fingers wove through my hair, and he pressed me closer, something akin to desperation present in his grip as he took control of the kiss, sliding his tongue against mine and exploring the inside of my mouth.

He caressed my shoulders, then nudged the comforter lower and cupped my breasts. The throw he was still wearing tented over his sudden arousal, and I reached out to touch him.