CHAPTER FORTY

I collapse on the gym floor for the second time today. Thomas has extracted every single bit of energy from my body today. I can't even move my fingers without feeling pain. Who knew blades training could be so exhausting? As I catch my breath and steady my racing heart, I feel myself lifted off the ground. I wrap my arms around Thomas's neck and rest my head against his beating heart.

'Thank you," I mutter against his chest. He doesn't say anything but kisses my forehead and begins to walk us out of the gym.

He places me on the ground only when we reach our bathroom. He puts me on the toilet seat while he walks to the bathtub. He walks back to me once he is done switching on the water in the tub and putting shower gel in. I expect him to step out so I can shower, but he walks to me instead. He gestures for me to stand, so I do. He places his hand on the edge of my shirt and begins to pull it off my body. I stop him before he reaches the middle of my stomach.

'I can do it myself," I tell him, placing my hand above his to stop him

'I want to do it" He stares into my eyes, and his eyes tell me that he genuinely wants to do this for me. I ask myself if I am ready to be seen naked in front of Thomas again. I still worry that he is disgusted by my body, but Franky says he isn't. I decide to test her words and let him strip me.

I hold my breath as Thomas pulls my shirt above my head. I lock eyes with him the second I am left only in my bra. I stare into his eyes, searching for any disgust in them as he looks at me. I only see admiration in them. I release the breath I am holding.

Thomas moves to my waist and pulls down my workout pants. I see the same look in his eyes, and it shines brighter now. He moves his hand to my sports bra and pulls it over my head. He moves to my waist again and pulls my underwear down. The urge to use my hands to cover my body is strong, but I don't. This is the only way to know if Franky was right or wrong.

I feel something wet touch my toes; I look down and see Thomas's lips. He kisses my right and left toes and begins to work his way up my leg while muttering the word ‘Bella' with every kiss he places on my body. He reaches my core and also leaves a burning kiss there. I clench my legs together as I watch him kiss around my belly before taking my right breast into his mouth. A moan escapes my lips as I arch my back, and my core throbs craving his hot mouth. He makes sure to satisfy my other breast before making his way to my neck with his lips. I am breathless and eager to have him inside me when he reaches my mouth.

'You are beautiful, Mi amore, in and out" He captures my lips in a heated kiss and devours my mouth. I wrap my hand around his neck, and he lifts me off the ground. He places my bare ass on the edge of the sink, but I am too wanting of him to even care about the cold tile against my ass. Our tongues dance together in each other's mouths, and we only pull away so he can take off his shirt. I roam my hands down his chest and savage the feeling of his abs against my fingers. Our lips join together again, and I move my hands to his waist. I try to push his sweat pants and boxers down, but Thomas does it himself since I can't as I am on the sink. He wraps my legs around him once he is done and begins to walk us to the tub. He makes sure he doesn't break our kiss in the process. Thomas lowers us into the tub and breaks our kiss. He stares at me with his eyes filled with lust, admiration, and love for me. We pant at the same rhythm, breathless from our kiss.

'Mi amore, before I make you scream my name, I want to apologize for what I did the last time we slept together. I was filled with hate and anger and was drunk that night. I shouldn't have done what I did that night. Please forgive me, Mi amore."

'I forgive you, Thomas, and not just for that night. For everything that happened," I watch his eyes light up.

I planned to tell him tonight at dinner that I had forgiven him. These past few days, I have been thinking about it a lot. Thomas might have hurt me badly, but he had a reason. If I didn't betray him, there is no reason why Thomas would have been that cruel to me. I know it's not enough to forgive him, but it's enough for me. He is the man I am in love with, which makes it possible for me to forgive him for his cruelness towards me. I also know that such cruelness will never happen again because I would never betray him.

'Really," he asks, searching my eyes to see if I am lying.

'Yes, I have forgiven you" I place my hand on his face and stare deeply into his eyes. I want him to see my soul through them and know I have truly forgiven him.

Thomas showers my face with thank you kisses, and I smile. He stops kissing me and stares deeply into my eyes as he enters me. A gasp escapes my lips once I feel him inside me to the hilt. He starts his movement slow, and I grab the tub's edge as pleasure begins to build inside me.

'I love you," Thomas says, moving his mouth closer to my neck and kissing it. I move my hands from the edge of the tub to his shoulders. I dig my nails into his back as he begins to increase his pace. My eyes roll to the back of my head as I feel my release building in my stomach.

'Thomas," I moan as he thrusts harder and faster into me, making me feel pleasure like never before.

My toes curl as he begins to hit the right spot. He kisses me and tells me how beautiful I am. I feel my core clenching around his member, and I know I am close, so I ask him to increase his pace. Thomas does, and it only takes a few more thrusts before I come undone around his member. He continues thrusting until he cums. I feel it warm between my legs even though we are in the tub with water. Thomas lies down in the tub and takes me with him, making me become on top of him. I drop my forehead against his as I feel him hard against my core.

'I love you too," I say, as Thomas lifts me a little to insert his length into me again. I ride him and bring us both our much-needed release.