Reed's Pov
The grief didn't completely disappear it couldn't but it blended with the growing pleasure between us, a slow, desperate need wrapped in tenderness. Each kiss and each press of his body to mine became a way to channel the pain I couldn't express. Nicholas held me as if he wanted to absorb some of it, unconcerned about getting burned in the process.
He whispered my name softly and reverently. I pressed closer, craving the warmth, the sense of grounding, and the reassurance that I wasn't alone in the darkness. His hands knew exactly where my vulnerabilities were, and I allowed myself to break safely within his arms, under his lips, against his body.
When release hit us, it was messy and raw, stripped of anything but need. We collapsed, limbs tangled, breaths unsteady. I rested my forehead against his chest, listening to the steady beat under my ear solid, calming, real.
