CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

          THE CITY LIGHTS HAD FLICKERED BY IN A BLUR AS HE DROVE THROUGH THE MOSTLY EMPTY STREETS NEARING MIDNIGHT. His focus was sharp as he drove them towards his apartment, where she still resided. If she were being honest she almost didn't want to leave his grandmothers place, it had been filled with love and laughter and it made her miss her own family more than she'd like to admit. 

There was a tension in the car as his hand inched up her jean covered thigh. It was a slow and deliberate movement, and every inch he gained made her breath quicken. The low hum of the engine was the only sound between them.

Rio drove faster than he needed to but she really couldn't care less. The feel of his fingers dancing along her thigh was not enough and she pressed her legs together to attempt some friction. She stole a glance at him out of the corner of her eye, catching the determined set of his jaw. He knew exactly what he was doing.

They pulled up to his apartment complex and he drove towards the underground parking lot, reaching his own spot there. His hand lingered on her leg for just a second longer before pulling away to turn off the engine. The absence of his touch left her breathless.

Neither of them said a word as they stepped out of the vehicle, the cool night air doing nothing to dampen the heat building within her veins. She followed him silently into the building, her heart pounding in her chest as they stood side by side in the elevator but not touching. 

Oh, she was going to explode. 

Rio's hand brushed against hers as the elevator dinged open, his gaze cutting to hers. There was something possessive in the way he looked at her, a promise of what was coming. He didn't wait this time, not like he had at his grandmother's. As soon as they were inside the apartment, the door clicked shut behind them, and his lips were on hers, rough and hungry, all the restraint he'd shown earlier gone.

His hands were everywhere at once, sliding under her shirt, gripping her hips and tangling in her hair. She responded with equal fervor, her fingers fumbling with the buttons of his shirt as she pressed herself against him. The kiss deepened, tongues dancing as they stumbled through the darkened apartment.

Rio broke away, breathing heavily and his forehead resting against hers. "Guess no sleep for us tonight, huh?"

She didn't respond with words, instead she pulled him back for another open mouthed kiss. They moved in tandem towards the bedroom, shedding clothes along the way. By the time they reached the bed, they were both down to their underwear, skin flushed and heated.

Rio's eyes raked over her body, drinking in every curve and dip. His gaze was molten, filled with a hunger that made her shiver. Without warning, he lifted her and hands grabbed her thighs as he threw her on the bed. She bounced slightly, a small gasp escaping her lips.

He crawled over her, his body a cage of muscle and heat. His lips found her neck, trailing kisses down to her collarbone. She arched into him, her hands roaming his back and nails scraping lightly against his skin.

His hand slid down her stomach, teasing at the edge of her underwear.

She whimpered softly as his fingers danced along the lace, her hips lifting involuntarily as she seeked more contact. Rio chuckled against her skin, the vibration sending shivers down her spine.

"Patience," he murmured, his breath hot against her ear.

But patience was the last thing on her mind. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer and she could feel his hard length pressed against her core. Rio groaned, his control slipping for a moment as he ground against her.

"Chris, no more waiting." she whispered, her voice husky with need.

He captured her lips again, swallowing her pleas as his hand finally, finally slipped beneath the fabric of her underwear. She gasped into his mouth as his fingers found her slick heat, teasing and exploring. Her hips bucked against his hand, desperate for more friction.

She broke away from the kiss, panting, her head thrown back against the pillow. His lips found her throat, sucking and nipping at the sensitive skin there.

Lucy could only whimper in response, lost in the sensations he was creating. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as he slipped a finger inside her, then another. The heel of his palm pressed against her clit as he curled his fingers, hitting that perfect spot that made her see stars.

"Christopher," she moaned. "please, I need you."

He growled low in his throat, a primal sound that sent a fresh wave of heat through her body. In one swift motion, he removed her underwear, tossing it carelessly to the floor. His own quickly followed.

Rio positioned himself between her legs, the tip of him brushing against her entrance. She shivered in anticipation as her body was practically vibrating with need. He leaned down, capturing her lips as he pushed inside of her in a quick and swift thrust.

They both groaned at the overwhelming sensation, their bodies trembling with barely contained need. Rio paused, his breath ragged as he gave her a moment to adjust to him, the tension between them growing even thicker. She could feel every inch of him, the heat of him filling her completely. His body was taut with restraint, and the pulse of his heartbeat seemed to match the wild rhythm of her own.

Her fingers dug into his back, nails raking gently over his skin as she urged him to move. "Chris..." she whispered and he didn't need any further encouragement.

He began to thrust, slow and deep at first, building a steady rhythm. Her hips rose to meet his, matching his pace. The room filled with the sounds of their laboured breathing and soft moans of pleasure.

Rio's pace quickened, his thrusts becoming more urgent as she wrapped her legs tighter around his waist, changing the angle. Her hands roamed his back, feeling the muscles flex with each movement.

"God, you feel amazing." he breathed against her neck.

She could only moan in response as he bit at her skin, coherent thoughts escaping her as waves of pleasure washed over her body. The tension was building inside her, a coiling heat in her lower belly that threatened to consume her.

Rio shifted slightly, changing the angle of his thrusts, and suddenly she was seeing stars. Each movement hit that perfect spot inside her, sending jolts of electricity through her body. She cried out, her back arching off the bed as she chased her release.

Rio sensed her growing desperation and intensified his efforts, driving into her with renewed vigor. His hand slipped between their bodies, fingers finding her sensitive bundle of nerves. He circled it with precision, matching the rhythm of his thrusts.

"Come for me, baby." he grunted, his voice husky in her ear. "Let go."

This was all too much. It almost hurt how good it felt.

His words pushed her over the edge. She cried out his name as waves of pleasure crashed over her, her body trembling beneath him. Her inner walls clenched around him, pulsing with the force of her orgasm.

Rio groaned at the sensation of her tightening around him, his thrusts becoming erratic as he chased his own release. With a final, deep thrust, he stilled inside her, his body shuddering as he came. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing heavily as they both rode out the aftershocks of their climax.

For a long moment they lay there with their bodies intertwined, breathing heavily as they came down from their shared high. Rio's weight pressed her into the mattress, but she didn't mind. Lucy loved the way his body tangled with her own and to feel the rapid beat of his heart that matched her own.

Finally, Rio lifted his head and met her gaze. His eyes were dark and intense, filled with satisfaction and something deeper that made her breath catch. He leaned down to press a kiss to the side of her lips.

"I'm not done with you yet." he breathed, grabbing her cheeks between his fingers and squeezing them together.

Her heart raced at his words, a fresh wave of arousal coursing through her despite her recent release. Rio's eyes gleamed with mischief and desire as he gazed down at her, his grip on her cheeks firm.

Without warning, he flipped her over so that she was on her stomach with her face pressed into the pillows. The sudden change in position left her breathless, and she tried to peer back at the man behind her. Rio's hands found her waist, his fingers digging into her soft flesh.

"Stay still," Rio commanded, his voice low and husky.

She shivered at the authoritative tone, her body responding instinctively to his words. She felt his hands slide down her back, tracing the curve of her spine before coming to rest on her hips. He pulled her up slightly, positioning her on her knees while her upper body remained pressed against the mattress.

Rio's hands kneaded the soft flesh of her backside, spreading her open to his gaze. She felt exposed and vulnerable, but the feeling only heightened her arousal. Her breath came in short gasps as she waited, anticipation building with each passing second.

"What are you doing?" she breathed, eyes wide.

Lucy felt Rio's breath, hot against her inner thigh and she shuddered in anticipation. His lips brushed against her skin, trailing kisses up towards her center. When his tongue finally made contact with her sensitive flesh, she let out a strangled moan and her fingers clutched desperately at the sheets to find something to hold onto.

Rio took his time, alternating between long, languid strokes and quick flicks that had her squirming beneath him. His hands gripped her hips firmly, holding her in place as he worked her into a frenzy. She could feel the heat building again, coiling tightly in her belly.

Just as she was on the brink of release, Rio pulled away. She whimpered at the loss of contact, but before she could voice her frustration she felt him positioning himself behind her. In one swift motion, he entered her, filling her completely.

She gasped at the sudden fullness, her body stretching to accommodate him once again. Rio set a punishing pace, his hips snapping against her with each powerful thrust. The new angle allowed him to hit spots deep inside her that had her seeing stars.

His hands gripped her hips tightly, fingers digging into her flesh as he pulled her back to meet each thrust. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room, mingling with their shared moans.

"You feel so good." Rio growled, his voice strained. "So tight for me."

Rio leaned forward, his chest pressing against her back. His weight on top of her intensified every sensation, driving him even deeper as she laid flat on her stomach. 

"Oh god." she moaned, her voice muffled by the pillows.

He grabbed the back of her head by her hair and pulled her face back. Lucy cried out and clenched around him as he exposed the long column of her throat. His lips found the sensitive spot just below her ear, nipping and sucking as he continued to drive into her relentlessly.

The new angle and the slight pain from his grip on her hair sent sparks of pleasure shooting through her body. She could feel herself teetering on the edge of another orgasm, her inner walls clenching around him with each thrust.

"That's it, mama." Rio growled against her skin. "Let me hear you."

Lucy's moans grew louder and more sinful than they had before. The sting of his thrusts only heightened her arousal, pushing her further towards her peak. Tears were rolling down her face as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"I'm so close." she gasped, her voice breaking on a particularly deep thrust and she tried to arch her back as much as she could.

"Come for me." he demanded, his breath hot against her ear. "I want to feel you fall apart around me."

Lucy cried out, her body convulsing as waves of pleasure crashed over her. Her inner walls clenched rhythmically around Rio, drawing a guttural groan from him. Rio's pace became erratic as he chased his own release. His grip on her hair tightened, pulling her head back even further as he pounded into her. 

With a final deep thrust he stilled inside her, his body shuddering as he came. He collapsed on top of her, his weight pressing her into the mattress as they both gasped for air.

Slowly, Rio lifted himself off her and she hissed at how sensitive she was when he carefully pulled out. He tried not to crush her as he moved to lie beside her on the bed. His hand found her hip, fingers tracing lazy patterns on her sweat-slicked skin. Lucy turned her head to face him, her eyes heavy-lidded with satisfaction and exhaustion.

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face before cupping her cheek in his palm.

"You good?" he asked.

Lucy nodded, a small smile playing on her lips and she said with a hoarse voice. "More than good."

Rio's thumb traced her lower lip gently, his dark eyes intense as they roamed over her face. There was a tenderness in his gaze that made her heart flutter, a stark contrast to the rough passion they had just shared.

"Come here," Rio said softly, pulling her closer in his arms. 

She willingly moved into his embrace, tucking her head under his chin as his arms wrapped around her. The steady beat of his heart against her ear was soothing, and she ran her fingers up and down his chest. Rio's hand traveled lazily up and down her spine, sending little shivers through her body. She tilted her head up to look at him, finding his eyes already on her.

"What are you thinking?" she murmured.

Rio's lips curved into a small smile. "I'm thinking about how beautiful you look right now."

"Even all sweaty and disheveled?" she teased as her cheeks reddened.

Rio's smile widened, a hint of mischief returning to his eyes. "Especially all sweaty and disheveled," he replied, his hand sliding down to cup her backside. "It's a good look on you."

Lucy laughed softly, shaking her head at his words. She nestled closer to him, enjoying the warmth of his body against hers. For a moment they lay in comfortable silence, their breathing soft and slow.

He let out a soft sigh, his breath tickling the top of her head. "Lucy," he began, his voice low and gentle and she looked up through her lashes, "whatever happens next... we'll be okay."

Lucy furrowed her brows, the warmth she felt just moments ago suddenly dissipating as Rio's words settled into her mind. Dread crept in, wrapping around her chest and tightening with each passing second. She searched his face for reassurance, but the weight of everything they were about to face came crashing down like a tidal wave.

The plan with Beth to get rid of Agent Turner, it was reckless, dangerous, and there was no telling how it would unfold. Lucy's stomach twisted at the thought. They were about to stir up a storm, one that could tear apart everything they had. Her heart raced as the reality of it all settled into her bones.

"Okay," she muttered, too tired to say anything else.

Rio's gaze softened as he studied her. Without saying a word, he leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to the top of her head, his lips warm against her skin. It was a silent promise, one that said more than any words could.

Lucy closed her eyes, allowing herself to sink into the comfort of his touch, even if just for a moment. She felt the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her, grounding her amidst the chaos that loomed ahead.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVE IN THIS STORY. It actually means the world to me and motivates me so much to write more <3