Chapter 348: Heat r18

NOAH

"I... I really should go," I whispered, my voice barely louder than the soft hum of the air conditioning. My cheeks were already burning.

"You need rest, Cassian. You’re still healing and I’ve been hovering for weeks and—"

"Noah."

Just my name, soft but weighted with that quiet authority that always turned my knees to water.

He sat down on the edge of the large bed, thighs spread, and looked at me steadily.

The towel parted slightly with the movement. "Come here."

My stomach did a nervous flip. I stood there for a second longer, coat still clutched in my sweaty hand, heart pounding so loudly I was sure the whole house could hear it.

Ten days after the hospital and he still looked like someone who had walked through fire, those pink, raised gunshot scars standing out against his skin.

One cut across his left pec, another lower on his abdomen near his hip. He was supposed to be resting, not... whatever this was.

My feet moved before my brain could argue again, accepting quietly that I was nothing but a horny bastard for Cassian.

I dropped the coat somewhere behind me and crossed the room on shaky legs until I was standing between his spread thighs, close enough that the heat radiating from his body brushed against mine.

He was still slightly damp, smelling like soap and something unmistakably him.

I kept my eyes fixed somewhere around his collarbone, too nervous to meet his gaze directly.

"Look at me," he murmured. I swallowed hard and lifted my eyes. His expression was calm, but there was a dark heat behind it that made my stomach flutter.

One of his large hands settled on my hip, thumb brushing slow circles over the fabric of my shirt.

"You’ve taken such good care of me," he said, voice low and intimate. "It’s only fair if I return the favor."

"I shouldn’t be doing this," I whispered, voice soft and shaky. "You’re barely recovered. What if I hurt you?"

"You’re not going to hurt me, sweetheart. Not unless I ask you to." He tugged me closer until I was flush against him, then reached up and cupped the back of my neck, pulling me down into a kiss.

It started gentle. His lips were warm, patient, tasting like toothpaste and reassurance. I melted into it despite myself, letting out a small, embarrassed sound when his tongue brushed mine.

My hands rested lightly on his shoulders at first, then slid down his chest as the kiss deepened. That was when it happened.

My palm accidentally pressed firmer over the scar on his left pec, right where one of the bullets had torn through. Cassian hissed sharply against my mouth, his body tensing under my touch.

I jerked back immediately, eyes wide with panic. "Oh god—I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—we should stop, this is a terrible idea—"

Cassian’s hand tightened on my hip, keeping me in place between his legs. His breath was a little ragged from the pain, but his eyes had darkened with something hotter.

"Easy, Noah," he murmured, voice low and teasing. "It stings... but it doesn’t mean you get to run away from me."

He took my trembling hand and deliberately placed it back over the scar, pressing my palm flat against it.

"I’ve survived worse."

My face burned. I could feel the raised line of the scar under my palm, warm skin and healed damage, and it made my chest tighten with a confusing rush of protectiveness and arousal.

"You’re impossible," I mumbled, embarrassed at how breathy my voice sounded.

He smiled, that rare soft smirk that always undid me.

"And you’re adorable when you’re nervous."

He kissed me again, slower this time, while his other hand slipped under my shirt and stroked up my back.

"Now strip for me, baby. I’ve been thinking about seeing all of you since the hospital."

I hesitated, then pulled my shirt off with shaky hands.

My pants followed, leaving me completely naked and standing between his spread thighs.

My cock was already hard and leaking, which only made me want to hide.

Cassian hummed appreciatively, running his hands up my thighs.

"Look at you," he teased gently, wrapping one hand loosely around my cock and giving it a slow stroke. "So shy, but your body is being very honest with me right now."

"Cassian..." I whimpered, hips twitching forward involuntarily. The contrast of standing there completely exposed while he was still mostly covered made everything feel more intense.

He stroked me with teasing, lazy pulls, thumb circling the head every time, until I was leaking over his fingers.

Then he leaned in and took me into his mouth... hot, wet, and devastatingly gentle. I gasped, one hand flying to his hair, the other bracing on his shoulder.

Again I accidentally pressed near a scar. He groaned around me, the vibration shooting pleasure up my spine, but didn’t pull away.

After a few minutes that left my legs shaking, he released me with a soft pop and stood up, towel dropping. His own cock was thick and heavy.

He turned us and guided me down onto the bed on my back, then climbed over me carefully, mindful of his lingering stiffness.

"Legs up," he said softly, pushing my knees toward my chest. The new position folded me open.

He settled between my thighs, kissing the inside of one knee. "There we go. Much better."

I covered my face with both hands, mortified at how exposed I was. "This is so embarrassing..."

Cassian gently pulled my hands away, lacing our fingers together.

"None of that. I want to see you." He leaned down and dragged his tongue slowly over my hole in one long, wet stripe.

I cried out, back arching. He did it again, slower, more deliberate, circling my rim with teasing flicks before pressing inside.

The wet, intimate sounds filled the room as he ate me out with patient hunger, licking, sucking softly, humming like I tasted good.