Chapter 192: A new beginning
Chapter 192: A new beginning
Author's POV
Two weeks later
Avery twirled around in Dario's room to the sound of cool, classical music streaming out of speakers she couldn't see. Dario watched her from the couch, one arm slung over the back, jaw tight like he was holding something back.
Avery just danced around, excited after the day's events. They had spent last night and the majority of today in the mountains, where she had seen the aurora borealis at midnight. She saw it in a movie once, and since then have always wanted to see it, and Dario had gotten the hint from Carl before, so he decided to take her there.
It was a great decision, because now here she was dancing and giggling excitedly around his room like she had won the lottery.
“You're doing it again,” she said, without even turning around to look at him.
“Doing what?” He asked.
She stopped dancing now, but still didn't turn around to look at him.
“Looking at me like you want to touch me but you’re too afraid I’ll break.”
He didn’t answer.
She turned then, the low yellow light brushing gold over her skin, his shirt too big on her frame, the hem barely reaching the tops of her thighs.
“I’m not glass, Dario.”
He stood slowly, every inch of him tense, cautious. “I know that. But I also know what you’ve been through. I won’t be the next scar.”
She walked to him, eyes locked on his. “Then don’t be.”
She took his hand and placed it over her heart.
“You already live here,” she whispered. “So stop standing at the door.”
His breath stuttered. “Avery... if I start, I – I don’t know if I can stop.”
“Don’t stop,” she said, voice shaking. “Not this time.”
He reached for her, slow and deliberate, his hands framing her face. She tipped her chin up, eyes fluttering closed as he finally, finally, kissed her after waiting for what seemed like forever since she kissed him. The kiss was soft and reverent like he was memorizing the shape of her mouth.
The kiss deepened, his arms slipping around her waist, drawing her closer until there was no space left between them. She fisted his shirt, pulling him with her as she backed up toward the study desk, never breaking the kiss.
He lifted her onto it like she weighed nothing. Still slow. Still careful. But when her legs wrapped around his waist and she whispered his name into his mouth, his restraint shattered.
“Tell me to stop,” he growled, forehead pressed to hers, breath ragged.
“No. I’m telling you to stay.”
Her hands found the hem of his shirt and tugged it up. He let her. Let her lead. Let her claim this moment.
She kissed down his throat, over his shoulder, over a scar on his chest he never let anyone see. He shuddered.
And in that moment—it wasn’t just about wanting.
It was about trust.
It was about two broken people choosing each other, not in spite of the pain, but because of it.
“Dario, I want more.” She murmured into his kiss and Dario paused.
“More….what?”
“Take me to the bed.” She tilted her head with a smile.
But Dario shook his head in response. “Are you sure, Avery?”
“Yes.”
His heart leaped in response and he took her and laid her down, before he leaned above her.
Avery’s heart was thudding so loud she swore he could hear it. But Dario wasn’t rushing. He hovered above her like she was the most fragile, dangerous thing he’d ever touched.
Slowly, she undid the buckles of his pants, leaving behind the evidence of how much he wanted her. His hardness brushed her stomach and she gasped.
“If you change your mind…” he whispered, voice barely a breath, “say the word, and I stop.”
“I won’t,” she whispered back. “I’ve never been more sure.”
He kissed her again, slower this time. Deep. Full. Like a vow. His hands moved reverently, sliding beneath the hem of her shirt, waiting, always waiting for her breath to hitch in permission. When it did, he peeled the fabric away inch by inch, like unwrapping something sacred — something precious.
When her shirt was gone, he didn’t stare—he breathed.
“Bellissima,” he murmured. “You’re... everything.”
His mouth traced the curve of her collarbone, the dip between her ribs, like he was worshipping everything about her. She arched into him, trembling not from fear, but from the weight of being seen like this. Fully. Completely.
“Touch me,” she whispered, hands sliding over his chest. “I want to feel all of you.”
He groaned low in his throat, like the sound had been buried in him for too long. His body pressed to hers, skin to skin, warm and grounding. Her fingers traced every scar she could find—mapping him like he’d mapped her soul.
They completely undressed each other slowly, deliberately, pausing for kisses, for sighs, for the quiet moments where their eyes locked and said things they didn’t have the words for.
His hardness brushed her entrance, and elicited a moan from her. “Avery, are you sure about this?”
“Yes, Dario. And please don't hold back.”
When he entered her, it wasn’t sharp or frantic. It was slow. Stretching. Filling. She gasped and he froze, waiting. Waiting for her body to readjust to his size seeing as it wasn't easy for her the first time, and they hadn't done it in a really long time.
“Are you okay?” he whispered, forehead to hers.
She smiled softly. “I am. Don’t stop.”
He moved with her. Not against. Not over. With. Like they were finding a rhythm their hearts had been writing for months.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper. Her fingers tangled in his hair. His lips found her neck, her jaw, the hollow of her throat.
“Harder.” She moaned. “Please.”
Dario didn't want to go hard at first, but the way she pleaded for it, he just couldn't resist. He slowly started increasing his pace as her fingers dug into his shoulder, he head tossed back and eyes shut tight and she moaned loudly.
“Harder.” She moaned again, and Dario began pounding into her.
She was moaning and screaming so loud that Dario was sure that anyone in the property was probably hearing them, but he didn't care. Not one bit. He would have fucked her in the middle of the living room if that was what she wanted.
“Oh fuck. Ahhh.” She screamed as Dario slid out of her.
“Why did you stop?” She whined, but Dario only smirked before sliding down.
His mouth met her warm, wet cunt, and she couldn't help the sound that came out of her. He feasted on her like he hadn't had good food for years and just hearing her moans was enough to make him cum, but he held strong.
Slowly, he slid his fingers into her and started going, but soon she stopped him.
“I want you deeper, Dario. And I know you might think I'm not ready, but I am. Please, Dario.”
“Get on your knees and hold on tight to the headboard.” His voice was rough and needy as she quickly turned over.
She wanted it rough, so he was going to give it to her rough.
He didn't start slowly this time, he just inserted himself all the way to the hilt. She screamed as she felt his length hit her inner wall. She was sure that this was the most pleasure she had ever had.
Dario pounded hard into her, groans escaping him, his head tossed back as hands of pleasure raked down his spine.
The more she screamed and moaned, the harder he went, as wet, sloppy, smacking sex noises filled the room.
“Ugh Dario.” She moaned as his balls slapped against her, tickling her, and that was it.
He went a lot harder, and then her release came. It was tight, sharp, then flooding. She held onto the headboard like it was the only thing holding her to the earth.
He followed with a groan of her name like a prayer, burying himself in her one last time before stilling, breathless.
Dario finally pulled out and knelt to admire her. Avery still knelt there with her butt turned up, her cunt swollen and dripping with his seed.
“Damn. I shouldn't love seeing this so much.” Dario muttered, causing Avery to giggle and slowly lowered herself down to the bed.
She pulled him with her and he laid down beside her, and held her like she was going to vanish any second.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Dario exhaled like he’d been drowning for years. He kissed her temple, his voice rough and raw against her skin.
“I’ve loved you from the moment I had you in my car, taking you from Marco's house.”
They both giggled at the memory.
A memory that usually made her feel sad or scared, was now a thing of laughter. She was surprised, but she loved it.
They stayed there and fell asleep in each other's arms, feeling safe. Found.
This was the first time Avery had let go since after what happened to her, and if there was something they both knew, it was that the first time wasn't the end of anything, but rather, the beginning of everything.