Avenged (Altered #2)(39)

Nick closed the distance between them, his mind filled with wanting to be closer to her, needing to touch her. He rested his hands on her arms. She glanced down at them, this connection between them. Over the past two days, he’d done this a lot. Small touches. Always when she felt the most alone, the most abandoned. Sometimes he didn’t say anything. Like now. He only stood there, this giant, burly guy, watching her, touching her. Letting her be her.

She wasn’t sure he even noticed he was doing it.

It wasn’t contrived. This was how his family did it, too—as if they knew, intuitively, that sometimes just not being alone made the difference.

Now, this small touch made her memories of her parents less sharp. His touches didn’t fix anything, didn’t change anything. But they helped, made it easier to bear.

Even made her less angry.

The green jumpsuit separated her skin and his, but she felt his contact as if there were nothing between them. Her own fingers tingled, and she flexed them, wanting to reach out, too, to touch him back and complete the circle. Their eyes met, and the connection between them was there.

They’d talked almost nonstop for two days, about everything. She felt like she could tell him anything. He hadn’t shied away from any of it, even the parts that had hurt to say.

Through it all, he continued to like her, as a person. She wanted him more than ever.

The space between them heated, and the tension in their bodies coiled. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and though he didn’t move, his thoughts turned to touching her, to covering her mouth with his own. Watching what he wanted to do made her own longing more intense, until she could barely breathe with it in her chest.

“Nick…” she breathed his name, gazing up at his eyes. “Will you kiss me? Please?”

He moved as if he’d been waiting for her to ask. And maybe he had been. With a groan, he dropped his head and closed the distance between them. When their lips touched, she gasped and allowed herself to sink against him. In response, he tugged her until she was pressed against him, only their ugly jumpsuits separating them.

She laced her hands in his hair, pulling him closer. Their mouths played together, in sync. She ran her hands along his strong shoulders, marveling at how different they were—him, large and all angled planes; her, slighter and softer. Yet, they fit together perfectly.

As she trembled against him, he anchored her with one arm at her waist, and his other hand traced the curve of her cheek. She pressed into his palm, and he trailed soft kisses down the side of her face, down her throat. She tilted her head back to allow him more access.

He half-guided, half-carried her backward until they tumbled onto the cot together.

She pulled at the top of his jumpsuit and the snaps came apart. She tugged at the pieces, pulling them open and down his arms. He shrugged out of the top of the suit, leaving his chest bare to her searching fingers.

She traced the smooth lines of his shoulder. Beneath her fingertips, his muscles tensed reflexively, and he groaned against her neck.

Then, he pulled at her snaps. The first two came apart, and she stilled.

Sensing her apprehension, Nick leaned up, his fingers halting.

“Kit?” His voice was gravelly, full of emotion. His thoughts were concerned. Slow down, Degrassi. You’re going too fast. You scared her.

His worry chased hers away.

She reached for the snaps and yanked, pulling them apart until the suit was open from neck to waist.

Their eyes met, and she nodded.

Not needing any more invitation, he pulled the two pieces of her jumpsuit apart. As his eyes devoured her, she squirmed under the heat she saw there, unable to remain still as she waited for him to touch her.

The first soft touch of his fingers flitted along the skin at the bottom of her rib cage. She held her breath as he traced up the side of her to circle one finger around her left breast. When he captured the tip between his index finger and thumb, she gasped and closed her eyes.

With a groan, he ducked his head and covered the peak with his mouth.

She came off the bed. “Nick!”

She couldn’t think any more. His warm mouth, the feel of his chest against her belly… It filled her senses, tinted everything in her mind with light. She wove her fingers through his hair, holding him to her.

His hand dropped to her waist, trailing across her belly, making her suck in her breath with a hiss. He lifted his head to smile at her.

The shift away gave her a moment to breathe. That’s when she heard them.

“Guards coming,” she said and scooted to sit up, her stomach sinking. Apprehension dosed the fire that had been roiling through her a moment earlier.

“What?” He tensed, instantly alert. He scanned the room, and the contents spun in the air, landing where they belonged in a matter of seconds. “Is it Kenny?”

Yes, he’d definitely gotten the hang of his power.

“No, it isn’t Kenny.”

He was already fastening the snaps on his jumpsuit, struggling to his feet. She blinked, trying to think around the disappointment crashing through her.

When he was finished, he reached for her, helping her to her feet. She tried to work her own snaps but her fingers were shaking. She fumbled, couldn’t push the two sides of her jumpsuit together.

“What do they want?” he asked, gently brushing her shaking hands aside and making quick work of her snaps with steady fingers. This isn’t part of the schedule. Something is wrong. Something has happened.