The soundcaused him to relax his grip, smoothing his hands over the samearea. “Forgive me. Did I hurt you?”
“Hurt me?” Seconds later, he was kneeling behind her, soothingthe red marks he’d made. “No, Crispin, that was amazing.” Eager formore, she pressed her butt against his thighs as he reached for acondom on the night table.
Unable toresist, he then lined himself up, and after a couple of beautifullyexecuted forceful nudges, he entered her.
“Oh, yes, yes,” she cried at his most welcomeintrusion.
“So fucking hot,” he growled in response. Leaning over her, hewrapped his arm around her chest, resting his head on hershoulders. She was perfect in every way. Never had he felt thislevel of intensity and desire with another. He was fucked and heknew it. “You’ll only rip my heart out.”
“Crispin?” Hearing him, she tried to turn but he stilled herand pressed her back down.
“No! Just fucking stay as you are.” With his hands on her hips,he then once again started to move, thrusting greedily into herbody, slamming his thighs against her.
After a fewpunishing thrusts, Gwen didn’t know what to think. She shouldn’tlike this so much. But the harder he went, the hotter she got.Before long, she came apart, a helpless rag doll in his arms.Seconds later, he tightened his grip on her hips and came insideher before finally collapsing exhausted on top of her.
Silent minutespassed before either of them moved. Eventually, Crispin got up withmuch reluctance and went into the bathroom. When he returned, hegrabbed the bottle of wine, the glasses and poured them each a cup.He then scooped her up onto his lap and sat up against theheadboard with her cradled into his chest.
“You okay?” He pressed a kiss on her temple, held her close,stroking her hair.
Gwen could onlynod. She was so overwhelmed with emotion and afraid to speak. Hethen offered her a glass of wine. With her wrists still bound, sheaccepted it, however awkwardly. “Aren’t you going to untie me?”
“Not just yet.” He took his glass and clinked it againsthers.
“What are we toasting?” she asked after taking asip.
“Our reunion, after all these years.” Taking the glass fromher, he then proceeded to offer her sips from his, taking one forhimself in between. “In a way, you’re my oldest friend. The closestthing I have to family.”
“Wow…”
“Wow, is right, in more ways than one,” he said with a sigh.“What are the chances? It kinda blows me away.”
“Yeah, that is something, isn’t it,” she said with a smile,relieved to hear he was happy about it. She had been worried itmight complicate their relationship somehow. “I can finally thankyou properly.”
“Thank me?”
“For saving me from those mean boys.”
“If only I’d gotten there sooner, you would’ve kept yourclover.”
“It’s kinda funny and weird that your last name isClover.”
“Is it?” he asked.
“Well, it’s quite the coincidence, don’t you think?” Shegiggled.
“Not really,” he said with a shrug. “Actually, I should bethanking you for that. You and your clover made such an impressionon me. I never forgot it. As soon as I could, I made it my lastname.”
“What?” She turned and blinked at him, surprised.
“Well, why not? It’s not like I had a proper surname. Just somerandom name assigned to me, Hewson or Johnson, or whatever. I can’tsay for sure because I don’t even remember. All I know is from thatday forward, I named myself Crispin Clover and never looked back.At sixteen, I made it official, and here I am.”
“But you kept your first name, Crispin?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I kinda always like my name for whateverreason.”
“I’m glad you kept it. I like Crispin, it’sdifferent.”
“You mean weird,” he said with a wink.
“Unique,” she corrected him. “Wow, this is a lot to take in.”She exhaled, resting her head on his chest, her head spinning fromit all, not to mention the wine.
“Welcome to my messed-up life.”
“I have so many questions, but I’m getting sleepy,” sheconfessed. “Plus, I don’t want to upset you.”
“Go ahead, ask me anything.” He shrugged. “Blame it on thewine, but I find myself in a rare chatty mood. Besides, I haven’tmuch to tell. I have no past. No family to speak of. You’ll getbored rather quickly or fall asleep listening.”
“That’s just so sad.”
“It is what it is. Don’t feel sorry for me. I don’t want yourpity.”
“Not pity, but it kinda breaks my heart, Crispin. If you wouldonly untie me, I’d give you a big old hug.”
“And that is why I haven’t.” He chuckled and held her tighter.“You’ll have to settle for me hugging you.”
“That only makes more curious,” she said.
“How so?”
“Well, you’re so affectionate,” she explained. “You’re sogiving, and attentive to me. Yet you hate being touched. You don’tlike it when I touch you.” He nodded as she spoke and his patienceimpressed her yet again. “At first, I thought it was your way ofseducing me, but it’s not only leading up to sex. It’s all the timeand especially after sex. You’re so thoughtful with the way youhold me, like right now.”
“Would you rather I get up and leave you be?” he asked. “Am Ismothering you?”
“No way!” she said. “I love this about you. I just wonder whyyou’re so good with me?”
“Because… I like you, and because none of it’s yourfault.”
“What’s not my fault?” she asked, curious.
He took a deepbreath before speaking. “My issues are not your fault, and justbecause I’m fucked up doesn’t mean I should take it out on you.You’re a sweet and loveable woman and deserve to be treated assuch. Besides, I can’t keep my hands off you.” He gave her asqueeze.
“Don’t you deserve the same?” She giggled when he nipped at herearlobe. As cozy as she was in that moment, in his tender embrace,she couldn’t help but want to know more about him. Ever sincediscovering he had grown up in foster homes, she had gotten it inher head that maybe his aversion to being held had something to dowith abuse. Perhaps he had been victimized and it broke her heartto think it but it would make sense if that were thecase.
“I apologize if I come across as clingy,” he interrupted herthoughts.
