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Chapter 27

The room is dark, my body warmed by another's. Our heartbeats haven't slowed- the unexpectedness and wonder of what we just professed- what we just cemented- too powerful to sleep. I rest my head against his extended arm, relaxing into the curves of his front, contented.

"I'm sorry for what I did."

"Really, Iris... let's just not talk about it anymore... let's forget it, okay?"

I lie silent for a moment before I sit up, moving out of his grasp to turn on the lamp. He's staring at me silently when I open my mouth. "I don't want to forget it. I hurt you and I'm willing to own up to it just as you did when you came back to me after meeting again here... I want to let you know that I will try- to not control as much. I will try-"

"I don't want you to be anything but what you are, Iris. That wasn't why I was mad. I mean of course I was mad about that but I know you did what you did with the best intentions- you've been doing it since I first met you. It was something else."

"What was it?"

His silence speaks volumes. Moments later, his voice is soft when he utters, "As a person, you know, I do like who I am. I'd like to think I'm not cruel or stupid or vane- I don't want to be someone else... But when I'm with you, sometimes, I just wish I had maybe taken a different choice in life. Done things right so maybe it wouldn't be so hard to accept your love."

"Your past only makes me care about you more, though. I love that you know what it's like to be alone like me and you know how cruel people can be, like I do. It's our common ground that makes me feel so close to you."

"Yes but the difference between us is I've got $10,000 saved up in my bank account, Iris."

"That doesn't matter to me, Stellan."

"It matters to me. I want to provide for you, even if only for small things. I want to feel useful- I want a purpose in this life and it's sometimes hard to imagine that I will be able to do that for you."

I look down, unsure of what to say to that. I can't help that I'm rich- I like being rich and I've never encountered a man who cared that I had a lot of money- it was one of the things that attracted them to me. That fact is probably a large reason why I'm cracked for the man laying next to me.

"Listen, Stellan... I don't know when you would like to get married-"

"Whenever you would like to get married. I want you to be comfortable and sure about it."

"But if you were to pick, would you want to wait?"

He smiles softly, sitting up slightly. "In all honestly, not really."

"Then that means that you would have to understand that- what's mine is yours. My money would be your money."

He nods but doesn't really answer- I'm guessing taking in the fact that I'm informing him that he will be a multi-millionaire.

"And... my money will be yours." He grabs my hand, squeezing tightly. "I will get Vance, I promise."

"I know you will," I murmur, clutching his cheek.

...

The sky is still dark outside the window, the street quiet and unmoving when my eyes flicker open, my face warmed against his chest. I don't know what woke me but I'm breathing heavy, my body quivering and as I move my legs slightly, I feel an ache of longing.

Hesitant, I touch his chest, running my fingers slowly over the ridge of his collarbone, lowering to his pectoral. I press my finger against his nipple before I replace it with my mouth. I glide my tongue around the small nub, moving my other hand down into his briefs, grabbing his relaxed cock in my grip.

It hardens at my soft relentless pulling as he stirs awake beside me. I kiss his chest, nibbling gently as he inhales, clutching me tighter.

"Iris..."

"I want you," I whisper, my voice unrecognizable with need.

"We can't... I-I don't have condoms here."

"Don't come in me then," I utter, running my thumb over the tip of him. His shiver is enough to make my panties soak.

"We-we shouldn't... You're not fully well, either, Iris,"

"Please... Please."

I grab the waistband of his briefs, pulling them down. He doesn't reach out to stop me so I pull back the covers, making it easier to slide them down over his toned legs. He grabs ahold of my waist, turning me onto my side. For a moment, I think he's going to tell me no but he grabs the straps to my nightgown, pulling the material down over my breasts, over my stomach and hips until he gets it off around my ankles. I push it to the far corner of the bed, humming in pleasure as he runs his hands exploratively over my stomach towards my breasts.

His breath is hot on my neck. "We have to be careful. Take it slow, I don't want to hurt you."

Desperate, I nod, licking my lips. He presses his lips to my shoulder, cupping one of my breasts gently, rolling my nipple with his thumb. Reaching up, I rest my hand on the back of his neck, moaning.

"I need you, Stellan. Please." My bones seem to become flimsy as he pushes into me slowly, clutching my body tighter. I gasp in disbelief, turning my face into the crook of his neck. "You make me feel things. No one else can make me feel the way you do when you move inside me."

"Because only I'm meant to be there," he answers surely, gasping slightly as he rocks against my back, his fingers rough yet gentle against my torso.

"I've missed this," I utter with a soft chuckle, clutching the bed sheet tightly with my free hand. My fingers run through the soft, slightly uneven waves that rest at the bottom of his neck, comfortable there. His eyes are alight when I turn my head to look at him.

"Yeah, I agree- never get sick again, alright?" he forces out, gaping as I feel him trembling in my arms. My laugh comes out weak and inaudible to his ears as my body begins to tense, my sex clenching, preparing for the explosion of little nerves.

Unable to keep my head turned any longer, I turn forward, clutching the sheet with both hands as he holds me, pressing soft, tender kisses to my back.

"Oh, god," I mumble, shaking, clasping his arm now wrapped around my shoulders with both hands. "Yes."

"Yes," he counters, gasping against my skin. A contraction goes through the bottom half of my body and I cry out, toes curved and tingling, coming undone.

"Iris."

"Yes." A moan escapes my lips as I feel him pull out, releasing onto my sensitized skin. I'm still gasping for breath when I turn over, clasping his face. I kiss him thoroughly, sifting my fingers through his long, perfectly moisturized locks. His hands move slowly over the curve of my spine, comfortably as we come down from our highs.

"I'm happy you asked," I murmur softly against his mouth, smirking. His eyes are gentle and admiring.

"I'm happy you said yes."