Chapter 164: Sleep

Arthur

"Can't what?" I pulled back just enough to speak against her skin. "Can't take anymore? Can't handle what I'm doing to you?"

"I want to stop," she sobbed, even as her body betrayed her words, clenching around me in a way that suggested she was close to another orgasm. "Please, Arthur, I want to stop—"

"No you don't," I said with absolute certainty, my hand leaving the window to grip her hip again, holding her in place as I thrust up into her with renewed vigor.

"You love this. Love being used like this. Love knowing that I can take you whenever I want, however I want."

The car was rocking visibly now, the suspension creaking with each thrust.

"Touch yourself," I commanded, my voice rough with approaching release. "I want to feel you come around me one more time before I fill you up again."

"I can't," she whimpered, but her hand was already moving, sliding between our bodies to find that sensitive bundle of nerves. "Arthur, I can't see anything—everything's blurry—"

"You don't need to see," I told her, my own vision starting to tunnel as my orgasm built at the base of my spine. "Just feel, baby. Feel how good I'm making you feel."

Her fingers found their target, and I felt the exact moment she made contact because her whole body went rigid, her back arching as another orgasm crashed over her.

This one was different—stronger, more intense, pulling me over the edge with her as I buried myself as deep as I could go and came with enough force to make stars burst behind my eyes.

We stayed like that for a long moment, both of us gasping for air, her body still trembling with aftershocks while I pulsed inside her, filling her with another load that mixed with the first.

"Good girl," I murmured when I could finally speak again, my hands gentle now as they stroked up and down her back. "You did so well, baby. Took everything I gave you."

She made a small, broken sound against my neck, and I felt wetness that wasn't sweat or arousal.

She was crying.

"Hey," I said softly, pulling back to cup her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing away the tears. "Ceci, baby, what's wrong? Did I hurt you?"

"No," she hiccupped, fresh tears spilling over despite her denial. "I'm just—I'm so tired, Arthur. And I can't—I don't want to do this anymore tonight. Please, can we just go home and sleep?"

Something in my chest cracked at the exhaustion in her voice, at the way she looked so small and vulnerable despite having just come apart in my arms.

"Of course," I said immediately, already helping her off my lap with gentle hands, ignoring the way my release immediately started leaking out of her. "Of course we can just sleep, baby. I'm sorry—I got carried away."

"It's okay," she said, but her voice was still shaky as I helped her settle back into the passenger seat, as I pulled my pants back up and started the car again. "I just—I need to rest."

"I know." I reached over to take her hand, threading our fingers together. "We'll be home in five minutes, and then I'll run you a bath and put you to bed. No more sex tonight, I promise."

She nodded, her eyes already starting to close with exhaustion, and I felt guilt twist in my gut.

I'd pushed too hard, taken too much, let my need for her override common sense and consideration for her limits.

"Ceci," I said quietly as I pulled back onto the road, "I'm sorry. I should have been more careful with you today."

"It's fine," she murmured, her head falling to rest against the window. "I wanted it too. I just—I forgot how intense you get when you've been holding back."

When we pulled into the garage at Black Peak, Ceci was half-asleep, her head still resting against the window, her breathing slow and even.

I got out quietly, moving around to her side and opening the door before scooping her up into my arms again. She made a small sound of protest but immediately curled into my chest, her arms coming around my neck.

"I've got you," I murmured against her hair as I carried her inside. "Sleep, baby. I'll take care of everything."

By the time we reached our bedroom, she was fully asleep, her face peaceful in a way that made my chest ache with how much I loved her.

I laid her down carefully on the bed, then went to run a bath. When I came back, she was still asleep, and I hesitated before waking her.

She needed to clean up. Needed to get out of those clothes and into the bath before she woke up sore and uncomfortable.

"Ceci," I said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed and running my hand through her hair. "Baby, I need you to wake up for just a few minutes. I ran you a bath."

She made a sound of protest, trying to burrow deeper into the pillows, but I persisted, gently pulling her upright and helping her out of her ruined clothes.

She was more asleep than awake as I carried her to the bathroom, as I settled her into the warm water, as I carefully cleaned her with a soft washcloth while she dozed against the edge of the tub.

"Arthur," she murmured at one point, her eyes cracking open to look at me. "You're taking care of me."

"Of course I am," I said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "That's my job, remember? To take care of you."

"Mm." Her eyes drifted closed again. "Love you."

"I love you too," I said, my throat tight with emotion. "More than anything."

After the bath, I dried her off with a towel, dressed her in one of my t-shirts that hung to her mid-thigh, and tucked her into bed with the kind of care usually reserved for something infinitely precious.

Because that's what she was. Precious. Irreplaceable. Mine.

I climbed in beside her, pulling her against my chest, and she immediately curled into me with a contented sigh.

"Tomorrow," she mumbled, already half-asleep again, "tomorrow. I'll keep my promise then."

"I know," I interrupted gently, my hand stroking up and down her back. "Tomorrow we'll talk. Tonight, just sleep."

"Okay," she agreed, and within seconds her breathing had evened out, indicating she'd fallen back asleep.

I kissed her fair soft cheek. "Sleep well, my sincere little detective."