105
She let out a shaky breath. Her body clenched around him involuntarily, drawing a curse from his lips.
Then he moved, slow at first, each thrust smooth and controlled. It wasn’t just about lust, it was about grounding her, showing her that she could feel something again without breaking.
And oh, she felt everything. Her lips parted in pleasure as whatever discomfort she had initially felt dissipated. Every stroke of his hips, every soft grunt, every flick of his tongue against her throat had her moaning breathlessly.
It wasn't long before she was trembling all over from the primal pleasure, it built in waves, sharp and deep, rolling through her so fiercely that she cried out his name again and again. Her nails raked down his back, her hips rising to meet his, and still he kept control. Still, he watched her.
“More,” she begged quietly, not even knowing what she meant, just needing him closer, deeper, needing to completely lose her mind. "Please."
“You’ll have more,” he promised her. “As much as you need.”
He gave it to her then, less gentle, more demanding. His thrusts turned rougher, his grip on her waist tightened just the way she liked. His hand found her throat, he didn't squeeze, but held firmly and possessively in a way that stole her breath and sent heat spiraling low in her belly.
She shattered again under him, her body convulsed as her climax hit her like a storm. He followed with a low growl, his hips grinding against hers as he found his release just before withdrawing himself from her depths.
Afterward, the room was quiet except for their breathing. He didn’t move off her right away. He kissed her cheek, her jaw, her temple, as if he couldn’t stop touching her just yet.
When he finally rolled to his side, he brought her with him, her back tucked against his chest, his arm wrapped around her waist. His hand rested on her heart, feeling its wild rhythm. It was beating so quickly, so erratically, and she was breathing so heavily.
“You okay?” he asked softly, his breath warm against her ear.
Yalda didn’t answer. Her throat was too tight. She was fine, but just like that her mind trailed back to Alexander. The guilt came slowly, like a fog curling in around her ribs.
What had she done?
Tears silently slid down her cheeks. She didn’t sob, didn’t shudder. She just let them fall, trying not to sniffle, trying not to ruin the peace of the moment.
But Ioannis noticed, as always. His arm tightened around her slightly, his voice low and patient.
“Talk to me.”
She shook her head. “I’m okay.” what else could se possibly tell him?
“No, you’re not,” he said gently, and this time there was no pressure in his voice, only a calm understanding that made the tears come harder.
“I just…” She sniffed once. “I feel like shit. I feel like....him."
Sleeping around was his thing, and she was beginning to act like him and it ached her so much.
He didn’t flinch. Didn’t try to correct her. Instead, he reached for her hand and laced their fingers together.
“It's okay to feel that way” he said simply. “We're only human."
She buried her face into the pillow, feeling raw and exposed. But not ashamed. Not with him.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she whispered. “I wanted this, I wanted you, and I still feel…”
“Yalda,” he said when she trailed off. “You’re allowed to feel everything. Wanting comfort, wanting to be touched, none of that is wrong.”
His thumb stroked over her knuckles, slow and soothing.
“I won’t push you,” he continued, “but I’m here. I’ll keep being here. If you let me.”
The tightness in her chest eased, just slightly. She didn’t speak again. She didn’t need to. She just let herself lie there, held tightly in arms that didn’t demand anything, just offered warmth and something close to peace.
~~
Sunlight spilled gently through the sheer curtains, the warm light had Yalda blinking slowly to clear her sleepy vision. For a few seconds, she didn’t remember anything. Her body was sore in a way that wasn't unfamiliar, pleasantly heavy against the warm sheets. Then, a weight beside her shifted.
Ioannis.
His arm was still around her waist, his chest pressed against her back, breath even and calm. The calming smell of his cologne wrapped around her before memory slammed into her.
Everything came rushing back; last night, how she had begged him for more, how she had had been so desperate to forget everything, how he had held her together till she fell asleep. Her eyes widened, breath hitched, and her pulse quickened.
She had actually slept with Ioannis.
She slipped out from under his arm as carefully as she could, trying not to wake him. Her bare feet hit the cool floor, her heart already racing. She scanned the room for something, anything to throw on. His shirt was hanging on the edge of the bed and she grabbed it, wrapping it tightly around herself as she bolted toward the bathroom.
She made it halfway before his voice stopped her.
“Yalda.”
She froze, her breath hitched once more.
His tone wasn’t sharp or accusing. It was gentle.
She turned slowly, guilt surging like a tide all over again. Now she felt bad for wanting to run from him. He had been kind to her after all, he had been supportive and understanding. “I… I just needed a moment,” she whispered.
He sat up in bed, the sheets pooled around his waist, his hair was mussed, and eyes sleep-hazy. Still, he looked at her with that understanding, he looked at her knowing she was trying her best to hold herself together.
“You don’t have to run from me,” he told her.
She stood frozen in the doorway, hands clenched in the fabric of his shirt.
“I wasn’t running,” she lied.
His mouth curved, not in amusement, but in understanding. “Then come back.”
She hesitated. Her body ached in places that reminded her of every touch, every sound, every breathless moment. Her chest felt tight, like there wasn’t enough air in the room. But when she looked into his eyes, she didn’t see judgment. She saw patience. Tenderness; something she was just realizing that she'd needed all her life.
She took a tentative step toward the bed, then another, until she stood beside it. He reached for her hand and gently tugged her closer, coaxing her onto the mattress. She let him.
A/N
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